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Ashok Leyland the flagship of the Hinduja Group is the 2nd largest commercial vehicle manufacturer in India, the 4th largest manufacturer of buses, & 12th of trucks in the world.
The company began its journey not with heavy vehicles but with Austin cars!
A thread
#fintwit
The company began its journey not with heavy vehicles but with Austin cars!
A thread
#fintwit
Raghunandan Saran, a freedom fighter from Punjab, incorporated Ashok Motors in Chennai on September 7, 1948, as a company to assemble and manufacture Austin cars from England.
Ashok was the name of the founderâs only son.
Those were the fledgling years of independent India.
Ashok was the name of the founderâs only son.
Those were the fledgling years of independent India.
The then Prime Minister Pandit Nehru was inspiring Indian entrepreneurs to invest and make in India.
Ashok Motors had its head office on Rajaji Salai, which is still there.
The company assembled and distributed Austin A40 cars.
Ashok Motors had its head office on Rajaji Salai, which is still there.
The company assembled and distributed Austin A40 cars.
Realizing the importance and necessity of commercial vehicles, rather than passenger cars, in a growing economy, Saran began the discussion with Leyland Motors of England.
They were a renowned heavy vehicles manufacturer.
Saran hoped for an investment & technology partnership.
They were a renowned heavy vehicles manufacturer.
Saran hoped for an investment & technology partnership.
Though he did not live to see its fruition Ashok Leyland was incorporated in 1954 to manufacture commercial vehicles.
During these seven decades, the company has become a leader among the heavy vehicle manufacturers in the world.
Currently it does not assemble or make any car.
During these seven decades, the company has become a leader among the heavy vehicle manufacturers in the world.
Currently it does not assemble or make any car.
@ALIndiaOfficial's `Cometâ, a powerful, rugged, fuel efficient truck became an instant hit in the nascent Indian market.
By 1955, a 1000 units were sold, with only 252 employees on board.
In 1963 Comet buses, by building a passenger body on a truck chassis, were introduced.
By 1955, a 1000 units were sold, with only 252 employees on board.
In 1963 Comet buses, by building a passenger body on a truck chassis, were introduced.
@ALIndiaOfficial brought to India for the first time full air brakes, the most advanced braking system in the world then.
The industry moved up and it built its first 10-30 tonne Ashok Leyland Beaver/Hippo range in 1966.
The industry moved up and it built its first 10-30 tonne Ashok Leyland Beaver/Hippo range in 1966.
In 1967 @ALIndiaOfficial celebrated two decades of its operations with Titan double-decker buses.
Power-steering for commercial vehicles, an industry first in India, was introduced in 1969.
Power-steering for commercial vehicles, an industry first in India, was introduced in 1969.
In 1970 @ALIndiaOfficial expanded its manufacturing for the Armed forces, with the design & delivery of 6Ă4 Hippo Tipper.
By 1973, production had touched 10,000 vehicles: a ten-fold increase from the beginning.
In 1974 the turnover of the company crossed Rs 100 crore!
By 1973, production had touched 10,000 vehicles: a ten-fold increase from the beginning.
In 1974 the turnover of the company crossed Rs 100 crore!
The collaboration with the British Leyland ended in 1975.
But the holding of British Leyland continued until the 1980s.
With the changes in management structure, the company launched various vehicles.
But the holding of British Leyland continued until the 1980s.
With the changes in management structure, the company launched various vehicles.
Viking, one of the most elegant products of the company & the first Indian bus with an alternator & a unique front, was launched.
It was followed in 1978 by the Cheetah, Indiaâs first rear-engine bus.
It was followed in 1978 by the Cheetah, Indiaâs first rear-engine bus.
In 1980, @ALIndiaOfficial expanded by setting up Hosur 1, its 2nd manufacturing plant.
It complemented Ennore, but remained independent ensuring seamless production in a fluctuating marketplace.
It complemented Ennore, but remained independent ensuring seamless production in a fluctuating marketplace.
With additional production power through Hosur 1, the company began to surge ahead with many more industry firsts.
Ashok Tusker, Taurus and vestibule bus for urban travel were the products of the early 1980s.
Ashok Tusker, Taurus and vestibule bus for urban travel were the products of the early 1980s.
In 1982 March the Bhandara plant for gearbox assembly and in August that year the Alwar unit for passenger chassis was opened.
In 1987, the overseas holding was taken over by a joint venture between the Hinduja Group, and IVECO, part of the Fiat Group.
In 1987, the overseas holding was taken over by a joint venture between the Hinduja Group, and IVECO, part of the Fiat Group.
In 2007, the Hinduja Group bought out IVECOâs indirect stake in @ALIndiaOfficial and made it the groupâs flagship.
The fifth unit of Ashok Leyland was set up at Vellivoyalchavadi in the outskirts of North Chennai in 1990.
The fifth unit of Ashok Leyland was set up at Vellivoyalchavadi in the outskirts of North Chennai in 1990.
It became the birthplace of many industry-changing designs.
Another new venture by @ALIndiaOfficial was the Driver Training Institute set up in 1995 in Tamil Nadu, benefiting the aspiring drivers, and fleet owners who were in need of quality drivers.
Another new venture by @ALIndiaOfficial was the Driver Training Institute set up in 1995 in Tamil Nadu, benefiting the aspiring drivers, and fleet owners who were in need of quality drivers.
@ALIndiaOfficial's expansion continued with the setting up of Hosur 2 in 1996, its most versatile plant with a dedicated line to manufacture Army vehicles.
The Stallions from Ashok Leyland forms the largest fleet of logistics vehicle to the Indian Army.
The Stallions from Ashok Leyland forms the largest fleet of logistics vehicle to the Indian Army.
In 1998 the company celebrated its Golden Jubilee!
In 2002 @ALIndiaOfficial produced Indiaâs first Hybrid Electric Bus.
Indiaâs first bus to cross the Indo-Pak border at Wagah in 2005 was an Ashok Leyland Stag.
In 2002 @ALIndiaOfficial produced Indiaâs first Hybrid Electric Bus.
Indiaâs first bus to cross the Indo-Pak border at Wagah in 2005 was an Ashok Leyland Stag.
The corporate philosophy of @ALIndiaOfficial, âAapki Jeet. Hamari Jeetâ, aptly denoted the relationship between the people of the two countries.
In 2006 Ashok Leyland began its global expansion by setting up an assembly unit in Ras Al Khaimah.
In 2006 Ashok Leyland began its global expansion by setting up an assembly unit in Ras Al Khaimah.
With this @ALIndiaOfficial became the only commercial vehicle manufacturer to have such a plant in UAE.
It was expanded into a full-fledged plant in 2010.
The same year the company set up its plant in Pantnagar with ultra-modern infrastructure and processes.
It was expanded into a full-fledged plant in 2010.
The same year the company set up its plant in Pantnagar with ultra-modern infrastructure and processes.
In the following years, @ALIndiaOfficial made many innovations like the worldâs first front-engine, fully flat floor bus & Indiaâs first 37-tonne haulage truck with the highest payload in 2012, & Indiaâs first rollover compliant school bus, Sunshine, with i-alert in 2016.
Instead of asking customers to pay upfront before delivering the vehicle, they were asked for payment only on delivery.
The front line workforce was empowered to make decisions & execute them: a customer no longer needs to wait endlessly for the head office to make a decision.
The front line workforce was empowered to make decisions & execute them: a customer no longer needs to wait endlessly for the head office to make a decision.
A tatkal scheme was introduced wherein if a vehicle broke down, Ashok Leyland promised to get to it in 4 hours and get it running within the next 48 hours.
If not, it would pay a penalty of Rs 1,000 for every day of delay.
A call center was also started for complaints.
If not, it would pay a penalty of Rs 1,000 for every day of delay.
A call center was also started for complaints.
Cabin repair centers have been started so that in the case of an accident, @ALIndiaOfficial actively works to minimize expenses by salvaging and rebuilding all that is possible.
This makes even the insurance companies enthusiastic to work with the company.
This makes even the insurance companies enthusiastic to work with the company.
In this 70-year journey, @ALIndiaOfficial has re-invented its entire product line up with keeping customers in mind and continuing to invest in technology to be in the forefront.
For more info, head over to
http://autocomponentsindia.com/ashok-leyland-70-years-journey-from-car-maker-to-leader-of-heavy-vehicles/
http://autocomponentsindia.com/ashok-leyland-70-years-journey-from-car-maker-to-leader-of-heavy-vehicles/
