Tatas to roll out new truck range including a World Truck

A unique revamp is on at Tata Motors. A whole range of products in the commercial vehicles segment is in the restructuring department as the Indian motor giant is seriously mulling over introducing a new range of trucks.

Aimed at competing with global players, Tata Motors will launch new trucks in the Korean market in year 2008, said sources. The Indian automobile major has set in motion a joint venture company with Thonburi Automotive Assembly Plant, the Thailand-based independent assembler of automobiles, to manufacture, assemble and pick-up trucks. Tata Motors has been developing the World Truck, a top end heavy commercial vehicle along with its subsidiary Daewoo Commercial Vehicles on a completely new platform.

Tata Motors had sold as many as 298,586 units of commercial vehicles during the last fiscal, recording an increase of 22 per cent as compared with the figures posted during financial year 2005-06.

According to a report, Tata Motors is also considering options to set up a plant for its mini-truck, Ace, in India. The plant, said sources, is likely to come up in Uttarakhand with an investment of Rs 10 billion. The company has introduced commercial vehicle models in South Africa, launched Ace in Sri Lanka and also furnished its presence in Ghana, it may be noted.

Besides these, the Tata Daewoo Commercial Vehicle and Afzal Motors in Pakistan have commissioned a new truck and bus assembling plant in Karachi to assemble heavy-duty trucks.

Significantly, Tata Motors has been keen on launching a large truck for global markets for some time now. According to the company, its tie-up with Daewoo has given Tata Motors the confidence to build its own world truck.