Ashok Leyland is planning to launch passenger version of their “Dost Comercial Vehicle”. Dost is a light commercial vehicle (LCV) developed jointly by Ashok Leyland and its partner Nissan Motor Co. through their equal joint venture. It was launched commercially in India in 2011. Being a new entrant in the market, of 11 states, Dost is still second largest selling product in its segment, with a pan India market share of 18.5 per cent, moreover the export of the vehicle has also started.

Ashok Leyland Dost Commercial Vehicle in India.

Seeing the success of DOST LCV, company is in process to launch passenger vehicle. It will come in two version, one version will have AC along with power steering and other bells and whistles while there will be one without air-conditioning and power steering. The Dost passenger vehicle will have capacity of accommodating 13 adults comfortably. Due to its better capacity, it will have edge over TATA Ace Magic and Mahindra Maxximo.

The AL Dost Passenger vehicle will have slider door facility which you may have seen in many passenger vehicle including the oldest one, the Maruti Omni, you may also see it in latest Evalia MPV. The DOST will also see CNG version launched soon.

At present, Dost is manufactured at Ashok Leyland’s plant at Hosur in Tamil Nadu although the joint venture partners are in the process of setting up a new dedicated LCV plant.

Ashok Leyland Chairman Dheeraj G Hinduja said on their Annual Report meet, “The new passenger version on the Dost platform, goods and passenger versions of the multi functional van ‘Stile‘ and and the 6-tonne ‘Partner’ are slated to hit the Indian roads during this fiscal,”

The top end model of Dost Passenger vehicle will compete with Tata Venture, Tata Winger and Force Traveler.