Scania expands Metrolink network in south India

In a bid to expand its reach to target Volvo Buses’ supremacy in domestic intercity city coaches, Swedish player Scania Commercial Vehicles India (SCVI) is pushing its Metrolink buses. Launched at Busworld in Mumbai last February, the Scania Intercity Coach range introduces multi-purpose coaches for medium and long-distance luxury travel for the Indian market.

Following the launch of Metrolink buses in western India with SVLL Connect, the ultra-luxury intercity service with Surat-based fleet operator SiddhiVinayak Logistics Ltd (SVLL), from whom its bagged an order of 120 multi-axle buses, Scania Commercial Vehicles India has recently delivered the first Scania Metrolink Coaches in Kerala to Aeon Connect Travels. The buses will transport passengers between Ernakulam and Hyderabad.

With rising demand for luxury coaches across India, the luxury coach segment is estimated to be between 700-800 units annually, largely dominated by Volvo with an over 70 percent market share. In the next 3-4 years, this number is expected to double. Eyeing this growing market, domestic CV major Tata Motors, Daimler India Commercial Vehicles and Scania are trying to make inroads with new models. DICV has already announced its Rs 425 crore investment in a new bus plant at Oragadam, Chenai. Scania, which currently imports the coaches from its Malaysian plant, will offer fully built buses from its newly built plant in Bangalore which will open later this year.