Ashok Leyland is gearing up to garner a significant share of the bus market. The company recently received an order for 875 ultra low-floor buses from DTC, 350 of which are AC and the balance non-AC. With the JNNURM order for 15,000 vehicles coming up, the company expects big orders for its city buses in the next couple of months.
Ashok Leyland has been a pioneer in the bus segment. In the city bus segment, it offers a complete range, including an ultra low-floor bus with rear engine (230 to 260hp engines – CNG and diesel options), semi low-floor bus with front engine and rear engine options. The company can offer buses at <400>
These 12-metre- long buses will have 35 seats with a 2×2 configuration. Passenger ride comfort is further addressed through a wide 1100 mm door and kneeling facility for easy entry and exit as also comfortable grab bars and air suspension. A retractable ramp is a disabled-friendly feature. These buses, powered by a 230 hp engine, will be fitted with automatic transmission, speed limiting device and multiplex wiring.
The chassis and the body for the fully-built buses will be manufactured at Ashok Leyland’s Alwar plant, which had spearheaded the induction of CNG technology in Delhi buses, with a supply of over 3,500 CNG bus chassis. The infrastructure has since been augmented for bus body assembly, with ultra-modern facilities like a cubic framing fixture, hydraulic automated paneling, conveyors for automation, body lifting mechanisms, paint booth and a shower testing facility.
The company has established a capacity to manufacture 4,000 such buses per annum at its Alwar facility. It is also setting up its new plant in Uttaranchal which will be operational by March 2010.
