Scania NTG Breaks Cover

Scania has launched a new NTG tipper on its G series platform in India.

- Ashish Bhatia

A year after Volkswagen Group hived off the Truck & Bus GmbH business vertical into TRATON AG with Scania as a part, the Swedish CV major has announced the launch of a new heavy-duty tipper based on its G series platform in India. Built at the company’s Bangalore plant, which not until some two years ago also built rearengine luxury-premium buses alongside trucks, the new tipper should put to rest any rumours of Scania exiting the Indian market. The rumours are said to take shape after the company quietly wound down its bus operations. A ray of hope did emerge when the news started doing the round that the CV maker will continue to build bus chassis at its Bangalore plant and supply them to a leading bus bodybuilder. The authenticity of this is yet to be established, however.

While Indian commuters continue to enjoy their journey on the Scania premium luxury coaches that are in service with various state-owned and private operators, Scania tippers are also continuing to add to the productivity gains of various mining contractors in the country. The new 8x4 tipper, the G440 XT, is aimed at heavy-duty overburden mining tipper segment, which is notorious for overloading. The closest competitor to Scania would undoubtedly be the other Swedish CV major Volvo. Set to ply under the treacherous conditions that exist in India’s mines, may it be Singrauli or Chandrapur, the new tipper will come equipped with a 20.2 cu. m. rock body. There will be an option of 20.2 cu. m. ‘U’ body as well for the respective application. A 22 cu. m. rock body version and a 22 cu. m. box body version will also be offered for infrastructure application.