[Ashley2]

Originally Posted by joshguy

They are not manufacturing bus here,this is Daimler truck division.

Bharat Benz is likely to come up with front engine buses also after establishing their presence in trucks.

As for as Mercedes coaches are concerned the agreement with Sutlej is for limited period only and there are high chances that they can also be made with in BB premises in near future.Actros production is already shifted to Chennai.

The only left out plant is MCV engaged city bus making facility in Pune.

[directinjection]

Originally Posted by Steeroid

OK TATA, bye bye! Hopefully this is the beginning of the end for the slow-moving, smoke-spewing highway hogs that we have for trucks. All highway users will benefit from that demise.

The year was 1980. Tata launched a truck called 1516. In rigid truck form, it had a GVW of 15 tonnes (only 3 tonnes more than the then best selling model 1210), yet its engine (which was turbocharged) developed 160 HP, compared to 112 developed by 1210 engine. The truck came with a proper, all-steel, factory built cab which was fitted with shock absorbers to enhance driver comfort, as also power steering. Unlike 1210 (full forward control model), 1516's engine did not sit beside the driver but was mounted low, in order to minimise noise and vibration (the bonnet height was substantially lower). The truck wasn't available without the cab, even when asked for. Feature and performance wise, the truck was comparable to the models then being offered by Mercedes Benz internationally. Except for the engine (which was built under license from MB), the entire truck was developed indigenously, without any foreign collaboration. It took Tata a decade of effort to develop the 1516. Even the machine tools used for producing the truck were designed and manufactured by Tata, on its own.

So how many 1516 was Tata able to sell? Very little, less than 200 per year. The Indian truck operators weren't interested in such a modern (and more expensive) truck. They continued buying the inferior, World War II technology 1210 that came without a cab or body. Eventually, Tata was forced to offer 1516's engine (in NA form) on the 1210 which then became the 1613 and yes, still without a proper cab or body.

So what's the moral of the story?

If Indian/Tata trucks are slow-moving, smoke-spewing highway hogs as you call them, the blame certainly does not lie with the manufacturer(s) but with the Indian truck operator who wants a Merc for the price of a Maruti and who considers loading 20 tonnes in a 10 tonner his religion. His clout in Govt. has ensured that ARAI's truck body code (meant to improve the safety standards of Indian trucks) remains in a limbo perpetually. Those "slow-moving, smoke-spewing highway hogs" can be outlawed by the Govt. through appropriate legislative and regulatory measures but the Govt., owing to transport lobby pressure, has chosen not to do so.

I would therefore suggest that instead of blaming Tata, you should blame, or rather fight with our transporters and law makers (many of whom charge money even for asking questions in Parliament) for those "slow-moving, smoke-spewing highway hogs".

Please also be informed that in early 1990s, when Tata was looking for a modern, new generation engine for its truck range, it chose Cummins over the Merc engine, much to the displeasure of Merc which owned a minority stake in TM. The decision was no accident. Tata was convinced the Cummins engine was superior to the Merc one.

Cheers!

[esteem_lover]

Originally Posted by Steeroid

OK TATA, bye bye!

Hopefully this is the beginning of the end for the slow-moving, smoke-spewing highway hogs that we have for trucks. All highway users will benefit from that demise.

I believe that too, it is certainly the beginning, everything has to begin somewhere. This is a serious attempt by a very successful truck maker, so we can be confident about this one.

Originally Posted by directinjection

I would therefore suggest that instead of blaming Tata, you should blame, or rather fight with our transporters and law makers (many of whom charge money even for asking questions in Parliament) for those "slow-moving, smoke-spewing highway hogs".

Please also be informed that in early 1990s, when Tata was looking for a modern, new generation engine for its truck range, it chose Cummins over the Merc engine, much to the displeasure of Merc which owned a minority stake in TM. The decision was no accident. Tata was convinced the Cummins engine was superior to the Merc one.

Cheers!

Yes, you are right unless the transport lobby is broken, our dream of having safe, smoke free and reliable trucks on the road will remain distant. It is not just TATA, AL too plays a big role in this lobby. When the govt's own car lobby(Maruti) could be breached, I am sure there is a way to breach into these slow moving, smoke spewing highway hogs.

[Ashley2]

By ALL means you have to transport your trucks





Bharat Benz trucks on its way carried by Ashokleyland U-Trucks.

[Rover2000]

Dear All,

DAIMLER are coming to India in a big way. New Branding - BHARAT BENZ.

here is one picture of their first HDT (Heavy Duty Vehicle).


They have around 17 models for our Indian Market..

will soon update as the models come through to the market. First launch expected around July/August.

[1100D]

Originally Posted by directinjection

So how many 1516 was Tata able to sell? Very little, less than 200 per year. The Indian truck operators weren't interested in such a modern (and more expensive) truck. They continued buying the inferior, World War II technology 1210 that came without a cab or body. Eventually, Tata was forced to offer 1516's engine (in NA form) on the 1210 which then became the 1613 and yes, still without a proper cab or body.

I would therefore suggest that instead of blaming Tata, you should blame, or rather fight with our transporters and law makers (many of whom charge money even for asking questions in Parliament) for those "slow-moving, smoke-spewing highway hogs".

Please also be informed that in early 1990s, when Tata was looking for a modern, new generation engine for its truck range, it chose Cummins over the Merc engine, much to the displeasure of Merc which owned a minority stake in TM. The decision was no accident. Tata was convinced the Cummins engine was superior to the Merc one.

Cheers!

Well, I guess the Manufacturer also kept enjoying the sales numbers of the older platform. Otherwise, if there was a serious intent to get into the 1516 mode, Tata could easily have either phased out the 1210 or reduced the price differential by pricing the 1210 platform higher.

But none of it was done. Mainly because each platform is a competing one, and there wasn't a general direction that the company took as a whole.

The decision to go with Cummins wasn't purely based on Tata not choosing MB, there were other reasons as well.

But in comparison, Bharat Benz initiative, looks like a comprehensive, multipronged attack.

However, I would love to see Tata, wave a Tata Bye Bye to them (not with smoke belching highway hoggers but world class products, built with indian conditions in mind)

[Rover2000]

Originally Posted by Rover2000

Dear All,

DAIMLER are coming to India in a big way. New Branding - BHARAT BENZ.

here is one picture of their first HDT (Heavy Duty Vehicle).


They have around 17 models for our Indian Market..

will soon update as the models come through to the market. First launch expected around July/August.

New Addition:
A glimpse of BharatBenz LDT (Light Duty Vehicle) vehicle to be launched later this year.

[D33-PAC]

Why cant the trucks be transported in their own products? I imagine the middlemen cut would reduce all the hassle experienced during delivery process?

[1100D]

Originally Posted by D33-PAC

Why cant the trucks be transported in their own products? I imagine the middlemen cut would reduce all the hassle experienced during delivery process?

Own products are yet to be launched. I guess this is just a temporary arrangement.

[Rover2000]

Originally Posted by 1100D

Own products are yet to be launched. I guess this is just a temporary arrangement.

Dear 1100D - you are right..Bharatbenz are yet to produce Trailer vehicles and approvals are pending for their production. They are at the moment intrested in HDTs and LDTs as their primary launch.

[Ashley2]

Originally Posted by 1100D

Own products are yet to be launched. I guess this is just a temporary arrangement.

Originally Posted by Rover2000

Dear 1100D - you are right..Bharatbenz are yet to produce Trailer vehicles and approvals are pending for their production. They are at the moment intrested in HDTs and LDTs as their primary launch.

BB has tractors in its port folio and already transported first chassis with its 4928. The image is also shared already.
The problem is they are yet to be registered and cant be done with out getting State Transport Approval. So they should rely on external arrangement only, may be temporarily

[Rover2000]

More pictures of BB Trucks..

Curious people take first glimpse of what is going to be unleashed..

[directinjection]

Originally Posted by 1100D

Well, I guess the Manufacturer also kept enjoying the sales numbers of the older platform. Otherwise, if there was a serious intent to get into the 1516 mode, Tata could easily have either phased out the 1210 or reduced the price differential by pricing the 1210 platform higher.

Today Tata has the Prima range in its portfolio. By your logic, Tata should either phase out the competing legacy models or hike their prices to reduce the price differential between them and Prima. I ask you: Is it practically possible? You seem to have ignored the fact that there are many competitors in the market who'll grab all slots that Tata vacates. As long as the competitors are offering cheap and unsophisticated products, Tata has no option but to do the same. In 1980, 1516 occupied the same position in Tata line up that Prima occupies today. Our market is rather unforgiving to products that are ahead of their time.

Originally Posted by 1100D

The decision to go with Cummins wasn't purely based on Tata not choosing MB, there were other reasons as well.

Please do share them with us. I never said Tata did not want to go with MB. I only said Tata found the Cummins engine better and more suitable than the Merc one.

Originally Posted by 1100D

But in comparison, Bharat Benz initiative, looks like a comprehensive, multipronged attack.

Daimler has deep pockets and in this age of paid news, can afford to create as much media hype as it wants. Let's wait and watch!

Originally Posted by 1100D

However, I would love to see Tata, wave a Tata Bye Bye to them (not with smoke belching highway hoggers but world class products, built with indian conditions in mind)

When you load 20 tonnes in a truck designed to carry only 10, it is bound to crawl and belch smoke irrespective of the manufacturer. It is not that BB is introducing Euro-VI compliant trucks in India. Even if it did, our transporters will make them smoke!

Sure, even I'd like Tata (and other Indian manufacturers) to emerge victorious!

Cheers!

[ajman28]

Does the BB trucks come with air conditioning? Do they have any special features, like ABS, EBS, disc brakes, automatic gears etc?

[ajman28]

Another article on the expansion plans of DICV. 36k units in 2014! That's quite a big number, don't you think?

Daimler to raise Chennai unit capacity to 36k units in 2014 - The Economic Times