Tata 407 celebrates quarter century

Tata Motor’s first-ever LCV (Light commercial vehicle), the 407 recently completed 25 years of its existence in the Indian market. It was unveiled in 1986.

Like most of the other Tata commercial vehicle names, 407’s name also comes from its tonnage capacity that is four tonnes and 07 come from the 70 bhp diesel engine that powers the LCV.

The 407 is available in both Diesel and CNG options. It can be ordered in various formats such as a fully-built version, pickup, high deck, twin tyre, high torque version, the SK and the LPK tipper, SFC CNG, LPT CNG and even the power-steering equipped LPT EX2 models or just a cab and chassis as well. The 407 range’s payload extends from 2.2 to 4.2 tonnes and it is available in both BSIII and BSIV versions.

In early 2000s Tata Motors launched a bus based on the 407 platform called the CitiRide in 12 to 24 seat configurations. The CitRide series was further converted to the StarBus range which sold in great numbers and now the whole StarBus lineup is merged with Tata Marcopolo range of fully-built buses following the company’s JV with Marcopolo of Brazil in 2006.

Since its 1986 launch, there have been as many as 500,000 407 LCVs rolled out of the manufacturing facility. Tata Motors will refresh the 407 range next year and also an all-new LCV range is under development (Codename: Y1) which will spawn a new family of LCVs and buses. This new range will be showcased at the upcoming Auto Expo 2012.