Commercial vehicles major Ashok Leyland launched Comet 1611, a 10.5 tonner carrier targeted at courier and parcel companies, white goods transporters and tanker service operators.
The Rs 8.6 lakh vehicle is 10 per cent more fuel efficient, with additional loading span and boasts of an ergonomically styled cabin, the company said.
The demand for medium and light commercial vehicles, estimated to be around 40,000 during 2006-07, was growing thanks to retail chain expansion, booming consumer goods sales and development of satellite cities.
The Supreme Court ruling on overloading and the government's new orders on drivers' safety had been considered while designing the vehicle, said Ramji Narayanaswamy, Regional Manager(South).
"Operators can load 10 to 10.5 tonnes in the vehicle as the weight of the engine and cabin had been reduced to about 750 kg," he said.
He said most operators wanted ready-to-use vehicles nowadays, and this model would help them earn profits from day one.