Tata Motors has signalled its intentions to take the intermediate and light commercial vehicles (ILCV) segment by storm with the nation-wide launch of its Next-Gen Ultra range of trucks. At a launch function in Pune, the company showcased the Next-Gen Ultra range comprising 14 trucks and covering over 50 different applications that give customers a wide range of variants and features to select from.
Attributing the nation-wide launch of Next-Gen Ultra range of trucks from its stable a little late, since some of the vehicles can already be seen plying with customers, Mr. Guenter Butschek, CEO and MD, Tata Motors, claimed the exercise was an intentional one: “Some of our Next-Gen Ultra trucks are already on the road being tested by our customers; you might be wondering why we are late with the official launch. We call it experiential marketing, where a brand directly engages with consumers, invites and encourages them to participate in the evolution of a brand.” If the exercise that Tata Motors engaged itself in is to be measured in terms of the product it has managed to build, it appears to be one of the finest in the ILCV space.
Designed and created with engineering passion, offering class-leading features and driving comfort, the new ULTRA range of ILCV are powerful and robust trucks ranging from 7 tonne to 16 tonne GVW, with flexibility to cater to various fully build applications. One of the most important things to pick up from the launch is the Tata Motors’ futuristic and indigenous 3L and 5L Turbotronn series engines. This new range of trucks promises to deliver superior performance, increased pay-load capacity, industry best mileage, all leading to significant increase in revenues and the lowest cost of operation. “The cost of ownership and higher revenue earning potential is being taken care by the new Turbotronn engine in 3 L and 5 L capacity that powers the truck with horse power ranging from 125 to 210 and torque ranging from 350 to 850 Nm,” claimed Mr. Girish Wagh, President – Commercial Vehicle Business Unit, Tata Motors.
Variety for the growing ILCV segment
With the evolution of the hub and spoke model, boom in e-commerce business and restrictions on over-loading, the ILCV segment continues to grow in India. In addition to the capability of the vehicle, the Tata Ultra range have world-class cabin providing best-in-class driving comfort for the drivers, leading to fatigue-free driving for longer hours. The overall modularity of the Ultra Platform is such that it provides immense flexibility to address various customers’ and segmental needs. In its entire range, the Ultra trucks come with a number of combinations of cabins, day cabin/sleeper cabins, combinations in torque and horse-power wheel bases of 3.3 to 6.8 meters, cabin widths of 1.9 to 2.1 meters, deck lengths from 12 to 32 ft and, importantly, various applications like tippers, refrigerator vans, containers, tankers, municipal applications, poultry, two-wheeler carrier, and many more.
According to the company, the Ultra range will be available at Rs. 10-25 lakhs depending on various applications and models like the LPT 1014, 1518, Ultra City, the T.7 with AMT and T.14 with LNG. It will also be capable of meeting the Global Trucking Standards of emission, safety and features – tested and homologated into various geographies outside India, viz., South Africa, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, etc.
“Ultra-range of trucks comes with 14 trucks and more than 50 applications, which addresses the need of changing the Indian economy aptly. The modular range has not only helped us optimize the kerb weight but helped us offer better payload option at every tonnage point, which leads to higher revenue potential. With an increase of 2.7 per cent market share in this segment in FY18, we are confident that our Ultra range will set new benchmarks, further strengthening our leadership position. Overall, the last year has seen significant growth. While the industry grew by 21 per cent, we at Tata Motors grew by 23 per cent and therefore increased our market share. The ILCV segment grew 24 per cent to 1,05,000 units last year from 85,000 units in 2016-17. Tata Motors, however, clocked a robust growth at 37 per cent to 46,200 units last year,” informed an optimistic Wagh.
Amongst the vehicles on display were the Ultra T.7 with AMT and also the Ultra T.14 with LNG. Talking about the products, Mr. V. Seethapathi, Business Head – ILCV Trucks, said: “As the congestion increases in city, the start-stop motion of vehicles would increase and hence an AMT will be beneficial as it provides not only comfort to the driver but superior kmpl to the fleet owner in city conditions. The Ultra T.14 LNG has been built to demonstrate our readiness to leverage the environment friendly cleaner LNG fuel corridors being developed across India. The T.14 is with superior operating economics, enabled with comfortable driving features and durable power train, would lead the emerging LNG market providing profitable business to our valued customers. It can carry 450 litres in 2 cylinders and can go around 1,500 km without any refill. The LNG corridor that is getting developed Delhi-Mumbai, Mumbai-Cochin is a huge promise, as it ensures faster turnaround time and increase profit for our customers.”
Eliminating the apprehension amongst the customers on how an LNG truck can carry heavy load on long haul application, Mr. Rajendra M. Petkar, CTO (Officiating) & Head (Power Systems Engg.), Engineering Research Centre, TML, said: “LNG is liquified natural gas compressed in liquified form and stored in the cryogenic tanks on the vehicles. It is a green and clean fuel. Compared to the CNG, the LNG doesn’t have a limited range and hence it is preferred for long haul application, where one does not have to worry about the fuel getting exhausted. The Government is giving a lot of thrust in setting up the LNG stations at dedicated corridor from Kerala to Gujarat and Gujarat to Delhi. So, the requirement will catch up in these areas, and soon the fleet operator would shed his apprehensions regarding the vehicles load carrying capacity.”
The Ultra range also offers Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking and advanced telematics solutions and thereby helping customers track and control vehicles anywhere in the country. Service includes features like real-time fleet tracking, SMS and email alerts, geo-fencing and remote unit management all designed to address the business needs of fleet owners and customers.
It also comes with a Standard warranty of 3 years / 3 lakhs km, supported by an extensive country-wide network for sales, service and spareparts. Customers will benefit from a host of excellent aftermarket support through value added services, under the umbrella of ‘Sampoorna Seva’, including a 24X7 workshop, doorstep service enabled by mobile workshops, TATA PROLIFE – for reconditioned aggregates, AMC packages, breakdown assistance, accidental insurance for drivers and dedicated on-site container workshops on the highways of India.