Now that the Sunny is launched, Nissan India is focusing on the testing activities on the NV200. So many of our loyal readers have sent us spy pics of completely uncamouflaged NV200 doing testing rounds in Chennai. Nissan India is betting big on the NV200 as it hopes to kill the kingpin of MPVs – the Toyota Innova.
However, Nissan’s LCV partner Ashok Leyland also has similar ambitions and wants a pie of the MPV segment. Ashok Leyland has recognized the growing demand for people movers in India and is reportedly working on an MPV based on the NV200 platform. If everything goes well, this new MPV will mark the foray of Ashok Leyland brand in the passenger segment.
This does raise a question of will there be rift between Nissan and Ashok Leyland as they are both targeting the same segment. However Dr V Sumantran, executive vice chairman, Hinduja Automotive said that their MPV will be completely different from the NV200 and will be targeted towards commercial use rather than a family car. The company is targeting tour operators and taxi operators with their new MPV.
The new MPV will be positioned below the Mahindra Xylo and is at least 12 – 15 months away from its debut. This also acts as a buffer period for Nissan as it has ample time to market the NV200.
The Toyota Innova has enjoyed a dominant run in the Indian MPV segment. However, as more and more manufacturers are diverting their attention towards the MPV segment, the heat will be more intense. The major contender for now seems like the R3 from Maruti Suzuki. Force Motors is also planning an MPV based on the Mercedes Viano. General Motors is testing many Chinese MPVs in India from its SAIC Wulling partnership. At the same time, Chevrolet is all set to refurbish the Tavera with a new BS4 complaint engine by the end of 2011.
As the competition heats up, Toyota better get the Innova facelift out fast.
Recently, Ashok Leyland launched their flagship LCV Dost in Mumbai at a price of Rs. 3.79 lakhs to Rs. 4.37 lakhs.
The Dost platform is co developed with Nissan and will transform into many Ready-to-Use Vehicles (RUVs) such as Refrigerated containers, Steel containers, Ambulance, Aluminium Fixed Side Decks and Service-At-Site vehicles.
However the company has major plans to launch a Van based on the Dost.
This is not something new to the Indian Automotive scene. Many LCVs have transformed themselves in van for commercial uses. A few that come to our mind are Tata Ace and Mahindra Maxximo.
These vans are very effective runabouts in rural India which demands a robust car which can handle rough usage. What can be more tough than a modified pick up truck right?
During the launch of the Dost, Dr V Sumantran, executive vice chairman Ashok Leyland commented that it will be an 8 seater van and will be launched very soon. SRK, our in-house design genius, has speculated what this upcoming van may look like.
The first fruit from the Nissan-Ashok Leyland JV has ripened and is now ready to be picked. Ashok Leyland has finally launched its flagship LCV Dost as a price of Rs. 3.79 lakhs to Rs. 4.37 lakhs (ex-showroom – Mumbai). IAB was keenly following the development of the DOST ever since the project began. A lot of our loyal readers have spotted the Dost in its various avatars religiously doing its testing rounds.
The Dost has a payload capacity of 1.25 tones and is powered by a 1.5 litre, 3 pot, common rail TDCR generating 55 bhp and 150 NM of torque. It is mated to a 5 speed manual transmission. Its turning radius is 4.8 m, and it has special features such as front Transverse leaf suspension, Load Sensing Proportioning Valve (LSPV) technology measures the weight on the load body and applies the brake force accordingly. It will be offered in BS3 and BS4 versions each having 3 different variants such as:
base model with manual steering
mid model with power steering
top-end model hosting luxuries like air conditioning, power steering and attractive dual tone interiors
The prospective customers can choose from three colours: white, beige and blue. Adding to that Ashok Leyland will offer Ready-to-Use Vehicles (RUVs) on the Dost platform for various applications such as Refrigerated containers, Steel containers, Ambulance, Aluminium Fixed Side Decks and Service-At-Site vehicles from the date of launch.
Sources have told IndianAutosBlog.com that Tata Motors is working on a CDRI (DICOR in Tata’s dictionary) engine for the Ace truck. The 750kg payload mini lorry is Tata Motors’ biggest success story as it not only sold by the thousands but also created a new segment and lead the way for products like the Force Trump, Mahindra Maxximo and Ashok Leyland Dost.
Tata created the Ace in the view to improve operator lifestyle, perception and self esteem. A driver in a 4-wheeler is seen as a truck owner. This upgrades his position in society which leads to the upliftment of his business, reflecting growth and thereby inducing many changes in his life. He’s able to get his daughter married with relatively less ambiguity, he’s able to charge higher fares for the same distance and travels in better comfort and safety compared to a 3-wheeler operator. Some of these results come from Tata Motors’ own customer study program.
The Ace DICOR we are told is a twin cylinder 800cc engine equipped with a turbocharger. It is expected to land in the market within the next six months to take on the Mahindra Maxximo which has caught on like forest fire. Interestingly the Maxximo is among the few or perhaps only CRDI engine that is not assisted by a turbocharger.
Following the Ace DICOR the Magic passenger mover is also expected to receive the same engine.
Eagle-eyed Snatak Mundada is back doing what he does best – getting pictures and videos from the test mule capital of India – Pune.
His latest catch is the Ashok Leyland Dost undergoing final rounds of testing. Engineers could have brought it to ARAI (Automotive Research Association of India) for homologation purposes. We’ve posted pictures of a Dost mounted with a container testing outside Chennai last week.
Production of the Dost has commenced at Ashok Leyland’s factory in Hosur. Fitted with a 55 hp, 3 cylinder 1.5 litre CRDI engine producing 150Nm of torque, the Dost uses a five-speed manual gear box. Its turning radius is 4.8 m, and features such as front Transverse leaf suspension, Load Sensing Proportioning Valve (LSPV) technology measures the weight on the load body and applies the brake force accordingly will be appreciated by operators.
With a 1.25 tonne payload capacity, Dost comes in three versions with the top-end version featuring air-conditioning, power steering, dual-colour beige-gray trim and fabric seats. Exterior color options are white, beige and blue.
Our reader Bairesh Raj who sent us snaps of the Hyundai Verna and Renault Fluence testing near Chennai is at it again, this time snapping the Ashok Leyland-Nissan Dost LCV testing with a container mounted on to its loading area. Bairesh left us this note to post with the spy pics -
On Saturday when I was traveling from Hosur to Chennai, I spotted this LCV on test. Though my research on the internet back home showed it was an application of the the Ashok Leyland-Nissan Dost model, people will doubt whether this is a result of a JV as not a single Nissan badge can be spotted anywhere. Nissan or AshLey, he was doing in excess of 130 kmph!
The 1.25-tonne Dost LCV will be manufactured at the Hosur facility and bear no Nissan logos. Powered by a 3-cylinder turbocharged CRDI engine, it produces 55hp. There are three variants in the offing – a base model with manual steering, a mid model with power steering and high end model richly appointed with air conditioning, power steering and dual tone interiors
The Dost platform could spawn a passenger application variant in the future.
After IAB fan S.R.Vishnuvardan, it the eagle-eyed mule snapper Sree Ganesh’s turn to bag the Nissan Atlas “Low” variant.
Nissan has partnered with Ashok Leyland to sell commercial vehicles in India and the first product to come out of this alliance would be the Dost. Following this, the NV200 dressed up as a goods carrier will be the second result.
The Atlas could be the alliance’s third project but details are not all that clear at this point. The LHD Atlas might be here as part of the global testing. We can’t rule out that possibility, can we?
Sree has all the details. This is the note he left behind for IAB readers :
Vehicle spotted: A white LHD Truck
Location: NH 205 between Thiruvallur to Thirutani (Tamil Nadu)
Time: 2:30 PM
Date: June 13th 2011
Upon closer inspection I realized that it is the latest generation Nissan Cabstar (name used in some markets) truck. Wonder if Nissan is testing the same 2.5 dCi engine.
Other Details:
It was TN Registered – TN 21 (TC) 551 . Temporary registration – Red Number Plate
It had red stickers indicating “Caution – LH Drive” & “On Test” (LHD – Fancy that ?)
Believe it was undergoing load testing as the loading area had about 40 plastic cans
The driver did notice that we were taking snaps and tried to avoid us but we did manage to stay close to him and snap the pics (way to go Tiger!)
Do you know what Nissan is up to with the Atlas? Are they considering this product for India?
We all know that recent years have been best years for the Indian Automotive market. New products, new technologies, new brands have quite literally flooded the market. Several research studies have concluded that India will be a dominant force in the world automotive industry by 2015.
However, another research study conducted by JD Power Asia Pacific states that India will become the third largest market in the world after China and the US for light vehicles, including passenger cars and light commercial vehicles (LCVs) by 2020.
JD Power Asia Pacific Executive Director Mohit Arora -
Our forecast is that by 2020, India will become the third biggest market for light vehicles, that includes passenger cars and LCVs, with total sales of nearly 12 million units
However, this forecast is only true if India manages to resolve its infrastructure, as well as supply chain issues.
According to the report, by 2020, China’s light vehicles market is expected to reach 35 million units, while that of the US will rise to 17.4 million units. India will come third with an output of 11.9 million units which is consists 9.28 million units of passenger cars and 2.69 million units of light trucks.
However, Nissan’s LCV partner Ashok Leyland also has similar ambitions and wants a pie of the MPV segment. Ashok Leyland has recognized the growing demand for people movers in India and is reportedly working on an MPV based on the NV200 platform. If everything goes well, this new MPV will mark the foray of Ashok Leyland brand in the passenger segment.
