Ashok Leyland launches Partner and Mitr LCVs in India
Ashok Leyland has launched two LCVs (Light commercial vehicles)- Partner and Mitr in India. This is the second offering from the Ashok Leyland-Nissan joint venture in India.
Pricing for the Partner, which has two variants based on their wheelbase i.e 2850mm and 3350mm is Rs 8.89 lakh and Rs 9.19 lakh. The Ashok Leyland Mitr bus is priced at Rs 12.49 lakh (ex-showroom, Chennai).
Partner is a LCV based on the Nissan F24 platform. Manufacturer claims that its focus with this vehicle is on driver comfort and it has given the Partner a modern Euro cabin with car-like interiors.
This LCV weighs in at 6.6 tonnes and is capable of hauling a 4 tonne payload. Power is derived from a ZD30 common rail diesel engine. Air conditioning is also available in the top end LX trim but power steering is standard on all models. A tilt-able cabin allows for easy servicing.
The Mitr is a 26+1+1 seater bus which is targeted to be a staff carrier. It shares its engine and platform with the Partner. The ZD30 engine produces 116PS and a peak torque of 320Nm. Power is transmitted by a five speed manual gearbox. Mitr has parabolic suspension at both front and rear ends. A school bus variant is also expected to be launched soon.
Speaking at the occasion, V. Sumantran, vice chairman, Ashok Leyland, said, "We are delighted to present the next range of products from the Ashok Leyland-Nissan JV – PARTNER and MiTR. With these two new products, we have stayed true to our LCV mission – to deliver to the Indian customer, contemporary products that deliver best-in-class user experience, coupled with exceptional efficiency."