Bengaluru, 29th August, 2025: Ashok Leyland, the Indian flagship of the Hinduja Group and the country’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturer, today inaugurated a dealership for Light Commercial Vehicles in Thiruvananthapuram. This is the 6^th Light Commercial Vehicle dealership in the state of Kerala. The new channel partner, Capital Trucks, has a 3S (Sales, Service and Spares) facility strategically located at Vembayam, Kanyakulangara, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.

The facility is equipped with advanced tools, 10 quick service bays and has state-of-the-art infrastructure to ensure a superior customer experience. The company currently offers a range of LCV products – BADA DOST, DOST, SAATHI, PARTNER and MiTR.

Mr. Viplav Shah, Head – LCV Business, Ashok Leyland Ltd. said, “Kerala has always been a strategic growth market for us, and we are excited to strengthen our presence in this region. The phenomenal success of our DOST and BADA DOST range, and now the SAATHI, reflects the robustness of our products, the trust of our customers, and the strength of our expanding network. With best-in-class mileage, superior performance, and industry-leading service standards, we have been able to achieve an exceptional 70% customer retention rate even beyond the warranty period. This milestone not only strengthens our network but also reflects our vision of leading Kerala’s mobility transformation by delivering innovation, reliability, and long-term value to our customers and communities.”

Ashok Leyland’s LCV products were introduced to cater to the evolving needs of Indian LCV customers, combining best-in-class technology with competitive pricing. Today, over 5,50,000 (5.5 lakh) LCVs operate across India, reflecting our strong presence in the segment.

Expanding the portfolio, Ashok Leyland has recently entered the sub-2-ton segment with the launch of the Ashok Leyland SAATHI—a premium entry-level SCV. Powered by a new-generation 45 HP engine delivering 110 Nm of torque, the SAATHI offers the largest loading area in its segment and an industry-leading payload capacity of 1,120 kg. Designed to redefine the entry-level small commercial vehicle market, the SAATHI is set to be a game-changer in the industry.

BADA DOST is the first product to be built on an all-new robust LCV platform and has five variants, i2, i3+, i4, i5 and i5XL. It is powered with an 80 hp BS6 engine that delivers best-in-class power & mileage, best-in-class payload and best-in-class load body length and loading space that helps customers earn more profit per trip. Owing to its low turning radius and best-in-class ground clearance, BADA DOST is the ideal vehicle for inter and intra-city applications and can negotiate all terrains with ease.

DOST range comes in the following avatars – DOST XL and DOST+ XL to cater to different sections of the market and applications.

PARTNER, a modern & highly fuel-efficient load carrier, caters to the 4-ton payload segment and is available in both 4 tyre and 6 tyre options. It comes with Load body options of 10ft, 11ft, 14ft and 17ft. PARTNER is based on an internationally acclaimed vehicle platform & carries the renowned ZD30 CRDI engine.

MiTR bus, based on the same platform as PARTNER, comes in both staff bus & school bus options. It provides superior mileage even in stop and go conditions. MiTR School Bus complies with all school bus safety norms & compliance codes and offers unmatched ride comfort.

BADA DOST, DOST, SAATHI, PARTNER and MiTR are manufactured at Ashok Leyland’s state-of-the-art Hosur plant.

BADA DOST i3+XL are available at a competitive price starting from Rs 10,75,000/-

BADA DOST i5 are available at a competitive price starting from Rs 10,45,000/-

BADA DOST i5XL are available at a competitive price starting from Rs 10,85,000/-

DOST XL and DOST+XL are available at a competitive price starting from Rs-8,77,000/-

SAATHI is available at a competitive price starting from Rs 7,19,999/-

PARTNER is available at an attractive price starting from Rs- 17,80,000/-

MiTR Bus is priced competitively starting from Rs- 27,00,000 /-

Ashok Leyland has one of the largest and fastest-growing networks in the CV space. Its robust network of more than 1700 exclusive outlets ensures that there is an authorised service centre at every 75 km on major highways.

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This reply by the Congress MP is a result of the backlash that he faced from senior leaders of the Congress party in Kerala, accusing Tharoor of making a “pro Modi” statement on Twitter. The Thiruvananthapuram MP in his tweet had backed fellow Congress leader Jairam Ramesh’s statement that ‘demonising’ PM Modi all the time isn’t going to help and that he should be praised when he does something good.

This did not go down well with the Congress state leaders following which a notice was sent to Tharoor by the KPCC seeking an explanation about his alleged ‘praise’ for the Indian PM.

By stating that he has opposed the “Modi government on every bill they sought to introduce against the spirit of the Constitution,” Tharoor in his reply to the KPCC chief asked whether they can point out one leader from the state who has made the kind of effort that he has made in doing so.

Tharoor, in response to his tweet, for which the Congressmen of the state have accused him of praising Modi, said: “As you know, I have argued for six years now that @narendramodi should be praised when he says or does the right thing, which would add credibility to our criticisms when he errs.”

“I am astonished to hear that you believe that I have sought to “prove Prime Minister Modi.” I would be grateful if you could point to the precise statement I have made that does that, because I have done no such thing,” Tharoor said in his letter.

Explaining his tweet, Tharoor said that it wasn’t a praise for Modi, instead it was an “argument for the Congress” to enhance their credibility among the voters that they have lost to the BJP and win them back.

“It is an argument for the Congress, for whom Jairam, Singhvi and I are all strong voices, to enhance its credibility with fair-minded voters who abandoned us for the BJP but can be won back again. Modi has done little worth praising. But he has been effective in raising his vote percentage across India from 31% in 2014 to 37% in 2019, and as a party which stayed at around 19% in both elections, we in the Congress need to make an effort to understand why. Clearly enough, voters thought he was delivering something for them — we need to acknowledge that, but point out its limitations: yes, he built toilets, but 60% of them don’t have running water; yes, he gave poor rural women gas cylinders, but 92% of them can’t afford refills. But if we act as if he has done nothing, however flawed, and people still voted for him, then we are saying that people are stupid, which is not a place that wins you votes,” Tharoor wrote.

By stating that he has been a strong critic of the Modi government, Tharoor added that his staunch defence of “inclusive values and constitutional principals” have won him three elections.

“I am second to none in working for the party’s values in Parliament,” said the Congress MP and urged his fellow party men to respect his approach even when they don’t agree with him.

“I am proud of my record for several years, in and out of Parliament, in standing up and speaking out in defence of the progressive, secular and inclusive principles and values of the Congress Party; and in identifying, analysing and skewering the ruling party’s assaults on the idea of India and the nature of our Constitution. I am more than slightly mystified to be seen by some of my party men as some sort of BJP-inclined Modi sympathiser and to be asked for an “explanation” for “praising” someone I have not praised,” Tharoor concluded.

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