Tatra Vectra enters the highway arena

The Rs 100 crore Tatra Vectra is entering the highway transportation segment with its range of trucks and tractor-trailers. The new products, developed through a technical tie-up with Kamaz of Russia, are being homologated. They will be launched later this year.

“Initially, we will bring out multi-axle 25-tonne (gross vehicle weight) in both trucks and tractor-trailers. We will then gradually come down in tonnage,” managing director of Tatra Vectra Motors, Rakesh Jinsi told Autocar Professional.

The company is targeting sales of 2,000 units annually. The vehicles will be produced at Tatra Vectra’s Hosur (Tamil Nadu) facility which has a capacity of 1,000 units on a one-shift basis. Jinsi said this could be scaled up to 5,000 units. “We will invest over a period of time as we become more involved in our inhouse manufacturing. This is the time when we might add a paint or press shop,” he added.

Tatra Vectra is present in off-highway trucks, tippers and dumpers in the 30-tonne category. With the launch of its new products, the company will now compete with Tata Motors and Ashok Leyland.

VALUE-FOR-MONEY

“Our edge lies in a value-for-money proposition. Our focus is better product features at an attractive price,” Jinsi said. Tatra Vectra was formed when Vectra of the UK bought out the 80.5 percent stake from US-based Terex Corp in Czech truck maker Tatra AS for $57.8 million last November. It has targeted a turnover of Rs 150 crore next year.

Meanwhile, the company is increasing its focus on bus seating systems through its cooperation with Spain’s Fainsa. This is again a technical tie-up where Tatra gains from the Spanish company’s expertise in design and manufacturing technology. The bus seats are made at Hosur where annual capacity is 20,000 units. This will be ramped up to 100,000 units with an investment of around Rs 1 crore early next year.

Nearly 95 percent of output is exported to coach builders in Europe, Asia-Pacific and Southeast Asia. “We will now add more products specifically for the Indian market and expand volumes,” Jinsi says.

The company is targeting Tata Motors, Ashok Leyland, Eicher Motors and Volvo amongst others. It already supplies bus seats to Tata through its coach builder, Automobile Corp of Goa (ACGL). Tatra recently executed a substantial order of 250 bus seats to the Ivory Coast for ACGL. The value of the bus seats business is Rs 10 crore and is targeted to increase to Rs 22 crore next year. The focus will still be on exports though local sales are equally important.