[nithesh]

Originally Posted by safari_lover

^^ What can be the use of that Lift Axle?

The lift axle supports the extra load. The normal ten tyre multi-axle 2515 vehicles are allowed to carry 16 ton officially. The new extra lift axle trucks shown in the picture (lpt 3118) are allowed to carry upto 21 ton. So they are officially allowed to carry 5 ton more than the multi-axle 2515 trucks.

Cheers.

[Transsenger]

Originally Posted by teamveevee

Not correct. Tatas started to make fully built buses through ACGL, way back in the 90s. ACGL was also concentrating on the export market in the past.
But they used to sell limited number of fully built buses to STCs and private operators.
AL-IRIZAR partnership is relatively new [almost the same time Tata's tied up with Marcopolo] and also it is a three way partnership with TVS being the third partner. [I heard AL-IRIZAR is planning to start another manufacturing plant]. AL yet to begin supply of buses to DTC, as they could NOT make it according to the specification yet.
Also 60% market share of AL because of the State RTC's. If you consider the private operators only, then Tata got more market share. If you leave TN, then the market share for Tata's will go up even further.

Teamveevee kindly take note of the following...

1. Tata started to make FB buses thru ACGL way back. ACGL had a technological tie-up with some company in Japan. But that was not an international player (body builder).

2. AL-IRIZAR was started in 2004. But Tata Marcopolo was started in 2006.

3. Ashok Leyland LE buses for DTC was already road tested. And if they cannot make it according to the specifications, then they would not have won this order, since DTC tender is of high standards. Moreover, AL still has time upto september'09.

4. I had mentioned that AL had 60% market share in Standard bus segment in gulf region and not about india.

5. In india, AL leads in overall bus segment. Tata may have better share with private players in North, but certainly not South.
More over, even in the latest JNNURM tenders awarded, AL leads with orders for 2800 buses.

[1100D]

Originally Posted by dkamath

Wonder why the headlamps have been moved into the bumper, from their original positions in the facia (which now appear like they have been covered up with sheet metal).

Looks like there are certain norms for the headlight level for manufacturers to follow. The original position, IMO, is still left usable for the body builders to fit the headlights back to their original position.

[BaCkSeAtDrIVeR]

I had mentioned earlier that Irizar tieup was with TVS. It turns out (thanks to google) that it is actually a three way JV between Irizar, TVS and AL.

IRIZAR GROUP >> Irizar TVS

Group Companies

Another site, irizartvs dot net is classified as a potentially harmful site by Google.

[vharihar]

Originally Posted by Transsenger

Teamveevee kindly take note of the following...

1. Tata started to make FB buses thru ACGL way back. ACGL had a technological tie-up with some company in Japan. But that was not an international player (body builder).

2. AL-IRIZAR was started in 2004. But Tata Marcopolo was started in 2006.

3. Ashok Leyland LE buses for DTC was already road tested. And if they cannot make it according to the specifications, then they would not have won this order, since DTC tender is of high standards. Moreover, AL still has time upto september'09.

4. I had mentioned that AL had 60% market share in Standard bus segment in gulf region and not about india.

5. In india, AL leads in overall bus segment. Tata may have better share with private players in North, but certainly not South.
More over, even in the latest JNNURM tenders awarded, AL leads with orders for 2800 buses.

You said:
>>
5. More over, even in the latest JNNURM tenders awarded, AL leads with orders for 2800 buses
>>
That is wrong. Tata reportedly had bagged the lion's share of JNNURM orders. See the following:
Tata Motors bags a lion's share of bus orders under JNNURM
dated Jun 4th 2009

and

Tata Motors and Ashok Leyland get grace periods for bus supplies from government*-*WheelsUnplugged Automobile Industry News
dated Jun 15th 2009

and many more sites, if you google for it.

Thanx
/Venkat

[teamveevee]

Originally Posted by Transsenger

1. Tata started to make FB buses thru ACGL way back. ACGL had a technological tie-up with some company in Japan. But that was not an international player (body builder).

Totally agree
"In 1987, the ACGL entered into a Technical Collaboration Agreement with Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd., Japan,makers of Subaru car."
Source: Automobile Corporation of Goa Limited

The point i was trying to make was Tata Motors started to sell fully built buses in the 1980s thru Tata dealerships, The first batch of Pushpaks in Bangalore were ACGL built Tata buses. AL is yet to start selling fully built buses thru dealerships.

2. AL-IRIZAR was started in 2004. But Tata Marcopolo was started in 2006.

Totally agree. Not sure of the two IRIZAR and Marcopolo, which is more international and got better technology.

3. Ashok Leyland LE buses for DTC was already road tested. And if they cannot make it according to the specifications, then they would not have won this order, since DTC tender is of high standards. Moreover, AL still has time upto september'09.

As per this report dated May 19, "Ashok Leyland have some issues with DTC on the specification of the buses. They will be sorted out very soon," It also says "The manufacturers are yet to start delivering the 2,500 buses the DTC had placed"
Source: Bus drought low-floors Capital- Hindustan Times

Issue might have sorted by now. Yes, they have time till September to complete the order.

Tata motors bagged the major share of DTC low floor bus orders. "In addition to the original 650 low floor buses, Tata Motors won order for 1625 where as Ashok Leyland got 875"
Source: The Hindu Business Line : Tata Motors bags Rs 2,200-cr DTC order

4. I had mentioned that AL had 60% market share in Standard bus segment in gulf region and not about india.

Could be true.

5. In india, AL leads in overall bus segment. Tata may have better share with private players in North, but certainly not South.

True. There are not many Tata buses in Tamil Nadu. In Kerala except few places such as Kochi, Aluva, Aleppy, it is all AL buses.

More over, even in the latest JNNURM tenders awarded, AL leads with orders for 2800 buses.

"Out of the 7,815 buses ordered by various State Governments under the JNNURM programme, India’s largest commercial vehiclemaking company will be supplying 4,689 buses. Its arch-rival, Ashok Leyland, has also received an order of 3,200 buses, which would be fully-built, low-floor buses"
Source: Tata Motors to supply 4,689 buses to state govts under JNNURM scheme*-*WheelsUnplugged Automobile Industry News

[nbr]

More swank is coming on to Bangalore’s roads, with the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) introducing two inter-city Mercedes Benz buses within a month, on a trial basis. After Volvo and its successful addition into the corporation’s fleet, Benz is what could frequent the roads between cities. buses would be used for a trial period and based on performance, multiplying their number in the fleet would be considered. After the Volvo and Marcopolo buses — the latter still under trial — Benz is the next international manufacturer being considered by the state’s transport corporations. In an increasing interest that automobile majors are showing in the bus segment, Benz launched its inter-city luxury coaches late last year.
Gupta said the buses on trial would be introduced along the Bangalore-Mysore, Bangalore-Mangalore
and Bangalore-Chennai routes, some of the most popular routes that buses on trial are launched on. “Based on their performance, we will consider increasing their number in the fleet,’’ he said. The cost of each of these buses is yet to be ascertained, he said, adding that the trial buses are the latest models from Benz.
Gupta nearly ruled out integrating the Marcopolo buses into KSRTC, since the buses, currently on trial with the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), are made for city travel and not intended for long-distance use.
Integrated terminal
Trying to ease traffic congestion in the city, the Bengaluru Metropolitan Land Transport Authority (BMLTA) has announced integrated terminals at Majestic and Byappanahalli where the Namma Metro, Railways, BMTC and KSRTC systems would be integrated at one place.
Gaurav Gupta added that a similar integrated terminal was also being planned at Peenya-Yeshwantpur. Though there will be no Metro station there, BMRC will have a shunting yard and the terminal will be about 100 metres away, said Gupta. The conceptual work is under way for these integrated terminals.

I still wonder where's Ashok leyland, are they sleeping???

[AkMar]

Originally Posted by nbr

Gupta nearly ruled out integrating the Marcopolo buses into KSRTC, since the buses, currently on trial with the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), are made for city travel and not intended for long-distance use.

Weren't the Marcopolo buses returned to Tata after trials? BMTC was not satisfied with the buses.

The Mercedes bus simply doesn't have the road presence, grace, beauty & perfect proportions of a Volvo! The exterior fit and finish of a Volvo too is far superior to Merc

[MileCruncher]

The Mercedes Buses in this pictures looks like having a lower GC compared to the Sharma travels one posted on the previous page.

[teamveevee]

Originally Posted by AkMar

Weren't the Marcopolo buses returned to Tata after trials?

Did KSRTC try the Tata Hispano Globus, the "so" called domestic competition to Volvo and Merc. I heard APSRTC and UPSRTC tried it and are/were happy with it.

[Mpower]

KSTRC is really agressive in trying out new products. I think they even tried out a Swaraj Isuzu, dunno the result.

[MileCruncher]

Originally Posted by Mpower

KSTRC is really agressive in trying out new products. I think they even tried out a Swaraj Isuzu, dunno the result.

I saw Swaraj Isuzu with APSRTC as well yesterday.

[teamveevee]

Originally Posted by MileCruncher

I saw Swaraj Isuzu with APSRTC as well yesterday.

Lot of times the manufacturer is one who initiates this, not the corporation. They provide the bus and train the drivers. They will take the bus back after a while for analysis. It does not mean, they will eventually buy it. This arrangement is mutually beneficial, the manufacturer gets free long term testing, where as the corporation get a chance to try out the latest product and collect customer feedback. Since KaSRTC and APSRTC are some of the big SRTCs in india, all manufacturers will be interested in trial runs with them.

[naveenroy]

I am not sure how SETC (Tamilnadu) is performning cause I don't see any hi funda buses with them. It usually takes 12 hours for me to reach Bangalore from Nagercoil but the SETC still takes 16 hours! Hmm...

[teamveevee]

Originally Posted by naveenroy

I am not sure how SETC (Tamilnadu) is performning cause I don't see any hi funda buses with them. It usually takes 12 hours for me to reach Bangalore from Nagercoil but the SETC still takes 16 hours! Hmm...

They are an AL shop and reluctant to try anything different.