Ashok Leyland enters used truck market

Jaipur, May 28 (UNI) Pre-owned commercial vehicle market is all set to get a complete make-over with ALTRUX from Ashok Leyland, the flagship of the Hinduja Group in India, announced its foray into the used vehicles market, making it the first commercial vehicle manufacturer in the country to take this pioneering step.

Used Ashok Leyland vehicles will be purchased from the market and re-conditioned by the company, using an exhaustive 140-point check to achieve a quality standard that will ensure trouble-free operation. All ALTRUX vehicles will come with up to six months warranty.

This scheme only covers Ashok Leyland trucks. The refurbishment of the truck - cab, body and chassis - will be carried out to set ALTRUX quality standards by qualified personnel that will ensure optimum performance and enable the buyer to operate the vehicle right from the delivery point.

All such re-conditioned vehicles will carry approved documents that will certify their authenticity and facilitate easy financing.

''ALTRUX is a win-win solution for our customers. Buyers of second hand vehicles are assured of a quality product with good performance, service and original Leyparts spares. Our customers will have a ready buyer when they decide to dispose off their vehicles,'' V M Hombali, Special Director, Customer Support Group said.

Ashok Leyland is targeting approximately 15 per cent market share over the next three years in the used vehicles business.

The market for used trucks is estimated at 77,000 per annum.

While price is a key determinant in the purchase decisions, buyers expect assured quality backed by equally good service, which the existing channels are inadequately equipped to provide. This is where ALTRUX will have an edge by providing the stamp of authenticity that assures the buyer of a vehicle's quality, performance and countrywide service back-up.

Ashok Leyland posted a sale of 83,094 vehicles during 2006-07, an all-time high, thereby achieving a 35 per cent growth over 61,655 vehicles sold in 2005-06.

UNI