HM launches first 'Chinese' mini-truck in India

03 December 2008

Kolkata: In a surprise move, C K Birla company Hindustan Motors (HM) has launched what it calls the first 'Chinese vehicle' in India.

HM has launched a mini-truck -- HM-Shifeng Winner, produced under licence from Shandong Shifeng in the Shandong province of China.
 
The vehicle priced below Rs 4 lakh will be imported in a knocked-down form from China.

HM executives say that the 2.3-tonne HM Shifeng Winner can carry a 1-tonne payload and would be completely built at HM's Uttarpara plant.

While HM will supply the power unit and drive train, its Chinese counterpart will supply cable harnesses and chasis components. HM will introduce two more variants of the mini-truck with the liklihood of a CNG-powered version for the Delhi region making an appearance within 6-8 weeks. A third variant might be launched by March 2009.

HM's Uttarpara plant last witnessed a launch in 1983 when it introduced the Contessa sedan. The last HM vehicle to be launched was the RTV in 1998 from its Pithampur plant.

The vehicle has a 1489cc diesel engine, which produces 26.5 KW power and 73NM torque driving through a 4-speed gear box, using disc front brakes and leaf springs.