Multinational automobile manufacturer Tata Motors, through its authorised distributor Tata Africa, has announced the commercial launch of its range of multipurpose heavy-duty trucks, namely the Ultra T.9 and Ultra T.14, in South Africa.

The trucks are designed to fulfil the rising need for safer, smarter and greener cargo mobility. The Ultra range is well suited for a wide variety of conventional and specialist logistics applications including bakery, fast-moving consumer goods, white goods, agriculture and construction.

The Ultra range is engineered to deliver high productivity with best-in-class power, torque and fuel efficiency, with lower total cost of ownership, the company says.

“The robustly built Ultra features a walk-through cabin, power steering, dashboard-mounted gear lever, booster assisted clutch and mechanically suspended seat for safe and fatigue-free driving,” it adds.

The truck range is powered by Tata Motors’ globally proven turbocharged diesel engines with best-in-class power and torque output. The Ultra T.9 is powered by a 3.3 ℓ engine and the Ultra T.14 by a 5.0 ℓ engine, which provide a reliable solution to comfortably carry heavy loads over long distances and rough terrains.

Further, the trucks come equipped with parabolic suspension for rugged and uninterrupted operations. The trucks are offered with Tata Motors’ connected vehicle system, the Fleet Edge, for efficient fleet management that helps further increase fleet productivity, it said.

Tata Motors also offers an umbrella of vehicle lifecycle management solutions that include annual maintenance contracts, extended warranty, fleet management services and other value-added services. Coupled with easy vehicle financing and curated repayment options, these solutions ensure peace of mind for customers, resulting in higher profitability, the company says.

Some of the key features of the Ultra truck range include Euro IV rating, 3.3 ℓ or 5.0 ℓ engine with six-speed transmission for best-in-class fuel efficiency, and a best-in-segment safety with antilock braking system, Tata says.

Each truck has a walk-through cabin with dashboard-mounted gear lever, and front parabolic suspension for comfortable ride and handling, as well as a five-year or 500 000 km warranty. The range also has power and economy driving modes, and easy vehicle financing is available.

“Over the past three decades, Tata commercial vehicles have earned a rich reputation with their exceptional functionality, high productivity, unmatched comfort, advanced connectivity and unparalleled performance. We have consistently set new benchmarks by introducing smarter and future-ready products across various vehicle segments,” comments Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles international business head Anurag Mehrotra.

“The launch of the latest Ultra range in South Africa marks a new landmark in freight transportation in the country. The trucks are built on the internationally recognised Ultra platform, and are engineered to cater to a diverse set of applications, deliver higher performance and vehicle utilisation, and more uptime and revenue.

“We are committed to enabling our customers in South Africa succeed and the launch of this Ultra range is a significant step forward in fulfilling this commitment,” he says.

“Our products and services have been designed keeping in mind the specific requirements of the discerning South African fleet operators who seek power and fuel efficiency. These also address the need for higher safety and comfort for the drivers. The new range has been extensively tested in South Africa to ensure it delivers to the expectations of our customers,” he adds.

Tata Africa is responsible for the retail and after-sales service of Tata trucks and buses in South Africa.

“This introduction of two new trucks to the Tata commercial vehicle lineup aligns seamlessly with our commitment as a partner to Tata Motors and their vision for South Africa,” says Tata Africa MD Len Brand.

“The addition of these innovative products to the South African transport sector serves as a catalyst in our ongoing efforts to secure a more significant market share in South Africa. We are excited about the potential these new offerings bring and the positive impact they will have on our presence in the region,” he adds.

“We have a network of 90 touchpoints focused on providing convenient and comprehensive support to our customers. We are dedicated to delivering on our uptime promise. In partnership with Tata Motors, we're contributing to innovation and reliability in the South African commercial vehicle landscape,” he avers.

Tata's vehicles are built on the basis of customer requirements with class-leading features, reliability, comfort and safety. The manufacturer offers fully built solutions from 1 t to 60 t trucks and 10- to 65-seater vans and buses. It offers a range of logistics solutions catering to diverse and evolving needs of the customers, the company says.