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Ashok Leyland Abandons Plan for Small Cars
Indian truckmaker Ashok Leyland Ltd. tells reporters it has abandoned a plan to enter the country's small-car market through its partnership with Nissan Motor Co.
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Indian truckmaker Ashok Leyland Ltd. tells reporters it has abandoned a plan to enter the country's small-car market through its partnership with Nissan Motor Co.
Vice Chairman V Sumantran acknowledges that a small car would be a "logical next step" but insists "we have no such plans to produce a small car even in the future."
Ashok Leyland and Nissan agreed in 2007 to co-develop light trucks in India. The first result was the Ashok Leyland Dost, which debuted in 2011.
This week the partners are launching their next pair of vehicles, the Nissan NV200 and Ashok Leyland Stile MPV. Both will be produced at Nissan's assembly plant at Oragadam.
The $12,000-$15,000 diesel-powered Stile will target markets for 8-passenger hotel shuttles, taxi services and ambulances. The company hopes to sell about 1,000 units per month.
Ashok Leyland's next model will be the Partner MPV, which is due in January. The model will compete in India with the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga, Toyota Innova and Mahindra Xylo. The Partner, like the Dost, will be produced in Ashok Leyland's factory in Hosur.
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