Ashok Leyland on Growth Mode, to Focus on Exports

As the Indian market is becoming more cyclical off late, Ashok Leyland, the ninth largest truck maker and fourth largest bus maker in the world, is looking at increasing its exports, especially to the Middle East, SAARC, and African markets. It is also looking at Russia, Ukraine and Latin America.

 

- Bhushan Mhapralkar

Rajive Saharia, President, Global Sales and Distribution, Ashok Leyland said that the company plans to export 1 CV for every 2 CVs sold in the domestic market. For buses the domestic and export sales ratio is 58:42, T Venkataraman, Senior Vice President, Global Buses, Ashok Leyland said. “We are supplying Euro 5 vehicles to Ukraine, and to Latin America,” he said. Supply of bus kits to Ukraine is on. The local converters build bodies on them.

Saharia said that more trucks were sold overseas last year than buses. “Close to 60% of export sales was through trucks,” he said. As part of its strategy to averse risk and grow faster than the industry, Ashok Leyland exited from some of the STU business owing to “low profitability,” Vinod K Dasari, Managing Director and CEO, Ashok Leyland said. Ashok Leyland has, meanwhile, diversified to innovative products like Captain, Guru, Circuit electric bus, Sunshine school bus with roll-over protection, and the Oyster (safest) school bus in the Gulf. Since its launch the company has sold over 3000 Sunshine school buses. There is a waiting list of 500 vehicles.