BharatBenz’s promising medium-duty range explored

Want to buy a medium-duty truck? We delved into the German Truck makers MDT range to help you understand what BharatBenz has on offer.  

The medium-duty trucks (MDT) range, which is also known as intermediate commercial vehicles (ICV) is among the fastest-growing segments in the Indian commercial vehicle Industry. Like any major segment in the CV industry, the ICV is where all the truck makers are eyeing growth. Naturally, this segment has some of the unique products promising higher productivity and superior ownership experience to customers. The ICVs find a wide range of essential applications such as parcel and courier, FMCG, Industrial goods, white goods, e-commerce, fruits and vegetable, market load, among others in reefer, mild steel container, drop side deck and high side deck. This segment is quite vital to the transportation industry for a variety of needs.

Any customer looking for an ICVs has several choices in the segment. Like Tata Motors (LPT and Ultra), Mahindra & Mahindra (Furio), Ashok Leyland (Ecomet and Guru), Eicher (Pro series) and BharatBenz have equally compelling products in the segment. While Tata Motors and Ashok Leyland both are the clear market leader in the medium and heavy commercial vehicle segment, the ICV segment is where both the players have healthy competition from rivals. Eicher over the years has proved its mettle in this segment with the promise of higher fuel efficiency and robust product which propelled to hold a strong position in the market.

The boom in the e-commerce industry, consistent growing domestic consumption in the country and demand for the FMCG segment has given a massive boost to the ICV segment in India. Sensing growth potential Mahindra & Mahindra also entered in this burgeoning segment with an all-new Furio range of ICVs. The company believes it has what it takes to compete in the segment, and the Furio range of trucks are the most promising ones to the customers taking on the established competitors with promise of superior performance and contemporary design.  

BharatBenz, an established truck player in India with over 1,00,000 vehicles on Indian roads in the last eight years. The company began selling the heavy truck first, built its status as a trusted product, which are suitable for Indian road-conditions and duty-cycles. Then the company also now has a classify MDT range of trucks too, which is steadily making its inroads even with tough competition. We try look at the company’s this offering in more details to help customer make an informed decision.  

What is on Offer?

BharatBenz offers four powerful products in the medium-duty segment: 1014R, 1214R, 1214RE and 1414R, catering to the wide range of customer needs and applications.

BharatBenz’s MDT range is based on fundamental pillars such as higher fuel efficiency, larger loading body, excellent turnaround and uptime, lower maintenance, superior performance, high gradeability, a formidable engine with high power and torque, greater comfort among other features. On the fuel-efficiency, which is at the heart of the truck owner. BharatBenz MDT truck comes with global quality engines, flat torque, electronically controlled viscous fans, aerodynamic design and top gear and rear axle ratios for more exceptional fuel mileage.

Not only the superior powertrain but also the trucks are strong and come with far greater load body, supported by heavier and durable chassis and strong axles to carry more goods. Next comes with extremely quick vehicle turnaround time with higher torque, better gradeability, efficient gearbox, comfortable cabin enabling greater productivity.

BharatBenz also promises maximum vehicle uptime, which directly translates into higher profit for the truck owner. The medium-duty range is design keeping in mind long trips in tough terrain supported by quality parts to avoid any breakdown. While all BharatBenz trucks promise longer service intervals for more productive vehicles, it is committed to offers 24x7 service and maintenance with a mobile van for any eventuality the customer might face at any part of the country.  

BharatBenz primarily offers the lowest cost of running, thus ensuring higher returns to its customers. This is achieved through the combination of higher mileage, lower maintenance, reliable parts, faster turnaround time, superior uptime and driver comfort to ensure the vehicle becomes more productive. The MDT range shares the same powertrain across variant, yet each truck is developed and tuned considering the applications and usage. BharatBenz all MDT trucks comes with high quality aggregates including chassis, axles, brakes, clutch and gearbox.     

Let’s look at the products.

1014R

The 1014R offers GVW of 9900-10600 kg is BharatBenz entry level product in the MDT segment. It gets the strong BharatBenz 4D34i, 4-cylinder engine with 140 HP of power. The torque of 420 Nm is quite adequate for the city or intercity application for this truck. The load body lengths are 14.6, 17, 19 and 21 feet. Maximum gradeability of 24.5% and turning radius of 13.8,15.7 and 17.6 m. This truck comes with standard cabin and chassis configuration of OEMs built, the load body options are fixed side deck, high side deck and drop side deck.

1214R

The 1214R offers GVW of 11,990 kg is another BharatBenz MDT truck targeted at a variety of applications with a payload capacity of 7.5-8T. It gets the same powertrain of its other MDT siblings. The wide load body comes with 19- and 22-feet length. Maximum gradeability of 23.5% and turning radius of 16.7 and 18.7. The hydraulic power steering, with tiltable day cabin. The 1214R comes with standard cabin and chassis configuration of OEMs built along with fixed side deck and high side deck. The main rivals for this BharatBenz truck are Tata LPT 1212CR X, Pro 1110XP, Furio 12, SML super 12XT, Ashok Leyland Ecoment 1212

1214RE

The 1214R and 1214RE are almost identical products from the BharatBenz’s MDT portfolio.

1414R

The 1414R comes with body lengths of 17, 19, and 22 feet with fixed side deck, high side deck, drop side deck and cabin with chassis. The 1414R GVW is 14T and customers can carry 9.5-10T of payload. It has 200-litre fuel tank and 27 litre of adblue tank. The ground clearance 225 mm, the minimum turning radius of 14.8, 16.7, and 18.7 mm and the tyre are 16 ply with R 20 inch. It competes against Tata LPT1412, Tata Ultra 1412, Ashok Leyland Ecomet 1412, Eicher Pro 3015 and Mahindra Furio 14

BharatBenz’s MTD range is appealing to a lot of customers and the trucks are visible across India. This clearly underlines that the company has offered what the customer is looking at, after intensive study of the load market, operating conditions and product quality requirements. Shortly, the company will start retailing its BSVI range of MDT, we are looking out at the trucks, and will bring them to our readers. Till then, stay tuned.