Ashok Leyland, an India-based commercial manufacturing company, is planning to roll out super luxury passenger buses to rival Volvo and other high-technology buses.

When asked about the company’s plan, Ashok Leyland chief operating officer Vinod K. Dasari has this to say: “The chassis will be made by their company and Ashok Leyland, TVS and a leading automobile firm of Spain would manufacture the body jointly.” He said that they had not yet decided the name to be given to the vehicle.

Dasari participated in the inauguration of the new branch of Automotive Manufacturers at Gajuwaka. The new showroom of the company is spread over 2.71 acres with a built-up area of 25,000 square feet with 20 bays and ample space for the whole expansion plan.

Ashok Leyland was founded in 1948 as Ashok Motors. Its aim is to assemble Austin cars. The manufacture of commercial automobiles started in 1955 with equity contribution from Leyland Motors. Nowadays, the company is the flagship of the Hinduja Group, an England-based Indian group, which has a market share of about 30 percent.

Ashok Leyland vehicles have established a reputation for reliability and ruggedness. The 375,000 vehicles being put on the roads have considerably eased the additional pressure placed on road transportation in independent India.

Volvo, on the other hand, is famed for its luxurious lineup which is boosted by safety and functional features. Volvo tie rods, for one, are meticulous manufactured to ensure both the performance and safety of the vehicles.

On the demand for super luxury buses, Dasari said that they were in a position to manufacture any number of buses and admitted that the present market was very small. He added each bus could have 36 to 56 seating capacity depending on the requirement of the clients. “To cater to the requirement of container cargo in places like Visakhapatnam, they would be launching new tractors next month with 49 tonne capacity and 210 horse power,” Dasari noted.

Dasari added that through extensive market research based on feedback from customers, they were changing the specifications of the vehicles and rolling out new models to suit Indian road conditions. So far, the response from the clients was overwhelming, he divulged.

Ashok Leyland has nine showrooms in the state. The company also has 154 base units for offering service. Ashok Leyland sold 10,500 units till February 28 as against 6,300 during last year. According to B.M. Singhvi, the Automotive Manufacturers chairman and managing director, they were expecting to sell over 11,000 vehicles during current fiscal.