An MG Group company, Alma Motors is going to manufacture the Mammoth luxury coach based on a chassis from MAN Trucks India

Belgaum-based Alma Motors Pvt. Ltd., an MG Group company, has unveiled a new luxury coach called the Mammoth. The Mammoth has been developed and conceptualised by MG Group, in partnership with MAN Trucks India. Anil Kamat, Executive Director, MG Group said, “Mammoth is a landmark achievement for MG Group in India. It introduces us to the luxury coach segment through our expertise in using global technology to make an Indian product.” Powering the Mammoth is a six-cylinder 6.8-litre turbocharged diesel engine, which produces 220 hp at 2400 rpm. The engine is positioned at the front with the drive going to the rear wheels. A rear engine layout is also planned, as well as a more powerful, 280 hp engine variant.

Designed to move 44 people (22 seats in two rows; each making for a 2×2 seating), the Mammoth is based on a MAN CLA chassis. It is equipped with pneumatic suspension for comfortable inter-city ride. Much attention has been paid to the comfort of the driver as well as the passengers. If this signals an orientation towards optimum safety, the driver is treated to easily accessible suspended pedals. In addition to the regular cruise control, the Mammoth is equipped with a downhill cruise control. A MAN patented engine exhaust valve brake coupled with hydrodynamic retarder ensures smooth and safer braking. It is also claimed to increase the fuel efficiency and extend the life of the ABS-enabled, brake system. The fuel tank is safely positioned in the centre. Riding on 295/80 R22.5 radial tyres, which are claimed to enhance stability and fuel efficiency, the Mammoth has significantly low noise levels inside the cabin.

Impressive features

Featuring plush push back seats, the manufacturer of which is claimed to be an associate company of Alma Motors, the interior of the Mammoth tilts towards the luxurious. It is devoid of any sharp corners. Every seat has been equipped with a seat belt. There’s a ‘full’ driver partition that acts as an additional barricade in case of an impact. Equipped with eight emergency exits, the Mammoth has EM-Secure (Emergency Management – Secure) that makes evacuation safe and panic free. “EM-Secure is our patented feature and provides a clear and well-marked emergency exit located at the rear of the Mammoth, which is easily approachable and unhindered by any obstructions. A manually ejected stairway is built with assist handles to provide support while descending, allowing passengers of all age groups to evacuate the coach unharmed as the height between the last step and the pavement is less than two feet,” averred Kamath. The challenge of uneven load distribution is tackled by adjusting the air pressure in the bellows. This also improves the handling, stability and tyre life. Also, keeping in mind the road conditions in India, a second ride height system has been installed, which raises the chassis height by 50 mm and gives a better ground clearance.

Interview: Anil Kamath, Executive Director, MG Group

What inspired MG group to get into the luxurious bus segment with the ‘Mammoth‘?

MG group has made around 90,000 buses since its inception in 1996. These buses catered to the non-premium segment. Mammoth is therefore our first premium luxury coach for the Indian market. We wanted to test our skills, and push our self to bring out a premium product for the aspiring Indian inter-city traveler. Built on the state-of-the-art MAN chassis, customers are assured of one of the finest coaches suitable for Indian roads.

Where will you be manufacturing this bus and how many are you planning to roll-out in FY 15-16?
It will be manufactured at the Belgaum plant of Alma Motors, which is part of the MG group. We have manufactured 90,000 buses in the last 19 years, and it has been in semi-luxury segment and also to cater to the demands from STUs (State Transport Understanding) Our core competencies have been design, development and engineering. We work on these standards for all our esteem customers like Mahindra and Mahindra, Ashok Leyland and Volvo Eicher Commercial Vehicle and other fleet operators. So while entering the luxury segment is an opportunity, it is also a challenge to unleash our potential for this market. At this moment we are not chasing any numbers. In fact we have not even fixed the pricing for the Mammoth.

What according to you is the Unique Selling Point (USP) of the Mammoth?

We have designed this bus with the focus on two important things; viz luxury and safety. As far as safety is concerned the EM-Secure (Emergency Management – Secure) is the biggest USP of the Mammoth. We even have a patent for this feature. We have eight exit doors in all, including the EM- Secure and two roof hatches. In case of an emergency passengers will have to break the designated glass at the rear of the bus, turn a very easy to open knob and push the door out. Then, upon opening simple latches a stairway will drop out, which will allows people of all age group an easy exit from the vehicle. The main emergency exit is at least five feet from the base of the bus floor.

As far as the interior is concerned, there are no sharp corners in the bus. We have also provided re-tractable safety belts on every seat. We have got a hatrack where the center console is placed in such a way that there is equal air flow as well as light on both the seats.

Additional features include conveniently placed volume buttons on the side of each seat, with which the passenger can regulate the in-bus entertainment volume as to suit his individual requirement.

How do you want to position the bus in the market and any specific reason for association with MAN?

The bus is both for the Indian (domestic) market as well as exports. We also have left hand drive (LHD) model. We will start the proper marketing, deciding on the price and number of buses post the bus world exhibition. The idea is not to chase numbers, but make each and every customer who owns this bus 100 per cent satisfied. Not only with the product, quality and design but also with the after sales. MAN has 60 service centers with 24×7 call centers. MAN is one of the global giants in the commercial vehicle industry and is also committed to provide premium quality service to modern day passengers in the bus segment.

Where have you sourced other aggregates which goes in manufacturing the bus body like, flooring, lights, seating etc.?

The whole theme behind MG group is to be a global solution provider. So if you look at MG composites, they make all the fiber glass parts for our buses. Then we have West and Deccan, again an MG group company, which provides design and engineering services. It has a strong and experienced team of artists, industrial design professionals, structural design engineers and finite element analysts-it has designed the Mammoth. Another company MG Grey Engine LLP provides solutions related to bus electronics like lighting, touch controls, infotainment systems, passenger infotainment systems etc. Alcom Products handles the seats and other component manufacturing for MG groups bus business that includes, school buses, staff buses, sleeper coaches etc. We are therefore an end-to-end solution provider in the bus body business.