The country's largest vehicle-maker, Tata Motors, joined the luxury intercity factory-built bus market with a new range of Divo buses, to take on the German Volvo and Mercedes.
The company also launched Starbus Ultra, an offering for commuting within a city. Tata Divo, which is a luxury long distance inter-city travel bus, is priced at Rs66 lakh ((BS III, ex-showroom Thane), while the Tata Starbus Ultra (BS III version) is priced in the range Rs15 lakh (ex-showroom Thane) and upwards.
The company has already launched Tata Divo in the Northern markets, including Delhi.
'With the launch of Divo, we have entered into the high-end luxury inter-city bus coach segment. Earlier, we were selling only chassis, but these will come as fully factory-built body,' Tata Motors president for commercial vehicles business unit, Ravi Pisharody said.
The market size for inter-city luxury buses with factory-built body stands at about 250 units annually and the company is targeting to sell around 150 units, he said.
The Divo's body has been designed by Spanish firm Hispano Carrocera, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tata Motors.
About the expansion plans, Mr Pisharody said the company is expanding capacity at its Dharwad plant in Karnataka to produce Ace family of light commercial vehicles ( LCVs). It is looking at an investment of Rs800-1,000 crore there.
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The company also launched Starbus Ultra, an offering for commuting within a city. Tata Divo, which is a luxury long distance inter-city travel bus, is priced at Rs66 lakh ((BS III, ex-showroom Thane), while the Tata Starbus Ultra (BS III version) is priced in the range Rs15 lakh (ex-showroom Thane) and upwards.
The company has already launched Tata Divo in the Northern markets, including Delhi.
'With the launch of Divo, we have entered into the high-end luxury inter-city bus coach segment. Earlier, we were selling only chassis, but these will come as fully factory-built body,' Tata Motors president for commercial vehicles business unit, Ravi Pisharody said.
The market size for inter-city luxury buses with factory-built body stands at about 250 units annually and the company is targeting to sell around 150 units, he said.
The Divo's body has been designed by Spanish firm Hispano Carrocera, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tata Motors.
About the expansion plans, Mr Pisharody said the company is expanding capacity at its Dharwad plant in Karnataka to produce Ace family of light commercial vehicles ( LCVs). It is looking at an investment of Rs800-1,000 crore there.
....more info