[vharihar]

Originally Posted by santoshnair

i agree so does this call for a more professional and quality approach?

Its not that simple.

Firstly, you need to give it more time. Toyota, Honda, Volvo, Suzuki didnt get overnight to where they are. It took them decades. It also calls for stable governance (read on).

Lets take Tata's example, in India. They need to be able to attract talent back from the developed companies (eg. highly qualified (read PhD) and experienced people from Detroit, Japan, Germany, etc). People of Indian origin would be the likely targets. These people need to come back and *stay* with Tata for 10-15 years. They would bring with them their valuable experience. Over 10-15 yrs, they would disseminate their experience/work-practices amongst others in Tata. (Their staying put for 10-15 yrs calls for stable governance. You cant have bandhs, threats from Shiv Sena, MNS threatening to attack non-Maharashtrians, etc; you can imagine how easily this would make an expatriate go back to Detroit when he sees that his kids cant go to school safely, his wife cant go to the movies safely, etc)

Its not just a matter of "Quality". This is a common misconception amongst people, where defects are routinely blamed on "poor QA". True, poor QA plays some role. But when you have repeat problems, it is more likely a design flaw than a flaw in QA.

In other words, even if Tata's QA staff worked as diligently as Toyota's QA staff, the present day Tata car would not be as good as a Toyota. (eg. Toyota's R&D would have developed (and patented) an amazing material that when coated on the insides of the engine cylinder would make it more resistant to deformation due to thermal stresses, thereby being more reliable. These things are "design" innovations, not QA fixes)

Dont get depressed. Its all happening, just give it more time.

[r_nairtvm]

Originally Posted by santoshnair

i agree so does this call for a more professional and quality approach?

Very much and more!

Tata through their recent purchases and AL through the Scania has the access to the technology. Now they develope a corporate will to make available the same quality products in India as well.

But this can not be one sided. The Indian consumers are a "strange lot" to say the least

Even in this age the main primary question you hear for any automobile - be it performance machine or mundane daily commuter vehicle - is "milage kithna deta hai! Most don't bother about what comes with it. For most "performace" = KPL and nothing more. Only a few ask about the real performance and the convenience/facilities that come with it. Such discerning public/customers are few and far in between (look at the fate of Escorts Rajdoot RD 350)

With competetion things will have to change. It will be a slow to medium fast process. When more and more people make concious decision to use the superior rides of the likes of Volvo, then the lond distance bust operators including the STCs will be forced to make the switch (take the case of Kerala STC). When process is repeated thousabds of time accross India the likes of Tata & AL will feel the need to deliver more quality to stay in business.

Fortunately the like of Volvo etc seem to be in for the long play in India (as Suzuki did with MUL) and this will haul the market around

Let us hope for the best

Best Regards & Drive/Ride safe

Ram

[teamveevee]

Originally Posted by r_nairtvm

AL through the Scania has the access to the technology

What is the connection here? Did i miss any recent news?

Originally Posted by r_nairtvm

STCs will be forced to make the switch (take the case of Kerala STC).

As far as i know, KerRTC runs Volvo bus only in the Tvm-Bangalore route. Are they planning to start more long distance buses using Volvo.

Originally Posted by r_nairtvm

Volvo etc seem to be in for the long play in India

Depends on how long the parent can afford to pump money in India operations.

[Ashley2]

Originally Posted by teamveevee

What is the connection here? Did i miss any recent news?

Certainly not. Scania has nothing todo with ALL. As we know they are with L&T only

[r_nairtvm]

Originally Posted by teamveevee

What is the connection here? Did i miss any recent news?

Originally Posted by Ashley2

Certainly not. Scania has nothing todo with ALL. As we know they are with L&T only

I am the one who missed out on the recent news!

Best Regards & Drive/Ride Safe

Ram

[binaiks]

Originally Posted by r_nairtvm

Tata through their recent purchases and AL through the Scania has the access to the technology. Now they develope a corporate will to make available the same quality products in India as well.

I guess ALL took over Avia - there is no relation with Scania, AFAIK.

Originally Posted by teamveevee

As far as i know, KerRTC runs Volvo bus only in the Tvm-Bangalore route. Are they planning to start more long distance buses using Volvo.

They do have plans for more Volvo services. According to the CMD, only their Volvo buses make some money, while their Globus/AC services are not very popular with passengers (owing to comfort and reliability issues). They do have plans to upgrade their Interstate AC services to Volvos - but $$$ is the issue. The corporation is out of money, and making such purchases is out of question for the time being.

[Transsenger]

Good news for KeSRTC...6 more Volvo LE buses spotted on their way to Trivandrum. And inside sources from KeSRTC indicate that among the new 6, 4 will join the present 7 at Cochin and 2 will join the present 8 at Trivandrum.

[Ashley2]

Originally Posted by r_nairtvm

Even in this age the main primary question you hear for any automobile - be it performance machine or mundane daily commuter vehicle - is "milage kithna deta hai! Most don't bother about what comes with it. For most "performace" = KPL and nothing more.

Atleast this attributes directly to performance in this part of world.
IMHO, its nothing wrong asking "Mileage Kya hai" and deciding ur purchase based on that.And I am sure performance is nothing without mileage.
Mileage is the other side of efficiency.
Less you burn, more you go.This is some thing highly technical and cant be attained easily ..u need a cleaner,meaner and greener engiens for tomorrow and not just drinking fuels.

Originally Posted by binaiks

but $$$ is the issue. The corporation is out of money, and making such purchases is out of question for the time being.

Then bring down the Cerita's - The Kareeem Rath of road ways.
And KeSRTC can claim we are the first to introduce those services between TVM and BLR.

[teamveevee]

Originally Posted by binaiks

They do have plans to upgrade their Interstate AC services to Volvos - but $$$ is the issue. The corporation is out of money, and making such purchases is out of question for the time being.

That is great news, as long as they make money, I really wish they use Volvos in Changanachery-Velamkanni route.

Originally Posted by Transsenger

Good news for KeSRTC...6 more Volvo LE buses spotted on their way to Trivandrum. And inside sources from KeSRTC indicate that among the new 6, 4 will join the present 7 at Cochin and 2 will join the present 8 at Trivandrum.

Please Dont waste money on City Volvos and spent the money on Interstate Volvos. Look what happened to the MTC Volvos...Hope the same wont happen to TVM, Kochi Volvos.

[binaiks]

Originally Posted by teamveevee

Please Dont waste money on City Volvos and spent the money on Interstate Volvos. Look what happened to the MTC Volvos...Hope the same wont happen to TVM, Kochi Volvos.

The City Volvos are making some money in Kochi (The last I heard was a revenue of 38 per km in Kochi and 20 in Trivandrum - the running expense was 47 per km in both cities). Although the service was no where near making a profit, they are surely improving by the day (atleast in Kochi).

Trivandrum still looks immature to host such services, but Kochi surely has the potential. The 4 new buses are expected to run across the city (the current ones run on the highway, on the outskirts of the city).

[Transsenger]

Originally Posted by Transsenger

Good news for KeSRTC...6 more Volvo LE buses spotted on their way to Trivandrum. And inside sources from KeSRTC indicate that among the new 6, 4 will join the present 7 at Cochin and 2 will join the present 8 at Trivandrum.

The new lot of JnNURM Volvo buses...

[TKMCE]

In TRV-KeSRTC Volvos dont make money because they are mostly operating on routes which already has a high density of services including City FPs which cost a fraction of the Volvos. Their routes from Kochu Veli station willl make money if they are linked with train departures. So will the services from the airport again if they are timed to leave as soon as a few domestic flights arrive -eg departures at 2 PM and 3 PM will do the trick as will one around 9 AM.

Longback in the late 1970s, early 1980s, the main "INTERNATIONAL" flight operating from Trivandrum was IC 167/168 to Mumbai which used to connect with a lot of international flights operating from BOM. AT that time foriegn airlines were not operating to TRV and KeSRTC started airport express services from the domestic airport connecting with the Mumbai flight. One was to Ernakulam via Alleppy and the other was to Kottayam and I think onward to Trichur via MC Road. These were hugely popular. Later on (and this was operating even 3-4 years back), KeSRTC started services from the International terminal as well around 8 AM (most of the international flights in TRV land between 4 and 7 AM). I think they were operating to Kannur and Ponnani .

[Ashley2]

Marcopolo's on their way to Chennai MTC.
Body looks simple and good but engine was heavily roaring and nothing much impressive.

[rjstyles69]

ashley you are true about the "roar " however the MARCOPOLO's are all sound and nogo. It doesn't stand a chance with the B7R's.

[Ashley2]

Originally Posted by rjstyles69

ashley you are true about the "roar " however the MARCOPOLO's are all sound and nogo. It doesn't stand a chance with the B7R's.

Its the game between 130 Vs 260.
Pitty, No comparison though..