Ashok Leyland eyes bigger sales; launch 20 products in 2008-09

New Delhi, Jan 9: The Country's second largest commercial vehicle manufacturer Ashok Leyland Ltd today said it will launch 20 new products in order to increase its sales in the financial year 2008-09.

''We expect the FY08-09 a turnaround year for the whole industry. We are going to introduce 20 new vehicles in the year,'' Mr R Seshasayee, Managing Director, Ashok Leyland told reporters on the sidelines of a conference at the 9th Auto Expo here. He said the 20 new products will be meant for domestic and export market as well. He described the high interest rates as one of the major reason for low sales reported in the third quarter of the current fiscal.

''The sentiments of the market has not been picked up that led to the low sale in the third quarter of the current fiscal,'' he said.

However, he hoped that if the interest rates is softened, the year 208-09 will be a turnaround year for the auto industry.

Commenting on the number of dealers, the MD said the company is looking forward to scale it up.

UNI