Tata Engineering today unveiled the EX series, a new range of medium and heavy commercial vehicles, priced around Rs 15,000 higher than the non-EX series of vehicles.

The cost of the non-EX series varies from Rs 5.5 lakh to Rs 9 lakh depending on the size of the vehicle.

Although Tata Engineering has not yet set any target, it hopes to achieve a growth of 9-10 per cent in the current fiscal against an anticipated industry growth of 7-8 per cent.

The company has witnessed a 20.8 per cent increase in sales of commercial vehicles which stood at 8,006 in August 2002 as against 6,627 in August last year.

In the first five months of the current fiscal, the commercial vehicle segment registered a growth of 35.2 per cent at 36,656 vehicles.

Both medium and heavy commercial vehicles at 24,918 and light commercial vehicles at 11,738, grew by 35 per cent.

Ravi Kant, executive director (commercial vehicle business unit), Tata Engineering, said at a press conference here today, "Our Sampoorna Sena scheme, that offers maintenance services to vehicle owners, has already attracted good response from the users."

The company’s main focus in the coming months would be on the used vehicles business. "We have already begun the exchange offers in certain locations across the country," Kant added.

The EX range of vehicles will be available in the 16, 25, 30 and 35 tonne capacity. Simultaneously, the company has also launched India’s first turbo intercooler light commercial vehicle range with the LPT 709 EX Turbo truck.

The power-backed engine of the EX series vehicle delivers a higher and superior torque that ensures superior acceleration and accented pulling power for faster turnarounds.

Higher fuel economy and lesser number of gearshifts for extra driving comfort.