Tata Motors launched ten low-priced truck models under its 'Prima' brand

 

Tata Motors  launched ten low-priced truck models under its 'Prima' brand — Prima LX. The new series is about 20 per cent cheaper than the Prima range of trucks.

"This range (Prima LX) will take us to high volume multi-axle truck segment which constitute nearly 65% of the total trucks sold in the country," Tata Motors Executive Director-Commercial Vehicles Ravi Pisharody said here.

The new range, includes six heavy trucks for haulage segment and four for the construction purposes, and is priced between Rs 18.5 lakh to Rs 32.5 lakh.

The company sells Prima range of trucks between Rs 23 lakh and Rs 65 lakh.

"The range has been priced just about 5% more than than our conventional trucks. With its advanced features, it is a great value for money to customers," Pisharody said.

The conventional trucks of the company are priced between Rs 22-35 lakh.

The company expects the LX range to contribute 10-15% of the company's truck business in the next three years,

Tata  Motors has introduced a 25 tonne and a 31 tonne multi-axle truck in the Prima LX range that increases the customer base of the range. Tata Motors says that multi-axle trucks contribute to 65-70 percent of total M&HCV sales so with these new products, there will be a lot more Primas plying on Indian roads soon. Both trucks will be powered by the 5.9-litre Cummins CRDI engine producing 233PS.

The four new tippers that go on sale in the Prima range will be available in two engine options and have 25 and 31 tonne GVWs. The same 233PS block powering the multi-axle trucks will be available in the tippers but considering some of the applications these tippers could be used for like mining, it also gets a 284PS engine option that’s also sourced from Cummins.

Finally, four new tractor trailers round up the LX range. Like the tippers, the tractors will sport the same engines but will have a higher haulage capacity of 40 and 49 tonnes.

The Prima range of commercial vehicles was introduced in 2009 by Tata Motors. It was a premium product compared to the rest of the range and gave operators the option of contemporary trucking and comfortable driving conditions, but the new range came at a higher cost. Thus the reach was limited but with these new midrange LX series products, the Prima platform will have a higher reach.

During the launch, TATA motors also announced its warranty extension to trucks with lower GVWs in the Tata  stable. Until now, Tata motors was offering a 4 year/4 lakh km warranty on 25 tonne and higher trucks but from the beginning of March, this warranty has been extended to their medium duty range that includes 16 tonne GVW and higher.