Ashok Leyland in talks with global OEM to offer mobility solutions
Hinduja flagship Ashok Leyland said that it is in advanced talks with a select few defense players (OEMs) in the US and Europe to offer its mobility solutions.
Hinduja flagship Ashok Leyland said that it is in advanced talks with a select few defense players (OEMs) in the US and Europe to offer its mobility solutions. The company, the largest mobility/logistic solutions provider for the Indian Army for more than three decades, sees a huge opportunity not only in India but also in the overseas markets, given the wide offerings as well cost advantage it holds among peers.
“Armed with the successful agreement with Israel-based Elbit Systems for high mobility vehicles to carry artillery guns and systems, we are in talks with select major defense players (OEMs) in the US and Europe to offer our cost-effective, wide range of mobility solutions. We hope to get a few deals to serve the global markets with our mobility solutions in the near future,” said Amandeep Singh, head, defense business, Ashok Leyland.
In an interview with the FE here, Amandeep Singh, said: “Ashok Leyland is the only player in India to have an expertise in design, develop and manufacturing of logistic vehicles, combat support HMVs and armored vehicles for the defense forces. We are also the only player to indigenously design, develop and manufacture 350 HP Neptune engine which can support any kind of mobility services. Our range of offerings gone up significantly over the years. Though we have been exporting vehicles independently to African countries and Thai Army for some time, the company seeks to make it big on the global market and Elbit agreement is one such important development to go global in offering specialized vehicles.”
“We have improved our capabilities with the launch of 8×8, 10×10 and 12×12 Stallion range of vehicles in the recent past which can carry high-powered artillery guns, rocket launchers among other defense equipment, he said, adding: “Given the cost advantage in making in India, Ashok Leyland can be 25% to 30% cheaper than the other mobile service providers in the world and hence many OEMs have shown interest on our offerings,” he said.
To a question, he said of the `27,000 crore annual defense budget, nearly 5% of it would be for mobility/logistic vehicles and Ashok Leyland is the market leader in this area. “We have supplied more than 75,000 vehicles to the Indian Army over the years and we have won most of the recent bids of Indian Army. In fact, we have been working with the Indian ordinance factories to provide aggregates, sub-systems, drive train, power packs among a host of other solutions for their mine protected vehicles, armored vehicles, and drag vehicles. This apart, we have been supplying indigenously developed armored vehicles to police force in the states of J&K, Punjab, Maharashtra, Chattisgarh to combat Naxalism and terrorist activities in those states,” he said further.
According to him, the company can support with its India-made aggregates, sub-systems for Indian Army’s drag vehicles, which are currently supported by Russian vendors. There are nearly 300 such drag vehicles produced by the ordinance factories annually which require huge support systems and Ashok Leyland is qualified enough to support with locally-made, cost-effective products.
“There are over 4,000 such drag vehicles plying in India, which require replacement for aggregates, support systems, gearbox/engines, APUs where we can throw our hat to support with our solutions. We see a huge opportunity in the defense space and we are gearing up in a big way to tap this potential,”
A Special Offer for a Special Season! Get Stock Cash Tips to start from 2 Days Free Trial Click Here- Stock Cash Tips, "we provide secure, Smooth Deals You Can Trust"
0 comments
Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.