Ashok Leyland, the flagship Indian company of the Hinduja Group and a leading manufacturer of commercial vehicles in the country, has inaugurated a new Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) dealership in Siliguri, West Bengal. This marks the company's fifth LCV dealership in the state. The new dealership, operated by channel partner Happie Trucking, boasts a sales facility strategically positioned at Eastern Bypass Road, SBM Warehouse, Eastern Bypass, Bhaktinagar, Siliguri, Jalpaiguri, West Bengal 734004.

The primary workshop, encompassing service and spare parts, is conveniently situated at Debgram, Ware House, Thakur Nagar, New Jalpaiguri, Jalpaiguri, West Bengal 735135. This facility is equipped with advanced tools, efficient service bays, and sophisticated infrastructure to deliver a superior customer experience. Ashok Leyland's LCV product lineup includes Bada dost, Dost, Partner , and MiTR.

Company's focus on expansion

The expansion into Siliguri reflects Ashok Leyland's strategic focus on West Bengal and the broader Eastern India market. This region's growth potential has prompted the company to establish a strong presence, with the new dealership in Siliguri serving as a significant step in this direction. The company attributes the success of its 'Dost Range' and 'Bada dost' to the robustness of its products and the extensive reach of its network. Customer satisfaction is further reinforced by a high service retention rate, with approximately 70% of customers choosing Ashok Leyland dealer workshops even after their warranty period expires.

“We are excited to further strengthen our presence in this region. West Bengal and Eastern India at large, have been a key market for us. We have always recognised the potential this region has and we are excited about the opportunities that lie ahead in this geography. We have been working on creating a strong foothold in the region, and the new dealership in Siliguri will bolster our presence in this geography. The overwhelming success of our ‘Dost Range’ and now the ‘Bada dost’ can be attributed to the robustness of our products and the extensive reach of our network," stated Viplav Shah, Head – LCV Business, Ashok Leyland.

What led to the success?

Ashok Leyland has tailored its products to meet the evolving needs of Indian LCV customers, offering advanced technology at competitive prices. The Indian market now boasts over five lakh LCVs.

The recently introduced Bada dost, built on a brand-new robust LCV platform, is available in four variants: i2, i3+, i4, and i5. It is powered by an 80 hp BS6 engine that delivers best-in-class power and mileage. The vehicle also boasts best-in-class payload capacity, load body length, and loading space, designed to maximise customer profitability. Its low turning radius and impressive ground clearance make it suitable for both inter-city and intra-city applications, allowing it to navigate various terrains with ease.

Ashok Leyland's Dost range comprises Dost LiTE, Dost STRONG, and Dost+, catering to diverse market segments and applications.

The Partner , a modern and fuel-efficient load carrier, caters to the 3.5 - 4.8 ton payload segment. It is available in both 4-tyre and 6-tyre options, with load body options of 10ft, 11ft, 14ft, and 17ft. Built on an internationally acclaimed vehicle platform, Partner is equipped with the renowned ZD30 CRDI engine.

Sharing the same platform as the Partner , the MiTR bus is offered in both standard and school bus configurations. This bus is engineered to deliver exceptional mileage even in stop-and-go traffic conditions. The MiTR School Bus adheres to all school bus safety standards and compliance codes, providing unparalleled ride comfort.

"All our products have been receiving great responses from our customers, thanks to their best-in-class mileage and class-leading performance, backed by extensive sales and aftersales support. We are extremely proud that our track record of service retention levels is exemplary with close to 70% of our customers returning to our dealer workshops, even after the warranty period. We, as always, would remain committed to maintaining and even enhancing the level of customer service and satisfaction. This new dealership is being opened to further strengthen our reach, in line with our commitment,” Shah added.

LCV portfolio

The Bada dost, Dost, Partner , and MiTR are manufactured at Ashok Leyland's state-of-the-art Hosur plant.

The Bada dost is available at the following prices:

- i5: INR 10,98,000
- i4 (LNT): INR 10,44,500
- i4 (SCR): INR10,24,500
- i3+: INR 10,06,500
- i2: INR 8,59,000

The Dost LiTE, Dost Strong, and Dost+ are competitively priced, starting from INR 7,92,000

The Partner is available at an attractive starting price of INR 17,00,000

The MiTR Bus is competitively priced, starting from INR 22,39,000