May 21, 2013: Ashok Leyland has launched its 2.5-tonne Dost small commercial vehicle in Madhya Pradesh with the inauguration of two new dealerships. The first – Landmark Commercial Vehicles – has opened its doors in Indore and the second – Suveesha Motors – in Bhopal. Both the dealerships are 3S (sales, service and spares) outlets equipped with state-of-the-art tools and modern infrastructure. The Indore dealership is also the 100th touch-point and forms part of a contemporary and exclusive LCV network set up across the 13 markets where the Dost has been introduced thus far. Three more dealerships are soon to be opened in Gwalior, Jabalpur and Satna. The Dost is priced at Rs 4.23 lakh (ex-showroom Indore and Bhopal) for the Madhya Pradesh market.
Speaking at the launch, Nitin Seth, executive director, LCV and Defence, Ashok Leyland, said: “We are proud to carry the huge success of the Dost in the 12 markets it has been launched in thus far with more than 45,000 vehicles already on the roads. We are confident of repeating its success story in this new market as well.”
The Dost, which has a payload capacity of 1.25 tonnes, is available in three trim levels with the top-end version equipped with AC and power steering. Ashok Leyland also has on offer Ready-to-Use Vehicles (RUVs) on the Dost platform for various applications such as refrigerated containers, steel containers, ambulance, aluminium fixed side decks and service-at-site vehicles.
The Dost, which has completed its first full fiscal year of sales, has sold a cumulative 34,917 units in the 12 states where it is currently marketed in India (see sales data below). In April 2013, it sold 1,882 units. The Dost currently has a market share of 5.58 percent in the 2-3.5-tonne category.
With a new dealership network of 100, the company is pitching for a pan-India presence for the Dost as well as kicking off exports. At the same time, plans are underway to augment its LCV portfolio with CNG and passenger versions of the Dost. Simultaneously, plans are underway to enhance the LCV portfolio with the introduction of new vehicles both in the goods and passenger segments. Ashok Leyland is also planning to introduce the Dost in the SAARC markets.
SHOBHA MATHUR