C. K. Birla group company Hindustan Motors on Monday said it plans to roll out the Bharat Stage IV compliant CNG version of its mini truck ‘HM Shifeng Winner’ in new states like Maharashtra and Punjab over next few months.
The company, which on Monday launched the light commercial vehicle (LCV) in Haryana at an ex-showroom price of Rs. 4.53 lakh, also said it is also working on introducing a BS IV compliant model of the diesel version of HM Shifeng Winner.
“After Haryana, our next focus for the CNG version of the LCV will be on Maharashtra, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. This is intended to capitalise on new BS IV emission norms and also the demand for clean fuel technology,” Hindustan Motors Chief General Manager (Marketing and Sales) Rattan Singh said.
He said that along with the CNG truck, the company is also working on developing a BS IV compliant diesel variant.
“We have developed a prototype and initial test are going on at the Pune-based Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI). We are hopeful of been able to bring out a BS IV compliant diesel variant of the Winner over next few months,” Mr. Singh said.
The company hopes that a BS IV compliant diesel variant will give it leeway in the 13 major cities which have shifted to new emission norms since April 1 this year.
While its CNG variant comes with a 1.8 litre engine, the diesel truck is fitted with a 1.5 litre engine and comes at a price of 3.86 lakh.
Hindustan Motors, known for its iconic Ambassador cars, had ventured into the LCV segment last year with launch of the Winner last year in both the CNG and diesel variants. After initial launch of both variants in West Bengal and the four southern states, Hindustan Motors introduced the CNG model in Delhi in October 2009.
Asked about the sales target in the LCV segment, Mr. Singh said: “We have just started operations in a market which is of around 2.5 lakh units. This year will be our first full year of operations and we hope to clock at least 12,000 units, of which half will be from the CNG variant and the rest diesel.”
The company had earlier this month tied—up with Bangladesh—based conglomerate Intraco Group for distributing the CNG truck and said it aimed to sell at least 2,500—3,000 units in the neighbouring country during the first year of operations.
“The first consignment of about a hundred trucks will leave to Bangladesh in May. We are also scouting at possibilities to start exporting to Nepal and Sri Lanka in the future but nothing concrete has emerged as yet,” Mr. Singh said.
Hindustan Motors manufactures the Shefing WInner at its Uttarpara (West Bengal) facility which has capacity of around 50,000 units annually.
