Army orders 2,071 units of the Maruti Suzuki Gypsy

The Indian Army has placed an order for 2,071 units of the Maruti Suzuki Gypsy. The order is a part of an earlier tender. However, it was placed very recently. It could help Maruti Suzuki make close to Rs. 125 crore. Deliveries are expected to start in the coming months.

The off-roader falls under the GS500 (500 kg payload) category of vehicles and has been a favourite of the army. More than 35,000 units of the car have been delivered to the organisation since 1991. Last year, the army had ordered 4,000 units of the Gypsy.

Launched in 1985, the Gypsy started out with a 1.0-litre, 4-cylinder petrol engine that produced 45 BHP. In the nineties, Maruti gave it a more potent 1.3-litre, 4-cylinder unit with 80 BHP and 103 Nm of torque. It has a 5-speed manual gearbox and four-wheel drive. Apart from the army, the Gypsy is a favourite among off-roaders and rally drivers.

The Army is also planning to introduce a new category called GS800. For this segment, the army requires air-conditioned vehicles with a hard top and payload of 800 kg. The Tata Safari Storme and the Mahindra Scorpio have been shortlisted for this category. A tender for 3,200 vehicles is expected to be floated shortly.

Source: Economic Times