[DWind]

Makes me wonder why AL is not offering fully built bus at around Isuzu's price point (with the required quality) but branded as something else maybe "optare" or "AVIA". Right now, AL does not have the brand equity to offer premium bus for which people are ready to pay for. But if rebranded as something better they can probably pull it off. If Cerita / King Long can, why not AL?

[TheARUN]

Now and then it so happens that some big fish decide to get into the pool. Remember Raj National Express, they had an ambitious plan of mapping the country, they have disappeared now. The Travels business is like that, you see a lot of people coming in and losing money and disappearing, there are always exceptions to the rule though. All you need to do is sell 5 acres of land that you might have on the road-side, and you can become a 'Top' transport operator in any route of your choice, once you are running busses under your name, Banks queue up to finance you, after that it is pure merit and if you are low on merit, you sink

Wishing Siddi Vinayak all the best, they must have struck a great bargain with Scania something like what VRL did when they ordered the mutli-axles from Volvo. Buying a bus, starting a Travels is very easy, its all about surviving in the market for 5 years, repaying the loans and taking home some decent money, not many can do that unfortunately, that's why we see so many fly-by-night operators

[teamveevee]

Originally Posted by Ashley2

Scania India bags its biggest Intercity bus order from Siddhi Vinayak Logistics, Surat, Gujarat.

With this, SVL will be diverging into ever growing Intercity Bus segment. They are predominantly into goods transportation and has a fleet strength of close to 4000 trucks.

SVL is the biggest fleet operator of Tata Prima trucks. I was really surprised, they went for Scania, Did not opt for Tata Divo.

[julupani]

Originally Posted by teamveevee

SVL is the biggest fleet operator of Tata Prima trucks. I was really surprised, they went for Scania, Did not opt for Tata Divo.

Let alone the Prima, I think the Scanias will be the first non Tata vehicles operated by SVL.

But I think its a practical move. The Divo has two problems, though a pretty damn good product. 1st is the body quality by ACGL is a bit iffy. 2nd a Tata brand on the front will probably not have enough brand appeal to attract customers to be paying high money for these sort of services.

Tata could try out the Hispano brand name of their subsidiary in India as well, and bring in their latest designs. That could give them a chance in this market.

[v1kram]

Originally Posted by teamveevee

SVL is the biggest fleet operator of Tata Prima trucks. I was really surprised, they went for Scania, Did not opt for Tata Divo.

Divo is not a proven product, also there is no multi axle variant available.

Originally Posted by julupani

Let alone the Prima, I think the Scanias will be the first non Tata vehicles operated by SVL.

Is SVLL fleet 100% TATA? I guess they do operate Eicher, AMW, AL, etc but majority of their fleet is TATA.

[julupani]

Originally Posted by v1kram

Is SVLL fleet 100% TATA? I guess they do operate Eicher, AMW, AL, etc but majority of their fleet is TATA.

I think they had shifted over to a full Tata fleet, or at least were in the process of doing so. Even if they hadnt I guess over 90% of it is Tata, inlcuding a couple hundred Primas.

I remember them having two separate 1000+ truck orders from Tata Motors, one in 2010 or 2011 and another in 2012. Both these orders were I think world record or Indian record truck orders.

[Ashley2]

Originally Posted by v1kram

...
Is SVLL fleet 100% TATA? I guess they do operate Eicher, AMW, AL, etc but majority of their fleet is TATA.

SVLL has moved from TM to AL recently. AL have recently supplied close to 500 trucks to SVL and there are further orders I guess.
In fact there are no major truck fleet owner in the country were one company has 100% share.
Its only with bus fleet owners I see a strong brand loyalty.

[julupani]

Originally Posted by Ashley2

SVLL has moved from TM to AL recently. AL have recently supplied close to 500 trucks to SVL and there are further orders I guess.
In fact there are no major truck fleet owner in the country were one company has 100% share.
Its only with bus fleet owners I see a strong brand loyalty.

Any links to news reports or otherwise regarding something like this, as such a large order usually gets publicity.

I have found, from SVLL's website itself, reports about one 1111 truck order in 2011 and one 1314 truck order in 2012 to TML, but none regarding any order from ALL.

[Ashley2]

Originally Posted by julupani

Any links to news reports or otherwise regarding something like this, as such a large order usually gets publicity.

I have found, from SVLL's website itself, reports about one 1111 truck order in 2011 and one 1314 truck order in 2012 to TML, but none regarding any order from ALL.

Each and every order need not be reported. Its purely at the discretion of the company (AL / SVL) to report them

[sadsack]

Originally Posted by Ashley2

Each and every order need not be reported. Its purely at the discretion of the company (AL / SVL) to report them

Pardon me if I am being naive here, but if each order need not be reported, could you identify your source of information and how you are privy to this information? Advance thanks for your answer.

[Ashley2]

Originally Posted by sadsack

Pardon me if I am being naive here, but if each order need not be reported, could you identify your source of information and how you are privy to this information? Advance thanks for your answer.

Source- My friends in Ashokleyland.

[Ashley2]

Though KPN was the first to confirm bookings for 10 Metrolink coaches, it was SVL who received the first coaches, for the sheer volume they have committed to Scania. But anyway days have moved pretty fast and KPN now have received their first pair of coaches. A formal inaugural happened yesterday in their HO Salem followed by press meet. These coaches are likely to be operated in Blore - Madurai route. But the hottest will be Coimbaotore/Ernakulam - Hyderabad route, which eventually be launched once they start to receive coaches.
















Image credit to resp owners.

[silversteed]

Originally Posted by Ashley2

...KPN now have received their first pair of coaches..

Thank you for those pics. Which variant have their received - the top of the line 410hp ones with steerable rear axle?

[AlphaKilo]

Originally Posted by Ashley2

Attachment 1189770

Originally Posted by silversteed

Thank you for those pics. Which variant have their received - the top of the line 410hp ones with steerable rear axle?

Thankyou Ashley sir.

Silversteed, one(blue) of the two buses seems to be the top-most variant with steerable rear axle (see pic in quoted post). Though the other bus(red one) too has the same axle set-up, one should check it in action.

But imho, seems Scania has studied the indian market and mentality well that we have a special affinity for their Swedish cousin Volvo's looks and Scania's have implemented this in their body design quite precisely! I have hardly seen hardly one Scania in Europe with this Volvo look alike body/face! Good job Scania, you have kept away the fake Volvo look-alike body builders by doing it yourself.

But Ashley sir, is the body-building done by Scania itself or some other private party?

[sagarpadaki]

Slightly Offtopic . Why do all KPN busses have 'Sharvesh' written on them at the sides and front? Does 'Sharvesh' mean something in some language?