[Dippy]

Daimler India Commercial Vehicles(DICV), today unveiled the Company-owned, state-of-the-art Test Track at their upcoming facility in Oragadam, near Chennai. This is the Company’s first important step towards its strategy to develop, manufacture and launch trucks for the Indian market, beginning mid-2012.

DICV began construction of the Test Track in April 2009, and testing has already commenced. Construction of the upcoming plant is on schedule. DICV has planned a total investment of Rs. 4400 crores over the next five years. The company will manufacture light, medium and heavy duty trucks at its 400 acre facility in Oragadam, near Chennai.

This state-of-the-art Test Track spread across 47 acres (approximately) is the latest for Daimler Trucks. The other major Tracks are located are at Woerth, Germany and Kitsuregawa, Japan. The 3-lane Test Track runs 1.55 kilometers on the outer track, equipped with a noise pad and a jump section. The inner track runs 1.16 kilometers and includes a bump track, pothole testing and articulation sections. Other facilities include a water trough, an
inspection ramp and a control tower. Tests facilities such as grade-ability and steering are being planned for subsequent implementation.

DICV has a base of 400 employees, both Indian and German. Production at the plant will be defined in a two-phase concept, to produce a maximum capacity of 70,000 units.

Some pictures of the new track

A view of the DICV Test Track



The three lane super elevation



The 40, 832 cobble stone bump track



Articulation and Pot hole testing facilities



The super elevation

[Sudan_NFS]

I never know that DICV have a facility steup near chennai, it's a great surprise for me and I am also impressed the way they are investing in this segment.
I would be even more happy if they setup an MB factory here for cars.

[A350XWB]

That's a nice looking facility and this shows that Daimler is serious about it's Indian operations. Good to see the CV market opening up.

[Ashley2]

It shows the commitment and the trust they have on Indian market.

By the way check the six poster installed by AL in its Tech Centre in Chennai - One of its knid in India.
It virtually simulates any road conditions in earth.
Also check the similar kind of test track in AL

[GTO]

The tarmac section, and oval, makes me drool! Now, how can we get it for private use, Dippy? . Say, for Vtec'ing around the track

[aargee]

Thanks for sharing the pics Dippy; Truly, Chennai, auto capital of India

[hanmust]

Daimler Trucks Unveils Truck Test Track in Oragadam, near Chennai, India

Press Release:

Chennai, Indien,Mar 19, 2010

• Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV) opens new test track in preparation for launch of truck production in 2012
• DICV will manufacture light, medium, and heavy duty trucks for the Indian volume market
• Planned investment of roughly €700 million over the next five years

Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV) opened its new truck test track in Oragadam, near Chennai (formerly Madras) yesterday. The company-owned, state-of-the-art test track, which is located on the grounds of the DICV truck plant currently under construction in Oragadam, represents Daimler Trucks’ first important milestone as part of its strategy to develop and manufacture trucks for the Indian volume market. The trucks are scheduled to be launched on the market beginning in mid-2012.


Construction of the DICV test track began in April 2009; truck testing has already commenced. Construction of the new DICV production plant is also on schedule. DICV has planned a total investment of Rs. 44 billion (roughly €700 million euros) over the next five years. The company will manufacture light, medium, and heavy duty trucks at its roughly 160 hectare facility in Oragadam.


“The Indian truck industry has been steadily progressing toward modern generation products in line with the requirements of the market,” says Marc Llistosella, CEO of DICV. “Keeping in mind the Indian customers’ need for high-quality and reliable trucks, we are confident that we will fully meet their expectations with our products. Our trucks offer high quality and an outstanding priceerformance ratio. Our new test track, which is one-of-a-kind in South Asia, is an important step towards ensuring this commitment,” adds Llistosella.


Daimler Trucks now has the ability to thoroughly test trucks in South Asia at the state-of-the-art Indian test facility spread across approximately 19 hectares. The test track has two different tracks. The three-lane outer track has a total length of 1.55 kilometers and is specially designed for testing the power train and driving noise. The two-lane inner track is1.16 kilometers long and includes a variety of India-specific poor road features. This track offers special testing opportunities, including a water trough, a dusty road and poor road surfaces. Facilities for testing gradeability and steering will be added in the near future.


Llistosella sees the test track as the successful product of German and Indian collaboration. “Numerous customer studies and measurements were considered during the construction of the test track to ensure a realistic simulation of the road conditions in India. Our trucks will have to undergo a variety of tests to offer our customers high standards of product performance.”


DICV currently has roughly 400 employees from both India and Germany. Production of the light, medium, and heavy duty trucks at the Oragadam plant is scheduled to begin in 2012 and will have a maximum capacity of 70,000 units.

Source: Daimler AG

[avishar]

That banked curve and that super smooth straight.Somehow trucks dont come to my mind when i see that!
But great to see such commitment for india.

[directinjection]

Tata Motors has had such test tracks since early 1970s, being the only auto manufacturer in the country to have them at that time. Will post pics from my archives sometime.

[aman9393]

Originally Posted by avishar

That banked curve and that super smooth straight.Somehow trucks dont come to my mind when i see that!
But great to see such commitment for india.

Those pictures are totally drool worthy!
This shows Daimler's commitment towards India.

[Mpower]

Wow! A banked oval too? awesome!

So how many tracks does TN have now. 4? MMST, Kari, Sholavaram and now this.

PS: Look at the size of that potholes!!

[designersf]

Originally Posted by Mpower

Wow! A banked oval too? awesome!

So how many tracks does TN have now. 4? MMST, Kari, Sholavaram and now this.

PS: Look at the size of that potholes!!

I think even Ford, Hyundai and Nissan are having suc a track. Every car maker would have a test track but the size of Daimler's is huge.

[greatmana2000]

The track looks amazing , but on the contrary why did they have to build it ? I guess the bosses never had a chance to travel on the indian roads . If they had travelled they would have saved a lot of money . the test track looks like a much better road than what we see everyday .. hehe