Tata Motors bets big on all-Signa range of M&HCVs

As Autocar Professional had indicated in its December 15, 2015 issue, India’s largest commercial vehicle maker, Tata Motors is working on developing a new brand of medium & heavy commercial vehicles (M&HCV). The company has, at the Auto Expo in Greater Noida, unveiled the new range of M&HCVs called ‘Signa’.

The new Signa trucks will replace the existing range of mass market products and will roll out over the next 12 months. At the expo, Tata Motors displayed three variants from the Signa range – the Signa 4923.S tractor, the Signa 3118.T multi-axle truck and the Signa 2518.K tipper. The range will extend to other segments as the company introduces more products in various configurations.

Unlike the traditional mass market products which prefer a cowl body in the haulage segment, Signa will have a newly designed cabin with proven Tata Motors aggregates aimed at delivering  a world-class trucking experience.

With its smartly designed cabin space, improved ergonomics and NVH levels, the Signa range of cabins is built to offer a superior in-cab experience, enabling drivers to operate fatigue-free over long hauls, which in turn offers significant improvement in productivity. With an inbuilt telematics system, by Tata Fleetman, the new Signa range empowers fleet operators with a more connected experience to better manage their transport business through optimum driver, vehicle and fuel management.

In a bid to consolidate its position in the intermediate commercial vehicle (ICV) segment, Tata Motors unveiled the Ultra 1518, an all-new production-ready variant from the Ultra range of Intermediate and Light Commercial Vehicles. With a fully-built extended sleeper cabin, the Ultra 1518 is designed to enhance operational efficiencies for a commercial vehicle operator, with faster turnaround. Equipped with three seats and a sleeper bed, the Ultra 1518 aims to deliver  fatigue-free operations, thereby multiplying productivity with the vehicle constantly on the move, ensuring quicker returns on investment.

Speaking at the Signa launch, Ravi Pisharody, executive director, Commercial Vehicle Business Unit, Tata Motors, said, “For over six decades, we at Tata Motors have played a significant role in defining the Indian commercial vehicle landscape, recognising customer needs and introducing game-changing product and categories. The new Signa range of M&HCVs and the Ultra 1518, is a showcase of that strength, aimed at increasing fleet efficiency and at the same time attracting the best drivers. With these offerings, we hope to bring modern trucking mainstream, addressing emerging needs, for a safe, comfortable and connected commercial vehicle experience.”

Along with these products, Tata Motors also displayed the Ace Mega XL small CV, with an 8 feet loading deck for last-mile connectivity; the Magic Iris Ziva, a gearless, clutch-less futuristic hydrogen fuel cell vehicle; and the Ultra1415 4x4 equipped with a snow plough and a hydraulic crane. Drawing showgoers’ attention was the Starbus Hybrid, the world's first commercially produced CNG hybrid bus, which uses using electric and CNG modes (BS IV compliant) as fuel, and the zero emission Ultra Electric bus. And making its presence felt was the Prima 4040.S long haulage articulated tractor with key safety features such as a Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS) and Autonomous Emergency Braking System (AEBS) and the T1 Prima racing truck.