Tata Motors bags order for 500 Xenon pick-ups from POS Malaysia

Domestic commercial vehicle-maker Tata Motors has bagged an order for delivering 553 Tata Xenon Single Cab 4×2 pick-ups to Malaysian postal service provider, POS Malaysia Berhad (POS Malaysia).

Tata’s Xenon pick-up will be specially fabricated with customized box body for POS Malaysia, for its logistics business, especially for the Courier, Express and Parcel (CEP) pick-up and delivery services.

Combined with a 5-speed synchromesh gearbox, the Tata Xenon is powered by a 2.2-litre common rail turbo diesel engine that delivers 140Ps@4000rpm with a torque of 320Nm@1700-2700rpm. The pick-up is also equipped with reverse camera, strong body structure and chassis frame to support heavier loads capacity, easier loading and unloading with access from rear and both sides of load body to meet POS Malaysia’s requirements. 

According to Rudrarup Maitra, head of international business, Commercial Vehicles, Tata Motors said, “The Tata Xenon is a proven performer that can be customized for various applications delivering sustained value to customers. Manufactured by our subsidiary company Tata Motors (Thailand), the delivery of Tata Xenon to POS Malaysia is an important milestone in Tata Motors continued expansion in Malaysia and ASEAN region, and as a major player in the region we at Tata Motors are committed to shape the commercial vehicle industry here backed with the trusted credentials of the Tata Motors brand.”

Dato’ Mohd Shukrie Mohd Salleh, group chief executive officer of POS Malaysia commented, “We see the leasing exercise as a platform for POS Malaysia to expand our logistics business growth in this region, as forecasted during the 2015/2016 Financial Year volume of Courier, Express and Parcel (CEP).  We always strive to put our customers’ needs at the forefront, and with the additional vehicles in hand, we are confident we will be able to serve our customers better and ensure POS Malaysia will be the logistics and transportation provider.  To date, POS Malaysia has a fleet size of 9,602 vehicles comprising of lorries, panel vans, POS-On-Wheels (POW), four-wheel drive (4WD) and motorcycles.”

Tata Xenon Single Cab 4×2 Pick-up is distributed by DRB-HICOM Commercial Vehicles (DHCV), Tata Motors’ commercial vehicles distributor in Malaysia. For the POS Malaysia project, the customised designed box body is fabricated by Oriental Summit Industries Sdn Bhd (OSI) to EZ-Drive. 

Dato’ Abdul Harith Abdullah, chief operating officer, Automotive Distribution and Defence, DRB-HICOM said, “We also provide 24/7 breakdown assistance service throughout Malaysia as well as additional services such as accident repairs, spray painting, accessories fittings and periodic inspection service – smoke test, engine inspection and tyre checks. We will also ensure that the spare parts stocks are readily available for all available models in Malaysia, irrespective of the frequency of demand or usage. This is an on-going continuous exercise to ensure the availability of sufficient stock to keep the vehicles on the roads, instead of at the service centre.  In our efforts to reach out and provide better facilities and services for customers nationwide, DHCV is backed by 14 sales and 16 service centres nationwide.”

The Tata Xenon Single Cab 4×2 Pick-up project had commenced in November 2015, when POS Malaysia decided to lease the pick-ups through DRB-HICOM EZ-Drive Sdn Bhd (EZ-Drive), leasing facilities. The leasing period is for 36 months, with an option to renew for another 24 months.  In recent years, POS Malaysia had opted for operating lease over outright purchase due to lower ownership cost, lower upfront capex, better tax benefit and higher worker productivity where fleet management is now being taken care of by EZ-Drive.

Commenting on leasing facilities, Dato’ Harith said, “The new leasing facility provides an alternative to commercial operators as they can now choose to lease vehicles over outright purchase. Vehicle leasing would provide commercial operators with the advantage of lower fleet management cost as the maintenance and service needs of the vehicle are taken care of by EZ-Drive, which is also the local licensee of AVIS.”