Indo Asian News Service, Bangalore, March 30: Swedish transport solutions provider Scania AB has started making luxury buses and coaches here for inter-city and intra-city services across the country, a company official said Monday.
“We are making world class luxury buses and coaches in India for safe and comfortable drives in cities and states across the country at affordable price,” Scania commercial vehicles chief executive Martin Lundstedt told reporters at the new plant at Narasapura in Kolar district.
Set up at a combined cost of Rs300cr on a 40-acre area in the backward district, about 40km from here, the plant has a capacity to roll out 1,000 buses and coaches a year, with chassis from its adjacent truck production facility set in 2013.
“The modular plant will serve as a hub for Indian and export markets in Asia, west Asia and Africa to meet the growing industry and transport needs in developing countries and emerging economies,” said Lundstedt.
The $10.7-billion global automotive major had set up the truck facility to roll out 2,500 units per annum for mining, roads, infrastructure sectors besides logistics.
“We will double the production capacity to 2,500 buses and 5,000 trucks over the next five years and ramp up our headcount to 800 from 300 presently,” said Scania India’s MD Anders Grundstromer.
With a view to increasing localisation, the company has tied up with a number of tier-1, tier-two and tier-three vendors and suppliers for sourcing components, accessories and spare parts.
“Our goal is to draw on local talent and competence and combine it with global experience,” Lundstedt said.
Made-in-India Swedish luxury buses soon
