A new gift from TATA motors for Indian public transport. Now say good bye to those low power roaring Ashok leyland vestibule bus.
Tata Motors is planning to come out with vestibule buses from its joint venture with Marcopolo of Brazil. The company is in talks with Hubner, the German supplier for articulated systems, critical for the manufacture of vestibule buses.
Tata Motors is expected to finalise its deal with Hubner at the meeting between the top executives of the two companies. The buses will roll out from the Tata Marcopolo Motors (TMML) bus plant at Dharwad, Karnataka.
These 18-metre long buses with larger seating capacity are fitted with an extra axle and a joint usually located slightly behind the midpoint of the bus, behind the second axle. Also called articulated buses, these 180-seaters are ideal for city transport.
The use of vestibule buses is in its nascent stage in India. Ashok Leyland is the only manufacturer, which meets the needs of the market in limited numbers. According to industry estimates, there are nearly 400 vestibule buses in India across Chennai, Bangalore and Belgaum.
Hubner, which has an 80 per cent share of the global articulation system business, supplies these systems to Ashok Leyland, and is in talks with several Indian bus body builders and manufacturers, including Tata Motors.
These supplies will be made from its manufacturing facility in Shanghai under its Chinese arm umbrella.
These supplies will be made from its manufacturing facility in Shanghai under its Chinese arm umbrella.
“When we have enough volumes, we will set up a facility in India,” Robert Koch, Director of Articulation & Folding Bellows Division, Hubner, told Business Line.
According to Makrand Shahane, India representative of Hubner, the domestic market has the potential to sell 1,000-1,500 vestibule buses a year.
Between Tata Motors and Ashok Leyland, the company has targeted sales of 150 articulation systems this calendar year.
Its global sales totalled nearly 6,500 articulation systems to the likes of Daimler AG, Scania, Volvo and Marcopolo.
According to Makrand Shahane, India representative of Hubner, the domestic market has the potential to sell 1,000-1,500 vestibule buses a year.
Between Tata Motors and Ashok Leyland, the company has targeted sales of 150 articulation systems this calendar year.
Its global sales totalled nearly 6,500 articulation systems to the likes of Daimler AG, Scania, Volvo and Marcopolo.
China produced 1,800 articulated buses in 2008, thanks to the increased demand for public transport during the recently held Beijing Olympics.
Brazil produced more than 400, while Europe accounted for around 5,000 articulated buses last year.
Brazil produced more than 400, while Europe accounted for around 5,000 articulated buses last year.
Now Tata plus Marcopolo. Quality product for mass public transport.
