Ashok Leyland, the Hinduja Group flagship, has bagged an order for 139 vehicles from the Honduras Armed Forces (HAF), worth US$ 10.5 million. These vehicles will augment the transport resources of the HAF to carry out key poverty eradication programmes and for other humanitarian purposes. The tender is financed under an EXIM Bank of India line of credit.
Ashok Leyland has been contracted to supply a range of vehicles that include the 4x4 Stallion trucks, the 4x4 Topchi trucks, 4930 Tractor and Falcon Long Bus (both a/c and non versions). All these vehicles will be Left Hand Drives.
"This order marks our foray into Latin America which has been one of our target markets," said Mr. R. Seshasayee, Managing Director, Ashok Leyland. "This order is a hard-won since our vehicles have to undergo very extensive and strenuous trials on terrains and in conditions where they have to be employed. It is also heartening to note that our vehicles are going to be used for humanitarian purposes by the Honduras Armed Forces," he added.
Thailand has been another recent breakthrough. Following trials, the Stallion 4x4 and Stallion 6x6 have been approved by the Royal Thai Army and an initial lot of 10 Stallion 6x6 vehicles have already been supplied.
Ashok Leyland is the largest supplier of logistics vehicles to the Indian Army with over 50,000 of them in use, including the Stallion 4x4 vehicles that form its logistics backbone. A pioneer in the design, development and manufacture of Defence vehicles, the Company has a comprehensive range featuring: Stallion 4x4, Stallion 6x6, Stallion Aquatherma – a specially-designed water bowzer, Light Recovery Vehicle (LRV) 4x4, Topchi 4x4, Field Artillery Truck (FAT) 6x6, Crash Fire Tender (CFT) 6x6, Truck Fire Fighter (TFF) 4x2 and Light Specialist Vehicle (LSV). All these vehicles are tried and tested in altitudes ranging from sea-level to over 5,500 metres and in temperatures ranging from -35 degree Celsius to +55 degree Celsius.
