M&M to export trucks to US

Mumbai, Dec. 7: Mahindra Navistar, a joint venture of Mahindra and Mahindra and Navistar USA, would launch its first truck in India in the first week of January 2009.

According to the senior officials of M&M, their truck would be seven per cent cost effective in terms of the fuel efficiency than the benchmark making it the most competitive in the Indian commercial vehicle segment.

The company would manufacture the engines at its Chakan (Pune) facility and aims to export the trucks and engines to the US and other markets like Brazil.

Stating that they are aiming to become prominent players in the commercial vehicle segment, Mr Pawan Goenka, the president of the automotive division of M&M, said: “As of now the engines are localised to the extent of 71 per cent and this would go up to 95 per cent next year further reducing the cost.”

At the Chakan facility, he said the production capacity is about 40,000 engines per year and the production facility would be utilised as per the demand.