TVS plans new versions of autos

TVS Motor Co yesterday announced its plans to introduce a diesel version of its autorickshaws in the next 18-24 months, targeting the semi-urban and rural sections of the domestic market.

''We plan to enter the diesel passenger market in the autorickshaw category and should be able to accomplish it within the next 12-18 months,'' said H S Goindi, president, marketing, at TVS. He was speaking at a function in New Delhi to launch the company's new CNG auto, TVS King ZS, in the Delhi region.

TVS, which started exporting autorickshaws in the past three to four months, sees a big potential in markets such as Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, African countries such as Egypt and Sudan, and Latin American nations such as Mexico, Peru and Guatemala. TVS currently exports 200-300 units a month.

''The potential is huge and we are looking to export 1,000-1,200 units a month from next year,'' said K Srinivasan, vice-president for three-wheeler sales and service at TVS.

The company expects to sell up to 20,000 units this fiscal and is targeting sales of 30,000 units next financial year, Srinivasan said. About 60 per cent of TVS' autorickshaw sales are in the two-stroke category. The company expects the ratio between two-stroke and four-stroke to be 50:50 by next fiscal on account of tighter emission norms being implemented by various states, Srinivasan said.

'King' of autos?
The King ZS, the new CNG auto, is described by the company as a green, environment-friendly four stroke CNG autorickshaw designed specially to conform to the emission norms for the Delhi National Capital Region.