Eicher launches new 250hp Pro 6049 and Pro 6041

Eicher Trucks & Buses, part of VE Commercial Vehicles, has launched two new heavy duty trucks in the domestic market. Expanding its Pro 6000 series range, the company today introduced two new trucks – the Eicher Pro 6049 and Eicher Pro 6041 – in the 49-tonne and 41-tonne categories respectively.

The new Eicher Pro 6049 tractor-trailer, which addresses the mass market for a variety of applications in the 6x4 tractor category, is designed to deliver optimum performance and peak power at 250hp. It deploys the VEDX BS IV SCR engine, newly designed ergonomics and robust Eicher aggregates for best-in-class fuel efficiency.  

The Eicher Pro 6041 is India’s first 41-tonnage rigid haulage truck and offers a payload advantage of 3.5 tonnes over a 37-tonnage truck. The vehicle is powered by the VEDX8 engine, which develops 250hp and 950 Nm torque, claimed to be the highest power and torque combination in its segment. The Pro 6041 is also the first vehicle in its segment to get an overdrive gearbox for higher top speed and better mileage. 

L-R: A Rama Rao, senior VP (Sales, Marketing, Heavy Duty), VECV and Vinod Aggarwal, MD and CEO, VECV, with the new Eicher Pro 6041.

Commenting on the new products, Vinod Aggarwal, MD and CEO, VE Commercial Vehicles, said, “The commercial vehicle industry in India is very dynamic and going through a lot of transformation with migration to more productive and higher tonnage trucks. With the implementation of GST and better road infrastructure, this migration is only going to become more pronounced.” 

 “The Eicher Pro 6049 and Pro 6041 are designed to maximise business profitability while optimizing on the overall cost efficiency. Both these trucks boast class-leading fuel efficiency and industry first features like revolutionary ‘Mbooster +’ technology that optimises acceleration through multi-mode system, Volvo Group Engine Management System EMS 3.0 for precise fuel injection, a power packed and reliable driveline, Intelligent Driver Information System (IDIS) with unique ‘Fuel Coaching’ feature for real-time fuel efficiency improvements, state-of the- art Eicher Live telematics, and host of other value added offerings, thus bringing improvement to all key transportation elements like fuel efficiency, productivity, uptime and safety.”

Capacity expansion and investments

VECV, currently has a manufacturing capacity to produce 84,000 trucks per annum, scalable up to 100,000 units; 15,000 buses per annum scalable up to 17,000 units and 34,000 engines, scalable up to 100,0000 units at its Pithampur plant. The company which is nearing its peak capacity utilisation has plans to further increase its manufacturing capacity via adding additional shifts and investing in new manufacturing unit that will have a capacity of around 40-50,000 units per annum, which is awaiting board approval. According to Aggarwal the company has been investing around Rs 400-500 crore per annum over the years and the company will see a similar pattern going forward.

The investment could be scaled up to Rs 600 crore depending on the conditions and requirement, which will see the company set up a new manufacturing unit with an announcement expected in the next two months and additionally towards upgradation for BS VI engines. As the company already manufactures Euro 6 compliant engines, the transition towards BS VI will not be a problem. In fact, the company states that the introduction of new safety norms, BS VI, and other factors will drive demand for manufacturers who offer premium-products and thus will translate to improved sales.

Future growth

As per Aggarwal, in the domestic market the company saw average sales of around 1,000 units per month in FY2018, and is now targeting 1,500 units per month in FY2019. On the exports front, the company has started exporting to new markets of Indonesia and sees a huge potential for LHD buses in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia, African and South Eastern markets.

The company claims being a strong contender in the Indian commercial vehicle market, it has market share of 32.2 percent in the light-to-medium segment; 17.2 percent in Buses and 4.6 in heavy-duty vehicles. It aims to get a market share of 10 percent in the heavy-duty segment.

Being the first in the industry to commercially launch the 41-tonne truck, it sees demand to be driven by infrastructure development and fleet transporters for the new product. It claims that the product which brings state-of-the-art technology including a superior engine, cruise control, telematics (as a standard) and driver comfort among others that will see a wider adoption.