Tata Motors, the country’s largest commercial vehicles manufacturer, has won orders for more than 5,000 buses from 25 state and city transport undertakings in the country. This is more than 80 per cent rise in order book position for Tata Motors compared with last year.
Ravi Pisharody, Executive Director, Commercial Vehicle Business Unit, Tata Motors, said: “With these orders, we at Tata Motors take great pride in partnering with various STUs in delivering world-class solutions and to create and maintain a sustainable mass public transportation system. We are encouraged by the adoption of latest technologies by these STUs, for fleet modernisation, lower total operating costs and expanding user base & ridership.”
“We welcome the collaborative approach employed by these STUs in bettering end user needs, which will further help boost our efforts towards innovations in the public transport space,” he added.
The big surge in state transport undertakings (STUs) buying across is being witnessed after a gap of nearly four years, indicating the renewed focus of various state governments and city transport providers on public transport, the company said in a statement.
The orders from various STUs and city transport providers represent a noticeable shift towards adopting new technology, safety, comfort features and connected IT-enabled buses. Tata Motors will also support these STUs to make certain the technology benefits are rapidly realised.
Over 1,500 of the ordered buses will be fully-built and integrated with many features at Tata Motors’ manufacturing facility at Tata Marcopolo (Dharwad and Lucknow) and ACGL Goa.
Sandeep Kumar, Business Head (Commercial Vehicles–Passenger), Tata Motors Ltd, said: “Early investments in passenger transportation capabilities and technologies enable us at Tata Motors to play a leading role in providing fully integrated transport solutions, in one of the world’s largest bus markets. With an extensive portfolio, we are geared up to provide a ‘Win-Win’ for both the operators and commuters of today and tomorrow. Having said that, we have nearly doubled our order book in FY16-17 already and are adequately prepared to cater to the current and future demand coming in for our buses.”
Tata Motors has also developed electric hybrid buses and articulated buses to meet the future transport needs for ‘Envisaged Smart Cities’, both of which will soon be seen on Indian roads.