[TeddyBear]

Tata Motors ushers new era in Indian auto industry
with its new world standard truck range
• 10-to-75 tonne, 150-to-560 PS portfolio to meet diverse needs
• To be introduced in key markets abroad too

Images:
Tata Motors - Trucks
News:
Tata Motors - Media Centre

Tata Motors today once again ushered in a new era in the Indian automobile industry, in keeping with its pioneering tradition, by unveiling its new range of world standard trucks. In their power, speed, carrying capacity, operating economy and trims, they will introduce new benchmarks in India and match the best in the world in performance at a lower life-cycle cost.

The range comprises multi-axle trucks, tractor-trailers, tippers, mixers, and special application vehicles. Besides India, they will also gradually be introduced in South Korea, South Africa, the SAARC countries and the Middle East.

Mr. Ratan N. Tata, Chairman of Tata Sons and Tata Motors, has said, “The developing infrastructure in India makes it possible for transporters to reap the benefit of trucks with higher power, speed and carrying capacity. The new range from Tata Motors will meet those needs. It will also help us penetrate international markets more effectively and competitively.”

The Managing Director of Tata Motors, Mr. Ravi Kant, has said, “The range is an output of collaboration across the Tata Motors family, supplemented by inputs from partners across the world. This approach has enabled us to harness appropriate expertise and develop relevant products faster than ever before.”

The product has been jointly developed by Tata Motors and its two subsidiaries, Tata Daewoo Commercial Vehicle Company in South Korea and the Tata Motors European Technical Centre plc in the UK. The company has harnessed the best of inputs and technologies – in styling, engines, transmission, suspension, chassis frames, fabrication and dies -- from partners based in countries like Italy, Germany, Sweden, the US, Japan and South Korea.


Variants & Specifications
The range offers a higher power-to-weight ratio translating into faster turnaround time, better reliability and durability, and resulting in higher revenue generation for the transporter than is the norm now. The versatility of the range meets several needs:

Tractor-trailers and multi-axle trucks for long distance transportation
Rigid trucks for short distance distribution
Tippers, mixers, cranes for construction and mining
Special applications like reefers, bulkers, and tip-trailers
Capacity: The capacity of the trucks can be from 10 tonnes to 75 tonnes Gross Combination Weight (GCW), to meet a wide mix of usages.

Powertrains: The powertrain option stretches from 150 PS to 560 PS, with suitable engines, transmissions and axles of different makes. Additional features on offer include automated transmissions and air suspension.

Vehicle tracking: Every truck will have Global Positioning System for effective vehicle tracking as standard fitment.

Comfortable cabin options: The spacious air-conditioned cabs come in three different lengths (day, rest and sleeper), three different heights (flat, low-dome and high-dome roof) and in two different widths. While there are two trim levels, features include reclining seats, adjustable steering wheel, seat belts and arm rests (for both the driver and co-driver) for driver comfort and safety. These features are designed to induce longer and more trips and safer driving.

Safety & Emission
The range is designed to meet stringent safety norms of the markets that it will be sold in. In terms of emissions, the range is Euro III and Euro IV complaint, while being Euro V ready.

About Tata Motors
Tata Motors is India's largest automobile company, with revenues of Rs. 35651.48 crores in 2007-08. Through subsidiaries and associate companies, Tata Motors has operations in the UK, South Korea, Thailand and Spain. Among them is Jaguar Land Rover, the business comprising the two iconic British brands. It also has an industrial joint venture with Fiat in India. With over 4 million Tata vehicles plying in India, Tata Motors is the country's market leader in commercial vehicles and among the top three in passenger vehicles. It is also the world's fourth largest truck manufacturer and the second largest bus manufacturer. Tata cars, buses and trucks are being marketed in several countries in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, South East Asia and South America. Tata Motors - HomePage)

About Tata Daewoo Commercial Vehicle Company
Tata Daewoo Commercial Vehicle Company Limited (TDCV), a 100% subsidiary of Tata Motors, is the second largest manufacturer of heavy and medium commercial vehicles in S. Korea. During the year under review, TDCV registered further growth both in the domestic market and exports. In volume terms, sales of 11,899 units in FY 07-08 were higher by 38% compared to that of 8,588 units in FY 06-07. This enabled TDCV to improve its market share from 24.3% to 32.3% in the HCV segment and from 28.2% to 34.8% in the MCV segment. TDCV exported 3,000 units of HCVs in FY 08 (2,715 units previous year) and continued to be the largest exporter from Korea in this segment. TDCV recorded a turnover of Rs.2,865.02 crores which was higher by 45% compared to Rs. 2,248.81 crores for the previous year.

About Tata Motors European Technical Centre plc (TMETC)
TMETC was incorporated in September 2005, as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tata Motors. The company is in the business of providing design engineering, program management, testing and validation, research and development of automobiles, including launch support for manufacturing to facilitate introduction of vehicles for production. TMETC was established with the objective of providing automotive product engineering services to contemporary global standards to both Tata Motors and external 3rd party customers. The company currently has 180 employees. In October 2008, TMETC acquired a majority holding in the Norwegian company Miljøbil Grenland. Miljø are developers and manufacturers of state-of-the-art super polymer lithium ion batteries for Electric Vehicles.

Click here for images of the new range
Tata Motors - Trucks

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[sschivate]

Some 10 years ago, Tata had come up with Tata - Cummins joint venture, with trucks/buses getting Cummins engines. It was marked by Cummins logo next to the model number (1312 TC). Have both Tata and Cummins walked out of this partnership?

[KALINGA]

Is this the same truck ?
Or its another one. Spotted on Pune-Bangalore highway.

[Ashley2]

AFAIK, these are Next generation LCV/ICV from Tata Motors

[directinjection]

Originally Posted by Ashley2

AFAIK, these are Next generation LCV/ICV from Tata Motors

Yes, this looks like the new, Y-1 based 709/712 replacement. The wipers and load body look identical to those of existing 709s. Can't they make the load body more modern?

Originally Posted by sschivate

Some 10 years ago, Tata had come up with Tata - Cummins joint venture, with trucks/buses getting Cummins engines. It was marked by Cummins logo next to the model number (1312 TC). Have both Tata and Cummins walked out of this partnership?

No, the partnership continues.

[Ashley2]

Originally Posted by directinjection

.... Can't they make the load body more modern?

But what to look for modern in load body ?

[julupani]

The truck seem to be at best a 4tonner. May be a more modern equivalent of the 407 series. But it seems a big mish-mash of components from other existing trucks. The cab shape looks a lot like an overgrown Super Ace, while the rear light cluster is from that of the Prima.

Its definitely not from the Prima series of trucks, that is the "World Truck" in the title. The Prima series is a modular series and was not designed to come so low in the product portfolio. The smallest of the Prima series will be the 11ton GVW trucks in India. Though dont expect to see any of them in India any time soon. As even these will have 250+hp engines on them, something India is definitely not ready for. In Korea these are sold now with 260/280hp engines.

[directinjection]

Originally Posted by julupani

The truck seem to be at best a 4tonner. May be a more modern equivalent of the 407 series.

Definitely not, unless by 4-tonner you mean 4 tonne payload. It belongs to the 709 class if you examine the load body size and number of tyres at the rear.

Originally Posted by julupani

Though dont expect to see any of them in India any time soon. As even these will have 250+hp engines on them, something India is definitely not ready for. In Korea these are sold now with 260/280hp engines.

They tailor their products as per market requirement, so it is possible they may offer lower HP engines in India. Case in point is 713 that Tata sells abroad, notably in South Africa. It's a 7 tonne GVW truck but fitted with 130 HP six cylinder 697 engine which was offered here in India only on bigger trucks.

[julupani]

Originally Posted by directinjection

Definitely not, unless by 4-tonner you mean 4 tonne payload. It belongs to the 709 class if you examine the load body size and number of tyres at the rear.



They tailor their products as per market requirement, so it is possible they may offer lower HP engines in India. Case in point is 713 that Tata sells abroad, notably in South Africa. It's a 7 tonne GVW truck but fitted with 130 HP six cylinder 697 engine which was offered here in India only on bigger trucks.

Well, I dont think its a 7ton GVW truck at all. It is at beast 4-5tons GVW and not payload. You cant really see the size of the load body too well at all. The number of tyres cant tell you anything at all, as even the present 410 comes with 4 rear tyres, and not two. Though technically the 410 is actually a 5ton GVW vehicle.

As for a low end Prima, Tata are not looking to dilute its premium image at all. Which is why I said dont expect to see low powered Prima trucks at all. So in my opinion, at worst you will see a Prima 1123T. Till now, Tata have showcased only two rigid Prima trucks in India, they are the 3138T and the 1128T.

What's relevant in this discussion is that the truck pictured is definitely not a Prima, as the cab doesnt match.

[directinjection]

Originally Posted by julupani

Well, I dont think its a 7ton GVW truck at all. It is at beast 4-5tons GVW and not payload. You cant really see the size of the load body too well at all. The number of tyres cant tell you anything at all, as even the present 410 comes with 4 rear tyres, and not two. Though technically the 410 is actually a 5ton GVW vehicle.

You seem to be arguing for argument's sake. The truck is obviously closer to 709 than 407. Why is the number of tyres irrelevant? What is the percentage of 410/407 with four tyres at the rear to the ones with two? Incidentally, even 407 was available with four rear tyres, as option while all 410s seen by me on the road had two rear tyres. 407 became a 5.3 GVW truck in 1988, only two years after launch.

Originally Posted by julupani

What's relevant in this discussion is that the truck pictured is definitely not a Prima, as the cab doesnt match.

It's not the Prima as we know now. Nothing prevents TM from going in for brand extensions under the Prima trade mark.

[julupani]

Originally Posted by directinjection

You seem to be arguing for argument's sake. The truck is obviously closer to 709 than 407. Why is the number of tyres irrelevant? What is the percentage of 410/407 with four tyres at the rear to the ones with two? Incidentally, even 407 was available with four rear tyres, as option while all 410s seen by me on the road had two rear tyres. 407 became a 5.3 GVW truck in 1988, only two years after launch.



It's not the Prima as we know now. Nothing prevents TM from going in for brand extensions under the Prima trade mark.

This is not an argument at all, as no-one can truly know anything to a certainty. I am just putting forward my viewpoints and outlining the reasons for my viewpoints. I think I am allowed to do that.

I am surprised to see that you have not seen 410 with 4 rear tyres. I rarely see a new one from the last 3-4 years which doesnt have 4 rear tyres.

As for it not being the Prima, again its only my view, not a court ruling. Tata took more than half a decade to come up with the Prima, and after that they announced the Prima would encompass trucks from 10-75ton GVW and I think 200-600hp engines. If they wanted to go lower, I think they would have said so before hand. Of course nothing is stopping them from re-launching even the Ace under the Prima family. But in my view they wont.

[silversteed]

Those look good Some good looking LCVs going to hit Indian roads!

[ram.west]

Originally Posted by KALINGA

Is this the same truck ?
Or its another one. Spotted on Pune-Bangalore highway.

Think this might be a Nissan CV. Spotted a similar looking LHD Nissan Cabster with On Test board in Chennai yesterday.