Tata Motors launches 14-strong Ultra range of intermediate LCVs

Tata Motors is fast upping the ante, both in its mainstay commercial vehicle business as well as in the passenger vehicle segment. In August 2017, the company had announced its aggressive growth game-plan to regain 5 percent market share. In FY2018, the company sold a total of 376,456 CVs, growing its market share to 43.96 percent from 42.80 percent in FY2017. 

With the overall LCV market booming in the country (516,140 units / +25.42%), due to surging demand for inter-city and last-mile transportation across multiple applications, Tata Motors has turned its attention to making the most of the opportunity.

The CV major today launched its 14-strong Ultra range of intermediate LCVs (ILCVs), which have 50 applications. These are powerful, robust trucks ranging from 7-  to 16-tonne GVW with the flexibility to cater to various fully built applications. Powered by indigenously developed 3L and 5L Turbotronn series engines, Tata Motors says this new range of trucks offers superior performance, increased payload capacity and industry best mileage, which together enable  significant increase in revenues and lowest cost of operation.

New emission norms and implementation of GST have seen the emergence of a hub-and-spoke model of transportation wherein heavy trucks and trailers are used for long-distance transportation and small and intermediate trucks for city transportation. Over the years, the demand for small and light commercial vehicles has seen a significant uptick as demand for intra-city has increased with the ongoing boom in the e-commerce segment.  

L-R: Girish Wagh, president, CV Business Unit, Tata Motors; Guenter Butschek, CEO and MD, Tata Motors and Mr Seetapathi, product line head, Intermediate Light Commercial Vehicles (ILCV), Tata Motors at the launch of the Ultra range in Pune. 

Tata Motors, which first showcased the new Ultra range of trucks at Auto Expo earlier this year, says the Ultra range is capable of meeting global trucking standards of emission, safety, and features, and has been tested and homologated into various markets including South Africa, Malaysia, Philippines and Indonesia. These trucks, according to Tata, constitute a business utility vehicle for large fleet owners, captive users, fleet rental, e-commerce, and logistics.

Commenting on the launch of the Tata Ultra range, Girish Wagh, president – Commercial Vehicle Business Unit, Tata Motors, said, “The nation-wide launch of the new-generation Ultra range of trucks is an important milestone in our journey for the ILCV segment in India. With the evolution of hub-and-spoke model, boom in e-commerce business and restrictions on over-loading, the ILCV segment continues to grow."

"The comprehensive Ultra range is a result of extensive feedback received from our fleet owners, end consumers and drivers leading to a unique design language, based on comfort, convenience and superior performance. The range provides competitive cost of operations, highest reliability of timely delivery, superior safety features and best-in-class driving comfort. With an increase of 2.7 percent market share in this segment in FY2018, we are confident that our Ultra range will set new benchmarks, further strengthening our leadership position,” added Wagh. 

The Ultra range of trucks is powered by new-generation Turbotronn 3L and 5L diesel engines (pictured above) which develop between 125 to 210hp and have a torque range from 360 to 840 Nm. The engines are mated to a wide range of gearbox configurations in 5- and 6-speed condfiguration in manual and AT versions.

Manufactured at the Pune Plant, the entire Ultra range also comes with a power steering system and front parabolic suspension for driving comfort and new-generation engines are future-ready and is scalable for BS VI norms.

The Ultra's cabin offers the driver top-notch levels of visibility, safety and driving comfort. It has provisions for the fitment of various accessories coupled with a walk-through cabin and ergonomically designed interfaces offer a fatigue-less driving experience. The 45-degree hydraulic tilt cabin meets strict European Safety Norms, a segment first from Tata Motors.

Modular platform
The overall modularity of the Ultra Platform enables the truckmaker  to address various customer and segment aspirations – various combinations of day, wider and sleeper cabins, Turbotronn engines ranging from 125 to 210hp,  a range of wheelbases of 3.3 to 6.8 metres, cabin widths of 1.9 to 2.1 metres, deck lengths from 12 to 32 feet and various applications like tippers, reefers, containers, tankers, poultry, two-wheeler carriers, municipal applications and auto logistics among other.

Tata Motors says Ultra trucks offer GPS tracking and advanced telematics solutions, enabling easy vehicle tracking anywhere in the country. The Ultra range comes with a standard warranty of 3 years / 300,000km, supported by an extensive country-wide network for sales, service and spare parts.

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