Ashok Leyland wins orders; stock gains
On the back of some significant orders won by Ashok Leyland, the stock price moved up two per cent. The first order was bagged by Ashok Leyland’s British subsidiary Optare PLC from Transport for London (TfL) for the supply of 31 Optare Metrodecker EV double-decker buses. Bought by Metroline, the double-decker buses will add to London’s fleet by next summer. They will ply on Metroline’s iconic routes 43, from Friern Barnet to London Bridge, and 134, North Finchley to Tottenham Court Road). The order marks the delivery of largest pure electric double-decker bus fleet in Europe. It also reflects upon Ashok Leyland’s technology prowess and the growing e-mobility business. Developing e-mobility solutions for various markets, Ashok Leyland has won an order to supply 300 double-decker buses to the Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC). The supply of these buses is expected to help decongest the busy roads of Dhaka. To be delivered within the next eight months, the Bangladesh order would help further strengthen its position in one of its key export markets. If they will help the company to de-risk from cyclicity in the domestic market, the company has announced the development of an in-line fuel pump equipped BSIV diesel engine. Called ‘Innoline’, the engine employs a B53 in-line fuel pump. Benefits include lower operating cost, lower maintenance, and no need for AdBlue mechanism. While other CV makers chose to employ SCR technology on their heavy vehicles, Ashok Leyland came out with iEGR technology last year. This was in view of the migration to BSIV from BSIII. One lakh CVs using iEGR technology have already been sold according to Ashok Leyland sources. The lnnoline technology employed on H-series engines is not only expected to take the iEGR technology to the next level, it is also expected to offer a simpler system to the fleet operators. Enabling easier maintenance and cost saving, the technology is ARAI certified. The technology can be upgraded for use on BSVI engines as well.