VE Commercial Vehicles Ltd., the Volvo-Eicher JV, held the ground-breaking ceremony for the upcoming Eicher bus manufacturing plant at Dhar near Indore. Being set up with an investment of Rs. 125 crores in the first phase, the plant will commence production by the second quarter of 2013. It will have a capacity to produce 10,000 buses when fully operational.
Apart from senior VECV executives, the occasion was also graced by the VECV Board members, including Mr. Siddhartha Lal, Mr. Bertil Thoren, Mr. Philippe Divry, Mr. Prateek Jalan and Mr. Raul Rai.
Addressing the gathering, Mr. Siddhartha Lal, Managing Director, VE Commercial Vehicles Ltd., said: “The Indian bus market is likely to cross 100,000 units by 2015 and demand for more contemporary, comfortable buses is on the rise. With this plant, VECV is planning a new range of buses which would be contemporary on technology, aesthetics and finish serving the customer needs both in the expanding domestic and export markets”.
Mr. Bertil Thoren, VECV Board member, said the new state-of-the-art plant will be another step towards the company vision of becoming a leading CV player in India and other emerging markets. “It will be set up under our overriding vision of driving modernisation in Indian commercial transportation.”
The multi-model bus manufacturing plant would produce light, medium and heavy duty buses, including rear engine semi low-floor buses catering to the requirements of the school, staff, city and inter-city segments. It will have robotic processes for bus painting and will be highly mechanized to ensure high quality consistency and productivity. A robust quality system is being institutionalised to sustain the quality supported with an in-house training centre for the blue-collar workmen.
Mr. Vinod Aggarwal, CEO, VE Commercial Vehicles Ltd., said: “Eicher has continued to garner impressive numbers in the Indian bus market. The year 2011 saw us improve our market share from 7 to 10 per cent and also gain significant entry into the State transport undertaking segment. The upcoming bus manufacturing plant will provide the necessary impetus to achieve our next trajectory of growth with best-in-class buses”.
Eicher has been a pioneer in driving innovation in the Indian bus segment and was instrumental in producing the first safe school bus in India. The bus was developed in association with the Institute of Road Traffic Education (IRTE) in 1996, thereby pioneering the school bus concept in the country.
Eicher buses provide superior fuel efficiency as well superior aesthetics and ergonomy as compared to the products from competitors.
