Gujarat being India’s largest market for vans, auto maker launches its Rs3.70 lakh diesel car here.
Entering into a new segment, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd (M&M) unveiled its diesel van, costing Rs3.70 lakh onwards, for the first time in India in Ahmedabad on Friday. The reason the auto-maker chose Gujarat as its launch pad for Maxximo Mini Van VX, is based on the state being the largest buyer of vans in India. With this new diesel van the automaker hopes to pip Maruti’s Omni in the van race.
As per officials, of the total national sales figure of vans of all brands, more than 10% is sold only in Gujarat. “This makes the state most important destination for M&M to launch its mini van in Ahmedabad for the first time in the world. We have found that nationally, around 20,000 vans are sold. Out of this, more than 10% are sold only in Gujarat. So we decided to launch our mini diesel van, which is costing Rs3.70 lakh onwards, here,” said Arun Malhotra, senior vice president, sales & customer care, automotive division, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd.
In the presentation, Malhotra said that Maxximo Mini Van VX will compete with Maruti’s Omni. “M&M is targeting stage carrier users, tours & travel agencies, school vans and also for commercial purpose. Compared to a petrol van, Maxximo gives more mileage. It runs 18 to 20 km per litre and as per our estimate, if the customer runs the vehicle 100 km on daily basis, will save Rs7,000 every month, compared to a petrol van,” he said.
There is always a fear of van turning turtle on sharp bends on roads. In case of Maxximo Mini Van VX, Malhotra claims that the probability of the van turning upside down is very less,” he said.
He further said that in first quarter of 2012-13, sales of M&M grew by 24%. “Industry is expecting growth of 8% to 10% in the fiscal year, but looking demand, we are expecting much higher growth in sales compared to industry estimates. In 2010-11, our sales grew by 27% and in 2011-12 it grew by 26% in India,” Malhotra added.
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