Eicher Polaris Pvt Ltd, a 50:50 joint venture between Eicher Motors Ltd and Polaris Industries Inc, has launched Multix, India’s first personal utility vehicle in Jaipur today, creating a new category in the Indian automotive segment.
Multix is specially designed for independent businessmen, Eicher Motors said in a filing to the BSE.
Specially designed and powered by a diesel engine, Multix will be available in two variants and four colours, starting at a price of Rs. 2,32,850 (ex-showroom Jaipur).
The features of the new vehicle include cabin space that can comfortably seat a family of five along with luggage, and it can also be adapted to create storage space of 1918 litres.
Multix is equipped with a power-take-off point, which can generate power of up to 3 KW that can be used for lighting homes and powering professional equipment such as drilling machines, DJ systems, water pumps and more.
Siddhartha Lal, MD & CEO, Eicher Motors Ltd, said “We have identified a large untapped segment in independent businessmen with an estimated population of 5.8 crore in India. Our aim is to equip the consumers with the Multix ecosystem and enable them to unlock their potential by accessing a world of new opportunities.”
Mike Dougherty, Vice President, Asia Pacific & Latin America, Polaris Industries, added, “When we came together to form EPPL, we wanted to build on the synergies of our core competencies in order to bring a valuable and effective automotive solution to India. With Eicher Motors Ltd.’s understanding of the Indian market, their expertise in lean engineering platforms, and Polaris Industries Inc.’s capabilities in product innovation and category creation, we believe that EPPL is most uniquely positioned to achieve this and bring about a paradigm shift in automobiles for India.”
With a unique tubular frame structure and Roll-Over Protection System (ROPS) that provides structural stability and reinforced safety, Multix has a ground clearance of 225mm, and delivers fuel efficiency of 28.45 kmpl.
The vehicle will be launched in 30 cities to start with. It will be available for test ride in July and deliveries will start in August.
Multix has undergone over 18 lakh km equivalent of rigorous testing for off-road reliability, safety & durability. It has been tested on one of the world’s toughest testing tracks in USA with torture track ratio of 14:1, as well as in India on specially built test tracks.
EPPL has invested Rs. 350 crore towards product development and setting up of a world class manufacturing facility with modern technology at Jaipur, Rajasthan.
The plant has an annual capacity of 60,000 units which can be scaled up to 1,20,000 units. The facility is also equipped with robotic weld lines and in-house paint system.
The company will manufacture and sell a full new range of personal utility vehicles suitable for India and other emerging markets.
In 2013, it set up its first state-of-the-art manufacturing plant in Kukas, near Jaipur, India. Spread over 25 acres, the manufacturing facility will also house a R&D centre. EPPL’s corporate headquarters will be located in Gurgaon.
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