Set to redefine small commercial vehicle landscape in India
Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., the only manufacturer in the country to have presence from two-wheelers to aerospace, recently launched its all-new small commercial vehicle, Jeeto, from its Zaheerabad plant in Telangana. This is the first-ever product in its category with a modular range of eight mini-trucks to cater to the varied needs of the sub-1 tonne load segment customers. Priced competitively, Jeeto starts at Rs. 2.32 lakhs (ex-showroom Telangana for BS III) and will be available in the S, L and X series catering to mini-truck, micro-truck and three-wheeler customers.
The extended facility of the automotive plant was inaugurated by the Telangana Chief Minister, Mr. K. Chandrashekar Rao, on April 22 last.
Speaking at the launch of Jeeto, Dr. Pawan Goenka, Executive Director, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., said: “At Mahindra we have regularly created disruptions in the market with our alternative thinking, and the Jeeto with its unique value proposition is a clear validation of this philosophy. A true ‘Make-in-India’ vehicle with a modular platform, the Jeeto is poised to redefine the landscape of the small commercial vehicle industry within India and drive positive change by providing its customers with a higher earning potential. It is also a matter of pride for us that through the launch of this product, we are able to participate in the industrialization of the newest State of India, Telangana”.
“In fact, the capacity of the Zaheerabad plant has gone up multifold, from a mere 20,000 units when Mahindra took over from the earlier promoter 20 years ago to the current level of 2.50 lakh units. This has become possible due to M&M’s focus on technology and an aggressive marketing approach. In order to provide instant delivery of components, Mahindra will establish an industrial park near the Zaheerabad operations. Six vendors have already shown their interest to establish their facilities”, Dr. Goenka said while answering a question from MOTORINDIA.
Mr. Pravin Shah, President & Chief Executive (Automotive) Mahindra & Mahindra, observed: “Being a listening organization, we have identified specific need gaps amongst the customers in the sub-1 tonne category through various consumer insights and feedback. To fulfill these latent and existing customer needs we have launched the Jeeto, India’s first modular small commercial vehicle with multiple options. This vehicle will play a significant role in last mile distribution and will be a compelling option for both stand operators and small and medium scale businessmen and traders, with higher earning potential and better mileage. We are sure, as with other Mahindra products, the Jeeto will go a long way in helping our customers prosper in life in line with our Mahindra Rise philosophy”.
In his presentation, Mr. Vivek Nayer, Chief Marketing Officer, Mahindra & Mahindra, gave some examples of “how Jeeto fulfills the customer needs?”. He explained that both a snack distributor and a components retailer need a vehicle for moving cargo and delivering the goods. Here, M&M offers an ideal product of high fuel efficiency and affordability.
Earlier, in his welcome address, Mr. Vijay Nakra, Vice President, Mahindra & Mahindra, said: “At the Zaheerabad plant, covering an area of 350 acres, we manufacture small commercial vehicles and some of our personal products.”
The Zaheerabad plant has won eight times in a row the President Award for Energy Conservation. In the the highly competitive small commercial vehicle segment (SCV), the company enjoys close to 43 per cent marketshare.
The Jeeto will be a game-changer in last-mile distribution with its modular range, as it offers multiple options to choose from – 2 powertrains of 8.2 kW (11 hp) and 11.9 Kw (16 hp), 2 payloads of 600 and 700 kg and 3 deck lengths of 1630 mm (5.5 ft), 1780 mm (6 ft) and 1930 mm (6.5 ft). These combinations will be available across a range of eight mini-trucks, namely, S series (S6-11, S6-16), L series (L6-11, L6-16, L7-11, L7-16) and X series (X7-11, X7-16) and will lend the Mahindra Jeeto an unmatched versatility and superior efficiency to haul goods across different segments.
Powered by m_Dura, an all-new Direct Injection (DI) diesel engine from the Mahindra stable, Jeeto is designed for refined performance and delivers fuel efficiency of upto 37.6 km/l. Further coupled with lower maintenance cost and the ability to carry varied load options effectively, Jeeto, will deliver upto 30 per cent (X7-16 variant compared in its category with similar payload and power) higher profit than its nearest competitor.
The vehicle also comes with a class-leading warranty of two years/40,000 km, whichever is earlier. It will be available in five attractive colours of Diamond White, Sunrise Red, Mango Yellow, Ultramarine Blue and Premium Biege.
Key features
The Jeeto is designed to offer eight models with options of payload, power and deck length to choose from. It is also an aspirational product for three-wheeler buyers.
The vehicle sports a stylish and contemporary exterior with an impressive characteristic front grille that lends it a distinguished look. Also, bringing in a touch of exclusivity are the dual tone interiors and a contemporary dashboard. It has many car-like features such as a large cabin space with better headroom and legroom for greater comfort and comfortable seats to make the journey more pleasant, especially over long distances.
Equipped with more power and torque it leads the pack of load carriers in the segment, with ease of driveability and load carrying capacity even on gradients. The cabin has been designed to provide better safety to the driver and co-driver in the event of a crash. In addition, seat belt systems, head restraints and bucket seat provide safety against sudden impact.
The Jeeto’s compact size and smooth steering give it an easier manoeuvrability in narrow city lanes and by-lanes. Further, the vehicle also boasts of best-in-class pick-up and acceleration for better driveability on busy city roads.
