CHENNAI: Asia Motor Works (AMW), which is aiming high in the 25 tonne and above tipper segment of the Indian commercial vehicle market, has set in motion several ambitious plans to take head on other auto majors through the promotion of several high end new application-specific models for increasing its volumes and market share in the commercial truck space.
“The 25-tonner has gained tremendous acceptance in the mining and construction segment, because of its high reliability, superior performance, unique features like air conditioned cabin for drivers, good price, on-site service centres and a meaningful warranty,” said Anirudh Bhuwalka, Managing Director and CEO, Asia Motor Works Limited (AMW).
He also said the company would be entering a new segment of the tipper market with the launch of its new 1618 TP, at the upcoming Excon expo, beginning November 23 in Bengaluru.
“AMW is an associate sponsor at the Excon 2011, which is likely to be one of the biggest exhibitions for the fast growing construction segment,” Bhuwalka said and added, “AMW, which was founded in 2008, currently sells 1,000 trucks every month through 87 touch points across the country. This represents a strong growth for the company and reaffirms the growing acceptance of AMW among truck buyers in India.”
In fact, the company rolled out its 20,000th truck from its manufacturing plant in Bhuj, Gujarat, in September 2011, he noted.
A Ramasubramanian, President, AMW, who also shared the company’s future plans, said, “The Bhuj facility, set up at a cost of `1,500 crore, has a capacity to manufacture 50,000 trucks per annum. The facility currently employs 2,200 people and uses state of the art production processes to build world class trucks for the Indian market.”
Stating that the total addressable market of HCVs in 2010-11 was 220,000 commercial vehicles per annum (currently growing at 9 per cent per annum), he said, “During this fiscal year, AMW would have successfully entered into all segments of the HCV market, all for an increasing penetration into the construction and mining segment of the market.”
He further said, “Rolling out the first truck in 2008, AMW has increased its presence in an increasingly competitive market through its products and service network spread across the country. Part of India’s largest infrastructure and construction projects, AMW trucks continue to be an integral part of the country’s growth story.”
AMW has an installed capacity for 24,000 tipper bodies, 100,000 tonnes of fabricated components, 45,000 tonnes of pressed metal and 30,000 tonnes of frames for chassis production. The company recently acquired a forging unit in Mysore in southern India, which produces axles and other forged components.
AMW also manufactures components for the automotive and general engineering industries. AMW’s capacity of 15 million wheel rims makes it the largest single location plant in Asia and the company supplies pressed metal components to some of the world’s most renowned auto and white goods manufacturers.