Indian Army to procure 1,200 trucks from Tata Motors

Tata Motors has bagged an order for supplying around 1,200 high-mobility 6X6 multi-axle trucks from the Indian Army - the single largest order awarded to an Indian private original equipment manufacturer (OEM) in land systems under the DPP by the Indian army. The order for 6X6 vehicles is for ‘material handling cranes’ for the loading-unloading and transportation of ammunition pallets, spares and other operational equipment.

Developed indigenously, the Tata 6X6 high mobility all-terrain all-wheel drive vehicle, has completed a total trial duration of 25 months, demonstrating maximum performance in the most demanding conditions. Designed to cope with extreme on or off-road loads, these vehicle have gone through trials like water-fording, on cross country terrains and plains and at VRDE’s (Vehicle Research & Development Establishment) torture track.

Vernon Noronha, vice president, defence & government business, Tata Motors Limited, said, “The order is a validation of our strategy and growth potential, for our durable and extensive range of defence vehicles, designed and developed with our evolving customers, including that of security forces across the world. As leading suppliers of mobility solutions to the country’s security forces, we will shortly commence delivery of these high-mobility vehicles.”

Tata Motors offers its defence customers with a wide range of vehicles, in the light, medium and heavy category, having created a focused division to design and develop defence technologies and products, at its manufacturing facilities in Jamshedpur and Pune. Tata Motors also has a dedicated service team and network for defence products, across the length and breadth of the country. Through Horizonext, Tata Motors four-pronged customer-focused strategy, we have adopted a customer centric approach in the design and development of our mobile defence land solutions, that are reliable, offer optimum usability, and are easily serviceable, with technology at the forefront,” said Tata Motors in a press release.

For self-reliance in the area of combat vehicles & engineering, Tata Motors has laid emphasis on the development of combat vehicle technologies and systems, with the aim of empowering India’s defence forces, with breakthrough technologies. “The idea is to ensure high mobility, fire power and protection to troops during military operations, with world-class armoured fighting vehicles. Hence, Tata Motors is strategically moving from a logistics support provider, to a combat vehicle player,” add the company.