MTBD on track for BSVI
In an age of stringent regulations and high market expectations, Mahindra Truck and Bus Division (MTBD) is on track for BSVI.
Turning around the negative market perception that its heavy trucks are dandy and powerful, but not as fuel-efficient, Mahindra Truck and Bus Division (MTBD) is on track to meet the BSVI emission norms. Announcing that it has emerged as the market leader in terms of mileage within the trucking industry with its Blazo range, the company is banking on a simplified BSVI to ensure that its customers are not burdened in an already demanding business environment. Working to carry forward almost 80 per cent of the 40000 components that make a truck to BSVI with the plethora of changes limited to the after-treatment level, the CV maker has announced that its Furio ICV (in the 12- and 14-tonne segment) has emerged as the number four-player in a short span of seven months. Using its 7.2-litre engine that powers the Blazo to achieve the distinct advantage of carrying over 80 per cent of the components from its BSIV CVs to BSVI, MTBD has claimed that it is the number-three player in the haulage segment (multi-axle vehicle segment and tractor-trailer segment combined). Revealing that the dandy build of its trucks has provided it with an advantage of meeting the new axle norms, the CV maker is eyeing the number-three position in tippers.
Working on the premise of offering a simplified BSVI experience to its customers, MTBD, according to Rajan Wadhera, President – Auto Sector, Mahindra & Mahindra, has built a distinct cost advantage by packing technology in its CVs rather than wait for the regulations to dictate. Of the opinion that pre-buying will not be as pronounced, Wadhera mentioned that MTBD, confident of consolidating its position in the BSVI environment, is conducting rigorous testing and validation of its CVs for BSVI in close coordination with the passenger vehicle and SCV teams in the automotive division. Introducing the 49-tonne Blazo X 16-wheel rigid truck with an advantage of superior fuel efficiency and payload, the company, said the CEO Vinod Sahay, is sticking to the promise of mileage guarantee. Launching the 11 m Cruzio LPO
bus for the tourist staff and school segment, the CV maker, managing to gain some market share in an environment where the fall in sales of M&HCVs has been the most drastic, has not had even a single Blazo come back in the last three years in response to the mileage guarantee it has offered.
Stating that its trucks are being benchmarked in the industry for fuel-efficiency, Sahay said that his company is committed to provide technologically superior products with the Indian value system in view. Looking at ways to enhance safety, efficiency, performance, and comfort of its CVs, MTBD is preparing to launch all the 22 variants of the Furio after the BSVI norms come into play. Of these, only three models have been launched until now in the BSIV guise. To power the Furio, the CV manufacturer developed an all-new 140 hp 3.5-litre commonrail diesel engine that is also said to offer superior mileage, refinement and performance. Gearing up to pre-produce a batch of BSVI CVs in the next few months and seed them with some select customers to test and validate, the company is currently subjecting its BSVI CVs to homologation. It is waiting for BSVI fuel to be available. Planning to start billing BSVI vehicles to its dealers by February and March 2020, MTBD is carrying forward not just the 7.2-litre engine, but the 3.5-litre engine of the Furio and the 2.5-litre engine of the Jayo and Optimo as well. Said to have worked with Bosch to get the engines to comply with the BSIV emission regulations, the company is working with a number of existing and new suppliers to get to the BSVI level.
With the major changes limited largely to the after-treatment area, MTBD will carry over key aggregates like engines, transmissions, axles, brakes, and cabins to BSVI. With the hardware commonality between BSIV and BSVI amounting to more than 80 per cent, it is at the software level that the changes have been quite significant. Working to get the fluid efficiency right, and arming all its CVs with SCR, the company is working on various fronts, including packaging and weight control.
Deploying DOC (Diesel Oxidation Catalyst), DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter) and ASC (Ammonia Slip Catalysts) for BSVI emission compliance, MTBD is confident that the carrying forward of 80 per cent of the parts will make it easier for the truck operators, the manufacturer as well as the dealers, supplier, and workshops