Pune-based automotive major Force Motors, one of the largest van manufacturers in the country, on Wednesday showcased its “next generation mobility platform”, the T1N, which promises to be a successor to the popular Traveller van.
Equipped with a BS-VI compliant diesel engine making 350Nm of torque, the T1N (which will receive a new name in the future) will also feature electric and CNG power trains as options.
While the company has not revealed its price, the existing Traveller models are priced at around Rs 15 lakh.
The company says it invested over Rs 1,000 crore in developing the platform, taking four years to showcase its first vehicle. Commercial production of the T1N will begin by the end of the year, while two new models on the platform in the “shared mobility space” will be unveiled at the upcoming Delhi Auto Expo according to PTI.
A two-box design keeps the engine fully outside to minimize NVH (Noise, Vibration and Harshness) in the passenger compartment. Independent front suspension with transverse parabolic springs will provide for a smooth ride.
The T1N will be Force Motor’s first BSVI offering. This platform is under going final validation and homologation processes and will also be showcased at the forthcoming Auto Expo 2020 in Delhi.
Additionally, it also offers crash and rollover compliance with air bags for the driver and the co-driver—a first in the segment. It also comes with a ventilated disk brakes on all four wheels with ABS (anti-lock brake system) EBD (Electronic Brakeforce distribution), EDTC (Engine Drag Torque Control) and ESP (Electronic Stability Program) for the safety of the passengers. The vehicle has a specially ergonomically designed cockpit which has a steering similar to a car and has tilt and telescopic adjustable steering column.
Over 100 specialists are working on this platform, the company says, with the team working closely with technology specialists and domain experts from different countries including Italy, Spain, UK, Germany, Japan, USA to validate the platform.
With this platform, Force Motors will target international markets, in particular, the Middle East, Africa, ASEAN and South America, besides India. The exact pricing of this variant was not released till now as the vehicle will only be launched by the end of 2020. The company added that it woul continue to produce vehicles from its existing platforms.
Force Motors has a 68 percent market share in the van segment.
Interestingly since 1997, when Daimler AG started manufacturing Mercedes cars in India, all the engines fitted there has been produced at Force Motors. Engine sales to Mercedez Benz and BMW make up almost 50 per cent of its income.
Till date, the company has supplied over 115,000 engines to Mercedes Benz India and 45,000 engines to BMW. In addition, in March 2018, Force Motors has entered into a joint-venture agreement with Rolls-Royce Power Systems AG to manufacture in India and supply worldwide the 10 and 12 cylinder Series 1600 engines (545hp to 1050hp) for power generation and under floor rail applications.