Chennai, Apr 4 The first construction equipment from the stable of Ashok Leyland John Deere Construction Equipment would roll out in June this year, a top company official said on Monday.
The company, a joint venture between Hinduja group flagship company Ashok Leyland and US-based agriculture and forest equipment major John Deere, would roll out backhoe loader from its plant at Gummidipoondi near here, Ashok Leyland Managing Director Mr Vinod K Dasari told reporters here.
“The first product under the John Deere partnership will also be rolled out in June,” he said. Under the agreement signed in 2008, the joint venture was supposed to have commenced production by 2010 initially rolling out Backhoes and four-wheel-drive Loaders.
Mr Dasari said following the launch of the backhoe loader in India, the product would also be exported. The company would also introduce excavators in the domestic market which he said would take “some time”, he said. On their products to the defence sector, he said so far the company had sold 2,000 ‘kits’ to defense vehicle factories.
Ashok Leyland was also mulling introducing 40- foot boat. “We have already begun testing the boats in lakes... It has been going on for some months...,” he said.