On whether the company would invest more than Rs 750-crore, Ashok Leyland CFO Gopal Mahadevan said that they will stay with that number (Rs 750 crore) at the moment.
Hinduja group flagship Ashok Leyland is working on hydrogen-powered commercial vehicles and a team is currently engaged in developing them, a top official said. The company would stick to the Rs 750 crore earmarked for taking up the capital expenditure plan this financial year. “We are working very closely on hydrogen-powered CVs (commercial vehicles) At this point of time, we do not want to talk more about it. We are deeply engaged and a team is currently working on it,” Ashok Leyland Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Vipin Sondhi said.
The company has drawn up plans to roll out CNG-fitted commercial vehicles that are expected to hit the roads during the fourth quarter of this financial year. On whether the company would invest more than Rs 750-crore, Ashok Leyland CFO Gopal Mahadevan said that they will stay with that number (Rs 750 crore) at the moment. Sondhi said the company was looking at having a greater play in the African market.
 Sondhi said the company was looking at having a greater play in the African market.
The traditional markets have been SAARC, Middle-East, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. As the company move forward, the company will see us having a greater play in Africa. “I think the fleet we have is larger, more comprehensive both in left-hand and right-hand drive (markets),” he said. Expanding into the African market would be crucial, Sondhi said. He further said the company would look at South-East Asian markets too. “In Africa, we have laid out a retail distribution channel,” he said.
Mahadevan said the company would use the digital platform in a big way and not just the traditional way of buying and selling a used vehicle. The company said that they want to use digital in a big way in catering to this segment and not just traditional way of buying and selling used vehicles,” he said. To another query on the total debt, Mahadevan said it was Rs 3,112 crore as of the date and sequentially about Rs 1,000 crore was reduced on the back of exemplary work done by the management to reduce the debt levels.
To another query on the total debt, Mahadevan said it was Rs 3,112 crore as of the date and sequentially about Rs 1,000 crore was reduced on the back of exemplary work done by the management to reduce the debt levels.
