Powering Ahead
AMW has entered a new segment of the tipper market, with the launch of the new 1618 TP, at Excon 2011 in Bengaluru.

Asia MotorWorks (AMW), which manuf?actures commercial vehicles and components, has achieved a unique position in India's transportation sector through innovative engineering and high customer orientation. Rolling out the first truck in 2008, AMW has increased its presence in an increasingly competitive market place through its products and service network spread across the country. Part of India's largest infrastructure and construction projects, AMW trucks con?tinue to be an integral part of the cou?ntry's growth story.

AMW currently sells 1,000 trucks every month through 87 touchpoints across the country. This represents a strong growth for the company and reaffirms the growing acceptance of AMW among truck buyers in India. In fact, the company rolled out its 20,000th truck from its manufacturing plant in Bhuj, Gujarat during September 2011. The Bhuj facility has a capacity to manufacture 50,000 trucks per annum and was set up at a cost of Rs 1,500 crore. It currently employs 2,200 people and uses state-of-the-art production processes to build world-class trucks for the Indian market.

The total addressable market of HCVs in 2010-11 was 220,000 commercial vehicles per annum, which is currently growing at about 9 per cent per annum. During this fiscal year, AMW would have successfully entered into all segments of the HCV market and is poised to grow strongly, thanks to its increasing penetration into the construction and mining segment of the market. AMW has also introduced the 3118 SWB model in June 2011, which is aimed at the mining and construction markets. This 31-tonne model is the first 12-wheel tipper from AMW. It has a payload which is one of the highest in its segment and the initial response to this model has been encouraging.

AMW's product portfolio includes its best seller, the 49-tonner - India's first vehicle in this segment, 4018 tractor, 2523 rock and box body tipper, 2518 tipper, transit mixer and haulage vehicles. The company is also expanding its product line-up with the launch of the 1618 TP which would allow it to access the entire HCV market in India.

Its 4923 was declared 'Truck of the Year' by NDTV in January 2008. AMW has won the coveted award from NextGen Publication of CV innovation of the year 2009-10 for its flagship 3123. AMW CV Applications also won the 'Truck Application Builder of the Year 2010' award from NextGen Publications for its Tranztar brand of fully built vehicles.

The mining and construction segments will remain AMW's areas of strength, as the company expands its product range into other parts of the market. AMW tippers and other fully built vehicles have quickly gained acceptance in the most difficult and arduous mining conditions. In fact, AMW tippers have now aggressively grown in number as well as in market share. The company has entered into co?llaborative partnerships with world-ren?owned engineering aggregate suppliers like Cummins, ZF, Eaton and Meritor to manufacture trucks that are built-to-win.'

The fully integrated manufacturing facility of AMW is located in Bhuj, Gujarat, in the western region of India. The capacity for commercial vehicles is at 50,000 annually. In addition, the company has installed capacity for 24,000 tipper bodies, 100,000 tonne of fabricated components, 45,000 tonne of pressed metal and 30,000 tonne of frames for chassis production. The company recently acquired a forging unit in Mysore in southern India, which produces axles and other forged components.

AMW also manufactures components for the automotive and general engineering industries. AMW's capacity of 15 million wheel rims makes it the largest single location plant in Asia and the company supplies pressed metal components to some of the world's most renowned auto and white goods manufacturers.

AMW is powering ahead in the 25 tonne and above tipper segment of the Indian commercial vehicle market, and has now emerged as the number two player with a share of over 25 per cent. The company also plans to launch several new application specific models aimed at growing its volumes and market share in the tipper segment.