Chennai-based commercial vehicle manufacturer Ashok Leyland today launched Oyster midi-bus, its next-generation premium AC bus.

The company says the multi-purpose bus, which has been designed and manufactured in-house, makes an good choice for executive staff and tourist transport. The bus has an appealing design, plush interiors and offers convenience features. The company claims the Oyster offers the best-in-class AC midi-bus with a segment-best seating capacity of 41 reclining seats for passengers.

The Oyster is powered by the company's H-Series 4-cylinder iEGR diesel BS-VI compliant engine, which produces 95kW of power and 450 Nm of torque. The vehicle is rollover compliant and meets the latest Bus code norms - AIS 052, AIS 140 and AIS 153.

L-R: Anuj Kathuria, COO, Ashok Leyland, and Sanjay Saraswat, head, M&HCV Business, at the launch of the Oyster in Mumbai.

Commenting on the Oyster bus launch, Anuj Kathuria, COO, Ashok Leyland, said: "Ashok Leyland buses are known for their reliability and low cost of operations, which has led to our leadership in the bus segment. We have been introducing products and technologies which are ahead of the curve and which become industry standard. With Oyster, which is already a huge success in the international market, we intend to further our leadership positioning."

Sanjay Saraswat, head, Medium & Heavy Commercial Vehicle Business, Ashok Leyland, said: "Commuters are increasingly having to spend more time on their commute and there is a need in the market for a comfortable and safe transport solution. The Oyster is such a product which meets this need and makes the commute a pleasant experience. The bus has the latest and best in terms of technology and is in line with customer expectations. We are glad to have the opportunity to begin the change towards ergonomically designed, aesthetically appealing and superior performance vehicles for mass transportation of citizens."