Ashok Leyland has inaugurated a new dealership for light commercial vehicles in Jajpur, marking the company's sixth such facility in Odisha. The commercial vehicle manufacturer, which is the second-largest in India and flagship of the Hinduja Group, opened the facility through its new channel partner Shantilata Company.
The dealership provides sales, service and spare parts for the company's light commercial vehicle range, which includes the BADA DOST, DOST, SAATHI, PARTNER and MiTR models. Located at Sunguda, Chandikhol, the facility features service bays and infrastructure designed to support customer operations in the region.
Strategic Expansion in Key Market
Viplav Shah, Head of LCV Business at Ashok Leyland, said the company views Odisha as an important market where it has built relationships based on trust and performance. The expansion comes as the company operates more than 550,000 light commercial vehicles across India, demonstrating its presence in the segment.
The dealership opening follows Ashok Leyland's recent entry into the sub-2-ton segment with the launch of the SAATHI vehicle. This model features a 45 HP engine delivering 110 Nm of torque and offers a payload capacity of 1,120 kg, targeting the entry-level small commercial vehicle market.
Product Portfolio and Pricing
The company's light commercial vehicle range spans multiple weight categories and applications. The BADA DOST operates on a platform with five variants and an 80 HP BS6 engine, while the DOST range includes XL and XL+ versions for different market segments.
For heavier applications, the PARTNER serves the 4-ton payload segment with both 4-tire and 6-tire configurations and load body options ranging from 10 feet to 17 feet. The MiTR bus, built on the same platform, offers both staff and school bus variants complying with safety regulations.
Vehicle pricing ranges from Rs 6.69 lakh for the entry-level SAATHI to Rs 23.5 lakh for the MiTR bus. The DOST XL starts at Rs 8.47 lakh, while the BADA DOST i5 begins at Rs 10.45 lakh. All vehicles are manufactured at the company's Hosur plant.
Network Expansion Strategy
The new Jajpur dealership contributes to Ashok Leyland's network of more than 1,700 outlets across India. The company maintains that its service network ensures authorized service centers are available every 75 kilometers on major highways, supporting vehicle operations and maintenance requirements for commercial operators.