Mahindra-Navistar Automotives (MNAL) has started production of its first truck offering, the 25-ton capacity MN25, which rolled off the assembly line in India.


According to Phil Christman, president, Navistar global truck operations, the MNAL trucks are designed from the ground up in India with that country's terrain in mind. Its cabin is spacious and ergonomically designed to suit Indian drivers for continuous long hauls. It's powered by Navistar's MaxxForce 7.2-liter diesel engine.

"We promised that 'OK will no longer be OK,' and that the MN25 would revolutionize the industry," said Nalin Mehta, chief operations officer, MNAL. "Today, with the first MN25 truck rolling off the line, every aspect of the truck symbolizes this philosophy and will help our customers outperform and prosper in their businesses and life."

The trucks are made in Mahindra-Navistar's facility in Chakan, which has a high-speed, fully automatic press line. Beyond the production of the MN25, the remainder of the MNAL truck line-up will also produced at the Chakan plant in the months ahead.

"The Chakan plant is one of the most modern manufacturing plants in India, with a capacity of 50,000 trucks per year," said Dr. Pawan Goenka, president, automotive and farm sector (AFS), Mahindra & Mahindra.

"The company is well on its way in setting up its infrastructure through exclusive dealerships on a massive scale which itself is a unique step for the trucking industry in India," said Rakesh Kalra, MNAL managing director. "Additionally the huge Mahindra network will be deployed for the after sales support of the trucks. Having started the production, we are gearing up for start of sales in the next two to three months and are moving rapidly to the pipelines with our products."