“We will become a force to be reckoned with in the Volvo
Group. We will not only be responsible for engines for the
Indian market but we will also be taking a much bigger step and helping to produce high-quality long block engines for the Group’s buses and trucks throughout the world,” he says.
The new engine is the synthesis of co-operation across
several national borders, as Volvo Powertrain in Ageo, Japan, led the project to develop the engine which will be manufactured in India.
Siddhartha Lal describes the past two years’ co-operation
in this joint venture as highly successful. The combination
of VECV’s extensive local knowledge and the Volvo Group’s advanced technology and experience of service and aftermarket support is unbeatable.
“We know our customers and the country and can offer
competitive production costs and a network of dealers. This enables the Volvo Group to tailor its products better to meet the needs of Indian customers,” says Siddhartha Lal. VECV is a leading player in India in the light- and medium-duty truck segment and it also aiming to increase its market share in the increasingly important heavy-duty truck segment.
“There are two players that control the entire market in the heavy-duty truck segment. They rely on their brand and their low prices, but they lag far behind when it comes to aftermarket support and technology,” says Siddhartha Lal,
pointing out that customers are starting to grow impatient
with this state of affairs.
“Customers want good service. They’re no longer prepared to put up with long waiting times for spare parts. This is where the Volvo Group’s experience is invaluable and where our opportunity lies,” he says. Over and above its joint venture with VECV, the Volvo Group has been operating in India for almost 15 years. The majority of the Group’s companies have manufacturing and sales facilities in India and the centre of operations is in Bangalore in the south of the country. Siddhartha Lal is looking forward to the continued success of the partnership. “The future is bright,” he affirms.
Local knowledge and advanced technology make an unbeatable combination for success in India, according to Siddhartha Lal, managing director of the joint venture VE Commercial Vehicles. “Our collaboration with the Volvo Group has all the essential ingredients,” he says. The company is now starting engine production in India.
