After Split with Nissan, Ashok Leyland’s Guru Set to Hit Indian Market
Published On Oct 06, 2016
Keys of the first Guru truck manufactured by Ashok Leyland has been handed over to the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) of the Golden Temple in Punjab. Guru is Ashok Leyland’s latest offering in the intermediate commercial vehicle (ICV) segment in India. The truck will rival the likes of Tata 407 in the country. This is the first ICV launch after the split between Nissan and Ashok Leyland.
Aluminium wheels, a first in the segment, along with aluminium load body, can prove to be the game changer for Ashok Leyland by increasing the truck’s overall load carrying capacity.
Mr. Vinod Dasari, MD, Ashok Leyland, before the launch of Guru had said,"We traditionally have a lesser market share in the ICV segment. To strengthen this, we are launching the Sunshine bus and Guru in an attempt to fill the gaps in this key product segment. This will further improve our market share in the segment.”
The company claims Guru to be the next generation light truck, which is powered by Ashok Leyland’s newest H series engine, and also has an UPCRS system.
Shree Avtar Singh Makkar, President, SGPC, said, “We are happy to receive the first ‘Guru’ truck from Ashok Leyland. Ashok Leyland has always been inclined towards extending help for the common good and we are sure with this product, we at SGPC will be able further improve our services to all the devotees who visit the Gurdwara.”
SGPC has a good number of vehicles in its fleet. These vehicles are used by the Gurudwara Committee in various tasks that revolve around helping devotees, to maintaining Gurudwara premises.
Anuj Kathuria, President, Global Trucks-Ashok Leyland, said, “We are honoured to present the very first ‘Guru’ truck to SGPC, an organization in India responsible for the upkeep of Gurdwara. Ashok Leyland has always focused on making products which are an amalgamation of intelligent design and smart technology." Emphasising the new ICV by the CV maker, he further added, "The Guru truck too lives up to this philosophy and we are sure that with its increased endurance and other segment leading features, it will help SGPC in its various logistical needs.”
Ashok Leyland and Nissan had ended their eight yearlong collaboration last month, with Nissan agreeing to sell its entire stake in the three joint ventures to Ashok Leyland. It is also interesting to note that Ashok Leyland’s Dost and Partner are based on Nissan’s design, engineering and technology.
