Only one year after launching commercial vehicles in India, the joint venture between Mahindra & Mahindra and Navistar (MNAL) has been rewarded. The company took top honors at the Apollo Tyres-CV Awards 2011 in Mumbai, India, winning Commercial Vehicle of the Year and the HCV Truck of the Year.
“These awards are proof-positive of our investment to deliver the best products and the best product support in the industry as we continue to expand into global markets,” said Dee Kapur, president, Truck Group. “The awards further establish the success of our strategy to redefine India’s trucking industry by partnering with local experts to deliver practical and customer-friendly innovations tailored to the local market.”
MNAL’s rigid MN25 took the Truck of the Year award. The MN25 is part of the line of four vehicles launched last year. Those trucks also include the MN31, MN25 tipper, and the MN 40.
“This is a moment of great pride for us, as it is validation of our efforts to revolutionize the trucking industry,” said Dr. Pawan Goenka, president, automotive sectors, Mahindra & Mahindra.
“Over the past five years, the company has toiled hard to create a world class M&HCV product range which is made in India and made for India, a state-of-the-art dealership network, a highly advanced manufacturing facility, and an on-time and efficient service network,” he added. “Receiving this recognition in such a short time span speaks volumes of the company’s long-term commitment to the Indian trucking industry.”
The MN25 has a gross vehicle weight of about 55,000 lbs. with a payload capacity of approximately 35,000 lbs. A MaxxForce 7.2-liter engine powers the vehicle. It comes with three body types – high side, fixed side, and drop side deck - and three cabs – day, single sleeper, and double sleeper.
“During the unveiling we promised that, ‘OK will no longer be OK’ and we will change the way trucking business is done in India by challenging existing norms,” said Nalin Mehta, managing director, Mahindra Automotives. “By winning these prestigious awards, we have once again outperformed.”
