The famous heavy vehicle manufacturer Ashok Leyland has launched their new MPV Stile in India. Stile has the DNA of Nissan Evalia and the same Renault engine which is detuned for lesser power and high fuel efficiency. After the good sales of Dost mini truck, Leyland had planned to launch this Nissan MPV sibling. Company also have the plans to launch a 13 seat Dost MPV.
These models will not be having any direct competitor in the Indian MPV market. Dost MPV will be designed for rural regions where roads are not up to the mark and local transport need to be tough hence it will be having 13-14 seats, while Stile is 7-8 seat luxurious touring Van. It will be used for Fleet and taxi services. These vehicles will be priced around 6 lakhs and 7.9 to 9 lakhs respectively.
Being the sibling of Nissan Evalia, Leyland had covered up the mistakes and cuts which had made Evalia drowning. Stile has the rear AC vents, Rear Window, Glove Box, and Bucket Seats which were missing in its sibling. This vehicle will be powered by the Renault’s 1.5 litre K9K engine and this could be the most fuel efficient engine in India with an average mileage of 19 KMPL.
As per the executive director of the company Mr. Nitin Seth, Van culture is very popular in America and Europe but in India the things are different. Stile is not designed with a consideration of serving personal buyers; rather it makes more sense for taxi and fleet operators. Indian buyer focuses more on efficiency, cost per running and not on the performance. Hence they has the strategy of targeting the 5000 plus taxi unions present in the country and organizing 25000 test drive for the same.
