[Ashley2]

Originally Posted by GTO

I disagree. Have seen a Mercedes bus made by Sutlej and the quality was completely non-Mercedes. I'd even go as far as to call it shoddy in many areas. I believe the tie-up with Sutlej was meant to be only a stop-gap arrangement until Mercedes built its own bodies inhouse.

Agreed that the quality was let down mostly in design. But I can blame only MB and not Sutlej. Sutlej has no roles to play in the design. The JV will end after 5 years and even after that I am not sure of the change in coach design - especially in gang way width, hat rack space etc.
Mercedes designed these coaches deriving heavily from Travego.

Originally Posted by AlphaKilo

Hope this clarifies the difference between the real quality body-building and the so-called "Travel with the Star" experience that we get in India..

That's the reason MB is not good in sales in Premium coaches

Originally Posted by v1kram

...I have seen SwathiLakshmi building their own bus (almost 14 years before) in their depot at Central Studio..

Here in Chennai Jeppiar college buses are built in house (earlier)

Originally Posted by dhandapanik

Vinayaka is one famous body builder for mini buses and they are located in Madurai. AE has also built some mini buses and one such mini bus is running in Madurai.

Vinayaka is famous for its Van bodies - they have put up a shop in Chennai too.

Image source - Respective owners

[RGK]

Thanks Dhandapanik and V1kram.
Old and renowned body builders TVS, LGB, AE previously had bus routes and hence it was part of their business to do body building and introduce newly built buses in their routes.
When TVS, LGB came out slowly of their bus services, they concentrated only on body building especially in the 80's and 90's.
LGB is known for light weight bodies but with latest styles (larger windows, single front windshield etc), TVS is known for robust body.
Sutlej, Azad, Prakash bodies are seen in the omni buses in TN.

When enquired with one of the omni bus operator, the resale value of omni buses are very important and hence they go for Sutlej, Azad etc..


Swathilakshmi which was renamed after DS (Dharapuram Service) did their own body building for their Dharapuram and Pollachi buslines.

Now a days light weight components and special coaches rule the Tamilnadu body building industry and Maruthi is one among the leading builders.

Almost all body builders are busy in Karur now as they do for TN Government bus corporations.

Some times the customised body coaches result in poor tyre mileage and will be very difficult to diagnose and need major rectification.

[girishglg]

Originally Posted by RGK

LGB is known for light weight bodies but with latest styles (larger windows, single front windshield etc), TVS is known for robust body.
Sutlej, Azad, Prakash bodies are seen in the omni buses in TN.

When enquired with one of the omni bus operator, the resale value of omni buses are very important and hence they go for Sutlej, Azad etc..

Originally Posted by v1kram

As for Omni buses, Prakash, Veera, Azad, Irizar, etc are doing a good work and well known for their quality.

if I am asking a very basic question but can you please explain what is the difference between -

• Omni bus vs 'other type' (just calling it for non omni buses) of buses?
• What are the 'other type' of buses called or classified as?

if this has been answered earlier but just wanted to clarify anyways.

[binaiks]

Originally Posted by girishglg

• Omni bus vs 'other type' (just calling it for non omni buses) of buses?
• What are the 'other type' of buses called or classified as?

"Omnibus" is technically equal to a "bus".

Omnibus is a term used in Tamil Nadu to represent private buses who conduct trips using Contract Carriage/Tourist permit. "Other buses" are those which operate on stage carriage permits.

[girishglg]

Some years ago ACGL which was jointly promoted by Tata Motors used to be quite popular in the fully built buses segment. Their buses seemed to be standardised in their design and neatly finished.

With new players coming into the scene, it looks like ACGL has not been doing so well lately. Also not sure if their pricing is as competitive as some of the other builders in the market.