Light and Medium Commercial Vehicle player SML Isuzu hopes to surpass its previous domestic and export sales high during this fiscal, supported by the launch of new global series trucks, market penetration and a favourable outlook.
The company’s domestic sales dropped to about 13,000 units during 2017-18 from 15,300 in 2016-17, mainly due to GST-related challenges.
“We will surpass previous highs in volumes this fiscal,” Naval Kumar Sharma, General Manager – Product Sales and Customer Satisfaction, SML Isuzu, said while explaining about the company’s new Global Series Trucks available in 5-12 tonne range.
With entry into new markets such as Nigeria and Ghana, the company total exports in the range of 1,200-1,500 units this fiscal, up from about 800 units in 2017-18.
Sharma said its new Global Series trucks incorporate modern cabins, which marks a shift after three decades. The new truck series comes with SML Saarthi, an advanced information response system, car-cabin like features and better fuel-efficiency and uptime.
With this, the company seeks to grow its market share from about 12 per cent to 17-20 per cent in its focus segment (5-12 tonne) going forward.
Sharma also said that the company had recently invested about ₹200 crore in technology, product development and expanding production capacity to 25,000 units per shift from 15,000 units at its Nawanshahar plant in Punjab.