Ashok Leyland announces line-up for 2013-14

May 10: Ashok Leyland has announced its vehicle line-up for 2013-14. First up for launch is the much awaited MPV, Stile, slated for launch on 16 July. It also plans to launch the A-truck, built on the Avia platform and termed the ‘Boss’, in the same month.

The Boss will cater to the 8-16 tonne segment. Later in the year, it will launch the next-generation cab, right now termed the N-Truck for the 16-49 tonne segment, and in Q4, the 5-6 tonne ICV, the Partner, will make its debut. Other launches will be a CNG version of the Dost, its brisk-selling LCV that takes on the Super Ace and the M&M Maxi Truck Plus launched earlier this week, the Neptune series engine and the Jan Bus, first shown at the 2012 Auto Expo.

Fiscal 2012-13 saw the Chennai-based company gain a three percent market share in the medium and heavy vehicle segment even as volumes fell 25 percent. Gains were made in the eastern India with the Kolkata region recording maximum growth. While volumes collapsed in the multi-axle vehicles, tippers and tractor segments – traditionally considered a Leyland stronghold – gains were seen in the growing ICV segment. Growth in marketshare for the North was 4.2 percent, while the East, West and South segments recorded growth of 4.8 percent, 4.3 percent and 0.7 percent respectively.

The uncustomary growth in regions of the country where Leyland has traditionally been not too strong was attributed to a 26 percent growth in dealership network to around 450 dealers, with 20 percent of all sales in the year coming from new dealerships. Spares business also recorded a growth of 31 percent, from Rs 852 crore to Rs 1,116 crore. Also, 49 new ‘LeyParts’ shops were inaugurated in the year, with the network expected to touch 200 in the current fiscal.

The company increased its market share to 26.5 percent in the domestic M&HCV segment with a volume of 70, 917 vehicles. Exports were lower at 8,778 units, compared to the last fiscal. The SCV Dost recorded sales of 34,917 units at around 100 customer touch points, garnering a market share of 19 percent in its segment. Sales turnover stood at Rs 12,481 crore last fiscal compared to Rs 12,904 crore in 2011-12, down 3.3 percent. Net profits stood at Rs 433.7 crore, a fall of 23.4 percent, as against Rs 565.98 crore in 2011-12. Vinod K. Dasari, managing director, said “We expect the market to slightly fall in the first half compared to the previous year, with some improvements in the second half of the year.”

CAPTION: K Sridharan, chief financial officer and Vinod K Dasari, managing director.