Auto Parts Asia — February 2018

46 | AutoPartsAsia | FEBRUARY 2018

for a few years is not sustainable.

The industry is unpredictable; it

depends on changing legislation as

also changes in logistics. The logistic

chain is different now as inventories

have come down. Companies do

not stock up but believe in having

inventory on wheels. Logistics has to

be flexible, but it also depends on the

demand from customers,” he said.

On the learning from the Indian market

he said one cannot approach the

market by down-specking a European

product. “You must have a product

designed and made in India to meet

Indian market needs, otherwise you will

not be price competitive. Trying to sell

an imported product at a slightly lower

price does not work anymore; you have

to design the product here to match

local conditions with a high degree

of localisation. We have to apply

the sustainable business concept,”

Mommertz said.

Manufacturing

The Pune headquartered company has

it state-of-the-art manufacturing facility

in Pithampur, near Indore in Madhya

Pradesh. This earlier belonged to the

joint venture that the company had

with Force Motors during the first six

years since inception. The plant makes

a range of products including tippers

for off-road and construction, haulage

for regular and over dimensional

cargo, and special application

trucks such as fire tenders, garbage

compactors, concrete mixers, boom

pumps, tip trailers and bulkers. The

average localisation level is around 82

percent. The product range for India is

developed at MAN Trucks R&D centre

in Pune.

The company has an installed capacity

to produce 9,000 vehicles annually

in this plant. Of the total production,

about 40 percent is exported to South

Asian, African and the Middle East

markets. The company has sold over

27,000 trucks since it started its India

operations in 2006. It supports its

customers through a network of 65

touch points in India and one each in

Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal.

Inspection

Rear axle assembly

Rear axles

SPECIAL REPORT

M

AN Trucks India has unveiled the new CLA BS-IV front-engine

bus chassis range for intercity coaches in South India. The

company will expand its product reach to other parts of the

country in a year.

MAN Trucks India has partnered with three Southern coach builders,

MG Automotives, SM Kannappa Automobiles and Mithra Coaches,

for innovative body designs. They were selected on their track record

of consistent quality, on-time delivery, technical capabilities, and

professionalism in coach building. Coaches built by these builders need

not go for the time-consuming ARAI certification.

Available in 18.250 (4×2) and 22.300 (6×2) multi-axle models, the chassis

come with 250hp and 300hp D-0836 engines mated to a six-speed

gearbox and turbocharged, intercooled common rail direct inject system

coupled with SCR technology to achieve BS –IV. The prices range from Rs

33.4 lakh to Rs 39.7 lakh.

The chassis have air-actuated drum brakes and anti-lock braking system

(ABS) to improve braking safety and driving stability for increased

passenger safety and comfort. The Voith retarder and the patented

engine valve brake from MAN will ensure enhanced braking efficiency and

brake life.

The coach builders are free to design and develop the coaches. However,

MAN Truck India wants them to be service-friendly as the chassis are

designed for easy serviceability, one of their USPs.

CLA BS-IV Front-engine Bus

CLA Bus Chassis

Cab mounting