DICV leveraged Daimler’s global network of technological expertise to quickly and efficiently localize proven EURO6 technologies for use in the Indian market says Rajaram Krishnamurthy, VP Sales and Marketing, Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV).

As one of the major players in the CV sector, did the budget meet your expectations?
We are pleased to see the emphasis on agriculture and infrastructure. This will definitely give a boost to the CV industry. The government has mentioned that the scrappage policy will be announced in a month’s time and this is good news. We hope that the scrappage policy comes with good incentives, so it motivates people to replace their old vehicles with BS VI Vehicles. We welcome this move, which will help the auto economy to do better in a relatively flat year.

The need of the hour is to get the latest technology to reduce the impact of pollution on the environment and reduce the dependency on oil. The scrappage policy needs to be more stringent, in order to remove the most polluting trucks from Indian roads with the BS-VI transition.

Given the Indian conditions CV’s are exposed to, what are some of the core areas where innovation and focus is desired.

We recently unveiled our all-new range of trucks and buses in Mumbai which feature a package of technologies and features that we are calling Profit Technology+. This package offers customers industry-leading levels of fuel efficiency, safety, comfort and durability. That translates to higher TCO and customer satisfaction.

One of the innovations that we are bringing is connectivity – ‘Truckonnect’ and ‘Busconnect’ for trucks and buses respectively. We have started offering Truckonnect as a standard feature for all 16 tonne and above vehicles, and as an optional feature below 16 tonne. Connectivity is one of the major current trends in the CV industry – in India and around the world. Vehicle integration allows innovations like predictive maintenance, driver performance, fuel efficiency improvement or even the development of custom-tailored products for specific scenarios, based on analysis of real-life data from similar scenarios.

BharatBenz will also deploy new safety features in its trucks with the introduction of an innovative Driver State Monitoring System (DSMS). An industry-first in India’s commercial vehicle segment, the goal is to avoid dangerous situations of drivers falling asleep or otherwise being distracted at the wheel.

What are the best practices to enhance the fuel efficiency of CV?
We did not just want to meet the emission norm, but rather went beyond in developing the range of BSVI vehicles. DICV leveraged Daimler’s global network of technological expertise to quickly and efficiently localize proven EURO6 technologies for use in the Indian market. With an investment of around Rs 500 crore, DICV developed new facilities and over 1,000 new parts for BSVI, all while achieving localization above 80 per cent. The OM926 engine is known globally for its powerful, economical and reliable qualities. It is the perfect choice for demanding conditions across various terrains. The engine is a six- cylinder in line engine with 7.2 liter cubic capacity that offers best in class fuel efficiency, long service intervals and unmatched reliability. Drivers can look forward to spontaneous response and ample tractive power. The engine offers 280 HP and up to 10 per cent better fuel efficiency, plus 20 per cent longer service intervals and comes with a six year warranty.

How is the BS VI emission regulation affecting engine design and cost of the CV?
BharatBenz trucks will be powered by the OM926 engine and 4D34i. The engine remains the same from outside but from inside we have increased the bore size which helps in further efficiency of the burning and also improving the reliability and durability of the engine. We have also optimised the turbo charger and the accessories for the engine to perform at its lean mixture and the best efficiency. The key differentiator in technology will be the after treatment systems used in the vehicles. BharatBenz trucks come with up to 6 years standard warranty and industry-best extended warranty upto eight years. The trucks will have service intervals up to 20 per cent longer and will reduce maintenance cost significantly by up to six percent.

How to select the right CV for mining or construction purpose?
With BharatBenz, we have always been at the forefront of innovation, aiming to make vehicles cleaner, safer and more cost efficient for Indian customers. We are now changing from the traditional tonnage classification to a usage classification; namely, offering CVs best suited to their intended use in order to better satisfy customer needs.

Rajaram Krishnamurthy, VP Sales and Marketing, Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV).