Automobile major Ashok Leyland is confident of regaining the market share of 18 per cent that it enjoyed in the Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) segment during the fiscal 2013-14, with the success that it enjoyed, thanks to the increasing acceptance of its ‘Dost’ that sold over one lakh units in three years since it was launched.
Speaking on the sidelines of a meeting organised to mark the success of ‘Dost’ here on Tuesday, Ashok Leyland President (LCV, Defence) Nitin Seth said they had embarked on a new platform strategy to get their due, back. This he said, would be possible with more variants on the company’s existing platforms – Dost (LCV), Partner (Mini-Truck) and MiTR (Mini Bus).
The company’s share in the LCV segment had come down to 14 per cent in the financial year 2013-14, causing concern. It is now hovering around 16 per cent. In the domestic LCV market, Ashok Leyland is No.2, with about 5.25 lakh units. However, sales had plummeted to 3.85 lakh units in 2013-14.
The sales of ‘Dost’ was an encouraging sign, Mr. Nitin Seth said, adding that they were also expecting to increase volumes on their ‘MiTR’ platform, selling school buses.
They were gearing up to tap the huge potential offered by the school bus segment and said that they were much ahead of competition. “MiTR conformed to the Government’s school bus norms, to be made mandatory from August 1 and we are here to stay, in 27, 32, 36 and 40-seater capacities,” he said.
