Chennai: Ashok Leyland, the city-based commercial vehicles major, is planning to launch several new multi-axle trucks shortly.

The new series is expected to enable the company to take on the competition posed by Tata Engineering and Locomotive Company (Telco), which introduced a new series of trucks recently.

Ashok Leyland, in the meantime, has launched two new 4x2 haulage trucks. Both the models , a 16-tonne gross vehicle weight [GVW] and a 15-tonne [GVW] have new features built into them.

Ashok Leyland regional manager (south) VM Hombali says the 16-tonner is fitted with fuel-efficient Hino derivative (H-series) engines. ''The company, until now, used to fit the Hino engines only on its passenger vehicles. The unique micro-mixing system makes the fuel combustion efficient. We have other engine variants like 4/6 cylinders.''

Another first with this model is the heavy-duty rear axle sourced from Automotive Axles, a Kalyani group company. Until now Ashok Leyland used in-house axles for all its models. ''The model has five-speed synchromesh gearbox and ergonomically positioned control panels to enhance driver comfort, and the vehicle sports a new outside look, says Ashok Leyland regional service manager (south) P Parameswaran.

The other new model, the 15-tonne GVW, comes on the Comet platform. The vehicle is fitted with an Ashok Leyland engine. In addition, the company has launched Vishvas, an annual maintenance service, as well as enroute breakdown services.

Though meant only for new vehicles, the company, on a case-to-case basis, will also offer the maintenance service for older vehicles, too. Though a couple of other players burnt their fingers offering annual maintenance contracts, Ashok Leyland officials are confident that this business will be profitable.

Further, unlike others, the company assures change of parts as per predetermined schedule so that so that a vehicle's downtime is almost zero. Agreeing that the company's distribution network is more south India-concentrated, Hombali says the process of appointing new dealers in the north has already started.