After forming a joint venture on 2007 august Ashok Leyland and Nissan Motors have launched their first product – Dost. The LCV is expected to heat up the competition in the already crowded LCV market. Dost will surely present stiff challenge for TATA Ace, Ape Truck, Mahindra Maximo and Force Triumph on their run.
The vehicle is equipped by a 3-cylinder, 55 hp high-torque, turbo-charged Common Rail Diesel engine. The payload capacity of 1.25 Tonnes will the highest of the segment. The Ashok Leyland DOST will be available in 3 versions: a base version with manual steering, a mid version with power steering and a higher version which will have dual tone interiors, power steering and AC. The vehicle will be available in both BSIII and BSIV versions.
Dost, carrying the Ashok Leyland badge is the fist product of the joint venture. The production of dost is on full swing at Ashok Leylands hosur plant near Chennai.The second vehicle from the joint venture, Atlas will carry a Nissan badge and the third again will carry Ashok Leyland badge.
“We are going completely into a new chapter. Ashok Leyland did not have products in the 7.5 GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight) category. With this association (with Nissan Motor Company) we are going into a segment which is more crowded…,” Nissan Ashok Leyland Powertrain Ltd Chairman and Hinduja Automotive Executive Vice-Chairman Sumantran said during the launch
