After tasting initial success as a challenger brand in the highly competitive trucking industry, Mahindra Truck and Bus (MTD) is getting aggressive in building the momentum and become a significant player in the medium and heavy commercial vehicle (M&HCV) market. As part of this drive, it is building a core team to deliver the results. It is learnt that a group of professionals have moved from commercial vehicle market leader Tata Motors to the Mahindra Truck and Bus division of Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M).
Key among them is Anurag Dubey, who has joined Mahindra Truck and Bus as VP – Sales and Customer Care. Acquiring customers in the heavy truck industry can be challenging, and more so for a relatively new player. Therefore Dubey's – and the other appointments – are crucial. He brings with him experience of working in the commercial vehicle industry of nearly 12 years, and all of it at Tata Motors. His last role at the leading CV maker was as sales and marketing head – Small Commercial Vehicles and Pickup Trucks. The other professionals who have moved to Mahindra Truck and Bus are few area managers and zonal managers.
A few professionals from Volvo Eicher and Daimler India Commercial Vehicles have also moved to Mahindra Truck and Bus. Mahindra will have to build a strong team, along with robust value-for-money products of course, to hope for success as it also prepares to enter the medium duty commercial vehicle segment during the new financial year, that's just round the corner.
The business which started as a joint venture with USA's Navistar is yet to turn profitable. Vinod Sahay, the CEO of the business, who incidentally is also a former Tata Motors senior executive, says Mahindra Truck and Bus has reached the No. 3 position in the heavy truck segment in some regions. His next goal? To be a credible No. 3 in India’s trucking market. The new team members have some challenging goals in front of them.
Also read: Commercial vehicle sales set to touch new peak in FY2018