Robust chassis, strong frame and diversified features add life to increasing payload capacity.

Demand for value-added heavy commercial vehicles (HCVs) jump on the back of need for high-truck productivity and fuel efficiency, increase in consolidation in transport sector and regulations on safety and emissions. Manufacturers are providing value-added services in their products like use of telematics, driver comfort, safety, etc. Rapid economic growth is generating demand for higher goods movement across the country wherein, fleet owners are moving towards higher displacement and power, fuel-efficient engines. They are not just looking at value-added products, but also at value-added services.

Class-leading features
Customers, while purchasing a commercial vehicle, focus on the total returns from operations. Hence, Tata Motors ensures to manufacture vehicles that are not only fuel efficient but also one with better payload capacity. The robust chassis and the strong frame used in its trucks are principally built to carry more loads. The scoop body of Tata Prima tippers are made out of Hardox material, which increases the life as well as the durability of the scoop body in turn increasing the payload capacity. For mining trucks, maximum maneuverability and gradeability are absolutely important and hence the design needs to be strong, sturdy and reliable to function in tough conditions.

“Tata Motors HCV vehicles come equipped with many class-leading features which deliver unique benefits and value for money for the new age customer,” says Rajesh Kaul, Vice President and Product Line Head – M&HCV, Tata Motors. These include advanced telematics solutions like Tata Fleetman where owners can have full control over their fleet performance through easy-to-use mobile apps, monitor fuel consumption, do trip planning, assess driving pattern and hence administer fleet efficiency and running expenses better.

Other features include Trip Mileage Indicator where trip based fuel economy can be monitored live on vehicle dashboard and hence owners are able to know actual fuel mileage on the vehicle thus being able to manage their expenses better. Gear Shift Advisor is a simple load-terrain based fuel economy coaching feature for the drivers on the go. “B2B selling is not only product but the whole solution as a whole, Tata Motors has a diverse range of fully built solutions and an array of value added services which enable owners to select customised application based solutions for maximum return on assets,” says Rajesh.

Total cost of ownership at the core
BharatBenz’s goal is to offer its customers the best trucks they can buy for their money in India. “There has been a shift in the Indian CV customer mind-set from focusing only on price towards focusing on value. Total cost of ownership is exactly at the core of BharatBenz,” says Rajaram Krishnamurthy, Vice President – Marketing and Sales, Daimler India Commercial Vehicles.

Few months back, the first BharatBenz truck customer crossed the mark of 10 lakh kilometres with no major repairs required and with the original, factory-installed powertrain. This shows the company delivers on its promise of product reliability, says Krishnamurthy.
BharatBenz is the brand of choice for customers who don’t look for the next-best discount but instead do the math over their vehicle’s complete lifecycle.

Considering fuel economy
“Tata Motors’ trucks have known to be one of the most fuel-efficient HCV. With superior engineering, the company has ensured trucks with a top-class combination of power and mileage in the industry. Tata Motors with E-viscous fan and FE Switch technology has built a range of fuel efficient yet robust trucks,” says Rajesh. Tata Motors recently launched the new range of 6×4 tippers with Prima and Signa Cabins for surface movement with best-in-class fuel-efficiency catered to fuel conscious consumers. Tata Motors has a breakthrough product in LPT 1618 Turbotronn with the most fuel-efficient engine in its category – Tata New Gen 5.0 L Turbotronn – 4 cylinder common rail engine which has scaled new heights in fuel economy performance.

Tata Motors endeavours to add refinements in product design for enhancement of fuel economy, either through optimisation of drivetrain (engine torque curve, gear ratios, rear axle ratio) and giving option of tubeless tyres or through introduction of add-on features like gear shift advisor and calibration of engine built on features like load based speed control, vehicle acceleration management and gear down protection.

“All our products are designed to deliver the best total cost of ownership to our customers. Fuel constitutes a large cost position over the lifecycle of a truck, so it’s a priority for the customer. This puts it also at the top of our list while designing our trucks,” says Krishnamurthy. Many factors contribute to ensuring better fuel efficiency; besides powertrain design, good overall maintenance of the vehicle or trained drivers that follow fuel-saving driving patterns play a big role in real-life fuel economy.

Tata Motors HCV vehicles come equipped with features which deliver unique benefits and value for money for the new-age customer.
Rajesh Kaul, Vice President and Product Line Head – M&HCV, Tata Motors

There has been a shift in the Indian CV customer’s mind-set from focusing only on price towards focusing on value.
Rajaram Krishnamurthy, Vice President – Marketing and Sales, Daimler India Commercial Vehicles