Mr. Vinod K Sahay
"Our strong understanding of the domestic market along with a wide and compelling product portfolio & customer support enabled us to push our market share and position. We have recently introduced an unbeatable warranty of 4 years, on our entire range of heavy trucks with 25 tonnes and higher GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight) and responding to the customers changing needs. We are proactively taking steps to ensure that Tata Motors remains the preferred brand to our customers," says Mr. Vinod K Sahay, Head – (Sales & Marketing) – M & HCV Trucks, Tata Motors, in an interview with S. A. Faridi.

What is the estimate in the fall of demand in the M&HCV segment during 2012 as compared to last year and how do you see the industry shaping up in the coming year?
There has been a decline in MHCV depending on segments. The economic slowdown seen throughout the last 12 months has impacted the M&HCV trucks industry, with industry volumes shrinking by nearly 10-20% in FY13. The policy reforms/interventions announced by the government in recent months will bring in the change. We do not expect significant change in the situation in this fiscal, in terms of volumes comparisons with previous year. As regards next year, it is difficult to predict.

Do you think that pricing is a factor to reckon with in CV market, if so then how the market can be sensitized to reap the benefits of value additions?
The CV customer considers the total cost of ownership and operation of the vehicle which decide his purchase. Although there are a few customers who are affected by the initial purchase price, they are a very small part of the population. There are other evolving trends like the value of providing driver comfort and fleet management services and other solutions, where the customer demand is still nascent.

Prima Trucks

What has the response been to company’s new range of Prima trucks, MAV tippers, their superior technical attributes making them the best in the market place?
The customer response has been encouraging and favourable. These are early days for us to share figures.Tata Motors has introduced an unbeatable warranty of 4 years on its entire range of heavy trucks with 25 tonnes and higher GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight). Tata Motors has designed the 4-year standard warranty based on the lifecycle cost study of over 15 lakh Tata trucks & tippers operating all over the country, in varied terrain and loading conditions. The 4-year warranty is supported by Tata Motors extensive dealership and service network of over 1,300 touch points. On the highways of India, there is a Tata Motors touchpoint after every 50 kms.

Heavy Trucks
This extensive coverage is backed by ‘Tata Alert’, a highway assistance programme for medium and heavy commercial vehicles, available across all the national highways of India. Through ‘Tata Alert’, drivers will receive on-site breakdown assistance within 4 hours of dialing a toll-free helpline number (1800-209-7979). The 24x7 ‘Tata Alert’ service will ensure that a vehicle is put back on the road within 48 hours from the time restoration work begins. In case of major repairs and the vehicle carrying perishable goods, ‘Tata Alert’ will provide load transfer assistance.

What are your company’s plans for the coming year?
Our strong understanding of the domestic market along with a wide and compelling product portfolio & customer support is expected to enable us to grow the market and our position. By introducing new products / variants across the CV range, sector specific applications, increasing the depth & width of our sales and service reach, making innovative finance solutions available to the consumers, we will continue to be the leaders in the market and will continue to be close to our customers, respond to their changing needs and are proactively taking steps to ensure that we remain the preferred brand to our customers.
Kamdhenu: Promoting Best Practices & Solutions for Waterproofing
According to Saurabh Agarwal, Managing Director, Kamdhenu Colour & Coatings Limited, the company owes its success to the high quality of their products and the value proposition they bring to the end-users. Kamdhenu Paints has a wide range of

Read more ...

Tackling Waterproofing Stereotypes
Sameer Karkhanis, Founder, Odd Jobs Waterproofing, highlights the areas where waterproofing needs attention, the challenges involved, and suggests appropriate measures and remedies. In the constructed and operative high-rise buildings there are

Read more ...

Mahindra Logistics - Leveraging Technology for Seamless Customer Experience
Rampraveen Swaminathan, MD & CEO, Mahindra Logistics shares the company’s strategy of providing clients cutting-edge technology and cost-effective solutions to help them become more agile, and the sustainable initiatives being taken at their

Read more ...

PrimeTime Logi Services - Providing Holistic Logistics Solutions
According to Gaurav Agarwal, Director, PrimeTime Logi Services, the company is well-equipped to provide logistics solutions that are tailored to meet customers’ specific needs and committed to optimizing efficiency and reducing costs by leveraging their

Read more ...

Caterpillar’s Tech Driven Approach to Meet Customer Expectations
Amit Bansal, Director Sales & Marketing-Building Construction Products Division, Caterpillar India discusses the company’s plans to move to electrification and alternate fuels. According to International Monetary Fund (IMF), India's economy is expected

Read more ...

LiuGong India: Going from Strength to Strength
LiuGong is steadily strengthening its presence as a total solutions provider in the road construction and mining sectors by developing advanced products that give high productivity along with fuel efficiency. For the road construction segment, LiuGong India

Read more ...

Precast India Connector - Helping Precasters Overcome Cost & Time Overuns
Precast India Connections, a new entity of Precast India Infrastructures, has innovated and patented a method of achieving a Dowel-Sleeve connection that functions even in the horizontal direction. Kapilesh Bhate, MD, Precast India Connections, shares information

Read more ...

Garware Technical Fibers Making a Difference
According to Tiru Kulkarni, President, Geosynthetics & Head, Garware Technical Fibers Limited, the company’s innovative solutions are creating an impact and replacing traditional technologies, and thereby adding a lot of value proposition to construction

Read more ...

J. Kumar Infraprojects - Automating Construction With Cutting Edge Technologies
J. Kumar Infraprojects has executed hundreds of infra projects across roads, metros, dams, and hydropower during the last 10 decades. Business Head Yusuf A S Inamdar, attributes the company’s success to its investment in high-tech machines, R&D, reliance

Read more ...

Everything is Possible Through Hard Work
BRO has been at the forefront of adopting the latest technologies, which are both environment-friendly and cost-effective, and have resolved many construction problems, while facilitating speedy execution of projects. The organisation has not only constructed

Read more ...

Why India is an Important Market for TEREX
Terex enjoys a strong brand recall in India’s construction equipment market, especially in crushing and screening, pick and carry cranes, and the more recent solutions for waste recycling. John L. Garrison, Chairman of the Board, President & CEO, and Kieran

Read more ...

Escorts-Kubota - Ready to Showcase Its Strengths to the World
Sanjeev Bajaj, Chief Executive, Escorts-Kubota discusses with S.A.Faridi, the synergy that the joint venture between India’s multinational conglomerate Escorts Limited and the renowned Japanese Company Kubota Corporation will bring to India’s construction

Read more ...

SROT: Indigenizing Production
Yusuf A S Inamdar, Director - Industry, SROT, and Regional Business & Technical Head, J Kumar Infraprojects Ltd, throws light on how the SROT Incubation centre, which is a vital step towards achieving an Atmanirbhar Bharat, will help budding entrepreneurs

Read more ...

Neptune innovates artificial sand, green sand & artificial aggregates
We have four major divisions within Neptune: our Building Material and Construction Technology Division focuses on building construction materials. We are a leader in fly ash brick plants, concrete block and paver manufacturing plant, CSE brick plants, red

Read more ...

Everest Engineering Equipment - Catering to Mega Infra Construction Projects
Everest Engineering Equipment, exclusive distributor of GJJ passenger hoists and platforms in India, has grown tremendously with many new customers and repeat buyers. Discussing the company’s expansion plans, PV Ramdev, Managing Director, informs

Read more ...

Arihant Panel Fittings: Meeting Demand for Quality Products
We are providing customised products and innovative solutions by constantly investing in R&D to come up with new designs and technologies. Mahendra Jain, Director. Arihant is meeting demand for products such as quarter turn locks, compression locks

Read more ...

GMMCO: Providing a Seamless Experience to Customers
Gmmco Ltd., a part of the 2.9 billion dollar diversified CK Birla Group, is keeping up the Group’s legacy of helping build the India of tomorrow by offering world-class and innovative solutions for infrastructure and mining. V Chandrashekar, Managing

Read more ...

Moteurs Baudouin
We are fully geared up with the technological advancements required to meet the CPCB IV+norms with our flexible and dependable power solutions. Gurunath Kulkarni. For over 100 years, Baudouin has been designing the highest quality diesel and gas engines for

Read more ...

Builders Association of India: Bridging the Gaps
Nimesh Patel, President, BAI & Managing Director, Maruti Infrastructure Limited, discusses the challenges and issues faced by the construction and real estate industries of India; why BAI is propagating a Unified Standard Contract Document, and how the

Read more ...

Volvo CE India: Designing Machines to Give Power & Precision
Volvo machines are 10-15% more fuel efficient, they comply with CEV IV emission norms, and can run on alternative eco-friendly fuels such as biodiesel. We lay strong emphasis on operator training for efficient use of every machine that we sell, avers Dimitrov

Read more ...