Ashok Leyland bags $43 million Angola orders for 1,000 buses

Hinduja Group flagship Ashok Leyland has bagged orders for 1,000 buses from the ministry of transport, Angola, worth $43.5 million.

Ashok Leyland said the buses are specially designed to suit local requirements and were designed to meet the needs of the rural population who travel to the cities with agricultural produce and return with provisions.

The buses have a goods compartment added to the seating area with 30 seats. It is built on a strengthened chassis to withstand the extra weight of goods and has a 4x4 configuration to combat trying under-tyre conditions.

ALL has already delivered 300 such buses within stiff deadlines starting August 2008, along with 200 Falcon buses,  the release said.

The second order came in January 2009, for 500 Eagle Mini buses - 50 air-conditioned and 450 non air-conditioned. Deliveries against this order have to be completed by 31 March 2009.

''These orders are definitive steps in our global plans of creating a significant presence in the second hemisphere markets and come close on the heels of the orders for defence vehicles from Honduras and Thailand,'' said R Seshasayee, managing director, Ashok Leyland. ''Along with our ongoing operations in South Africa and Kenya, entry into the Angolan market further strengthens our presence in the high potential sub-Saharan African region,'' he added.

Ashok Leyland is working closely with transport authorities and agencies to develop a range of vehicles tailor-made to meet the unique requirements of Angola, after peace returned to war-torn country and trade embargos were lifted, the release said.

He said the company's entry into the Angolan market would strengthen its presence in the sub-Saharan African region, along with its ongoing operations in South Africa and Kenya.