Scania launches Fleet Management service in India at Auto Expo, 2014

Global commercial vehicles and engines manufacturer Scania India today announced the launch of its Fleet Management service at the Auto Expo 2014 held in India Expo Mart, Greater Noida, Delhi, NCR, India. Fleet Management service is tailored to suit each operator’s needs and this is the first of its kind in the country. The company also displayed the latest heavy haulage truck, the Scania R 500 6×4, with a top of the line V8 engine.

Scania is renowned globally for its service offerings. The Fleet Management service that the company unveiled at the Expo is an integrated part of Scania’s comprehensive global service offering, supporting the driver, as well as managing the transport operation and the vehicle fleet. The Fleet Management service offers customers the possibility to monitor, analyze and control their fleet operations leading to maximized uptime and enhanced road safety. This is a major benefit for operators running all kind of transport operations. It comprises a number of independent services that can be combined to suit individual operators’ needs and can be installed in all Scania haulage trucks and buses.

The Scania R 500 6×4 on display features the first ever V8 engine on the Indian roads, offering high torque ratings at low speed, essential for super over-dimensional cargo (ODC) transport. With the automated gear changing system, Scania Opticruise, it will be the first vehicle of its kind on the Indian market to carry super ODC across the country under the most demanding of highway conditions. The Scania V8 engines advance into the future with excellent drivability, impressive operating economy and sheer driving pleasure. These vehicles are built to deliver goods under the toughest conditions.

Speaking at the Expo, Mr. Anders Grundströmer, Managing Director, Scania India and Senior Vice President, Scania Group said, “India is a very important market for us. Our trucks have been an integral part of the industrial establishment in India for a long time now. With the launch of our Fleet Management service and the V8 series of engines, we are all set to widen our footprint in growing markets across the country. This is in line with our commitment, following the launch of the on-road haulage segment, to focus on providing reliable, fuel-efficient transport solutions and complete innovative service offerings to customers in India. This coupled with our driver training program will enable customers and operators to have better control over the fleet and help drivers to drive more economically and more safely which in turn have a positive impact on customers’ profitability. This will also help in a significant reduction of emissions and will have a lesser impact on the environment.”
Scania is also exhibiting some of the company’s other world renowned vehicles at this year’s
Expo, such as the Scania P 410 8×4, a market leading tipper in terms of carrying capacity and productivity. This truck is also equipped with Scania Opticruise for best fuel efficiency and ease of driving. Furthermore, the company unveiled the Scania G 410 with new features such as the automated gear changing system for manual gearboxes which results in significant improvements with respect to precision, gear selection, performance and reliability. On display is also the reputed 13.7 metre 49 seating luxury intercity coach – the Scania Metrolink – which is also available in different seating capacities on the Indian market.
As part of the company’s strategy, Scania will inaugurate the phase II of the company’s production facility – the bus factory in Naraspura, India mid this year. The company will also establish a complete service and dealership network in the country starting from South and West and later North and East. The company’s major focus will be on changing the way India views transportation by bringing in new and innovative technologies through constant R&D in India followed by entry into wide range of products and services. Scania will also going forward focus on newer concepts like operating lease to customers, alternate fuels, etc.

About Auto Expo

The Auto Expo was conceived in the year 1985 and had its debut showcasing in 1986. The Auto Expo 1986 was a window for technology transfers showing how the Indian Automotive Industry was absorbing new technologies and promoting indigenous research and development for adapting these technologies for the rugged Indian conditions. The Auto Expo is a biennial automotive show held in New Delhi, India. It is Asia’s largest and the world’s second-largest motor show. The Expo is organized jointly by the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association (ACMA), Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM).

Scania India

Scania has been represented in the Indian market since 2007, when a partnership was initiated with Larsen & Toubro (L&T). L&T has successfully established Scania’s trucks and services and has developed a close partnership with customers in the off-road segment. L&T currently operates about 10 Scania service workshops at various mining sites in the country and continues to be a trusted partner for off road including mining trucks.

In 2011, Scania established the company Scania Commercial Vehicles India Pvt. Ltd. in order to boost its presence through sales to additional segments of the Indian commercial vehicle market. Scania recently launched a new range of on-road haulage truck models specially adapted for the Indian market – the R 500 6×4, the G 460 6×4 and the P 410 6×2. The P 410 8×4 mining tipper was launched in December 2012.

In the beginning of 2013 Scania launched a new coach range, especially for the Indian market. The new coach range is a purpose-designed coach for luxury intercity or charter travels. Scania also launched the company’s engines range in India. Scania has been establishing a network of dealers across the south and western regions of India covering its business areas to support the customers with the best parts and service availability.

The company also recently announced the inauguration of their industrial facility in Narasapura. With an investment of Rs. 250 crore, this facility will serve as the centre of the company’s commercial operations in the country. Scania’s ambition is to sell about 2,500 trucks and 1,000 coaches per year in the Indian market within the next five years and employee about 800 people at this facility.

The industrial operations at the factory will consist of final assembly of trucks with bodywork and building of complete coaches with bodywork. The head office of Scania’s Indian company, complete with a service workshop and a central parts warehouse, will be housed at the same site.