Leyland plans major expansion as turnover tops $2 billion

Mumbai: Hinduja group flagship company Ashok Leyland Ltd (ALL) has chalked out aggressive expansion plans even as the commercial vehicle maker breached the $2-billion turnover mark.

ALL reported a turnover of Rs8,304.72 crore for the year ended March 2007, a 37 per cent rise over the previous year''s figure of Rs6,053.11 crore.

The net profit has risen by 35 per cent to scale Rs441.29 crore (Rs327.32 crore). Gross operating margins are up by 30 per cent to Rs702.69 crore (Rs540.07 crore). Gross profit is placed at Rs768.16 crore (Rs556.59 crore).

"State-of-the-art technology is being sourced from across the globe with layouts being made for lean manufacturing and automation," R Seshasayee, managing director said in Chennai while announcing the company''s annual results.

Leyland has posted 35 per cent increase in net profit for the year at Rs441 crore this year compared to Rs327 crore last year.

Seshasayee said the company would be targeting the airport bus market with three buses under the brand name ''Avion'' being lined up to cater to this sector.