'Portfolio expansion priority'

Truck and bus maker Ashok Leyland's management said its cash holding now exceeds its debt position, bolstering its investment plans for the coming year. Executive chairman Dheeraj Hinduja tells Swaraj Baggonkar that a sound pick-up in demand, new product launches, and listing of the finance subsidiaries will be the highlights for FY26.

- Swaraj Baggonkar

January saw a pick-up in demand. RBI has lowered the repo rate, and the government has also raised the tax-free income limit. How optimistic are you about CV demand for the coming fiscal? It is slightly early to say; we need to see exactly how all the new policies filter into the economy and also the rate cuts which will eventually get passed on to benefit the industry. This quarter is looking good, and if it continues, we should see a good revival in the next year. We will be in a better position to comment in another 4-5 weeks.