Eicher launched its Pro series truck at 12th Auto Expo. The new truck will meet the needs of the emerging mid-premium market segment that demands vehicles of higher power and durability, greater comfort and value-added enhanced features at economical cost. In addition, the company will continue addressing the mass-market segment that needs trucks with extra features at low cost of ownership.
Speaking at the launch, Mr. Siddhartha Lal, Managing Director and CEO, Eicher Motors Ltd., observed: “We have taken a giant step forward today with the launch of the Eicher Pro range. The next generation of Eicher trucks and buses aims to continuously improve transportation efficiency in India and the developing markets via relevant modernization, thereby reducing logistics costs for goods and people leading to economic growth and productivity.”
The Pro range, representing the future of Indian trucking, has been developed and manufactured as a result of the synergistic working between the Volvo Group and Eicher Motors Ltd. With the new launch, the Eicher brand enters a new phase of growth and consolidation in the commercial vehicle market.
Mr. Philippe Divry, Senior Vice President, Trucks Joint Venture India, said on the occasion: “The Volvo Group has global expertise in understanding the needs of truck customers, and we have been working with the VECV teams for more than five years now to develop new solutions for India. In the Indian CV industry, fuel efficiency is a major cost driver, and in this area, the Volvo Group’s technology and Eicher’s competence in frugal engineering have been very complementary. The new Pro series of trucks and buses will retain and even increase the well-known Eicher leadership in this domain.”
The mammoth product development initiative for the entire Pro series range in the 5-49 tonne gross vehicle weight range involved an investment of three million hours of engineering effort, 7.7 million km of testing and 50,000 hours of engine development. The new range will deliver higher profitability over vehicle’s life cycle, leading to real productivity improvements through best-in-class fuel efficiency, good driver comfort, better drivability and higher up-time.
Mr. Vinod Aggarwal, CEO, VE Commercial Vehicles Ltd., commented: “We will strive to produce the most technologically advanced, fuel efficient and safe products for our chosen markets, and provide superior up-time and best-in-class aftersales support to our customers. The Pro range ensures a level of quality and innovation that will continue to set standards in the commercial transportation industry in India and the developing world.”
The Eicher Pro series has undergone very stringent and gruelling test protocols to ensure superior up-time. Extensive testing has been done not only in the labs and on the Volvo Group’s torture track, but also with some of its customers in real world condition. The truck would meet the exacting needs of most market segments across haulage, distribution, construction, industrial loads, courier and perishables.