HM has priced the base-model of the 1.5-litre diesel-powered Ambassador Encore taxi at Rs. 4, 97, 996. Buyers in the normal replacement taxi segment will be able to avail the usual benefits as in the past. It is also available in ‘no-refusal’ taxi category with air conditioning and power steering. Significantly, the West Bengal government has recently issued 2000 permits for the no-refusal taxi segment. Another set of 2000 similar permits is expected to be released in November. HM expects a good share of sales from these lots. The overall bookings for Ambassador Encore have crossed the 450 mark so far.
Mr. Uttam Bose, Managing Director & CEO, Hindustan Motors Ltd., stated, “It is a game-changing offer from HM which has always accorded highest priority to customers’ needs and value. The company made significant investment in terms of money and man hours to develop its 1.5-litre diesel engine of BS IV emission standards with OBD (on board diagnostics) 2. Through value engineering and cost-efficient manufacturing, HM is offering Ambassador Encore at this amazingly low price without any compromise on quality. And that too at a time when the economy and particularly the automobile industry are passing through difficult times, sales are falling, margins are getting squeezed and most automobile companies are announcing price increases.”
“We are confident that the introduction of Ambassador Encore in the taxi segment will also create more work opportunities for West Bengal’s youth in keeping with the state government’s plans and the Chief Minister’s mission poribartan,” Mr. Bose added.
All taxi unions of Kolkata and West Bengal have already hailed the arrival of Ambassador Encore. Office-bearers of the taxi unions, who put the new car to rigorous test under difficult conditions recently, have found it a compelling proposition in terms of pricing, power and torque, vehicle control with power steering, gradient negotiating capacity and overall driveability, that too with no compromise on fuel consumption. Ambassador Encore has once again opened for Hindustan Motors 17 metropolitan cities where sale of BS III cars had been banned since April 2010. It is ramping up production at its Uttarpara plant in Hooghly to meet the surging demand for the Encore. The company has tied up with several banks including United Bank of India, Allahabad Bank, Overseas Bank of India, UCO Bank, IndusInd Bank to facilitate financing of Encore purchase by buyers. Measures are being taken on servicing, marketing and other fronts also to enhance customer delight.
Athletics Star Gifted Ambassador
Another significant feature of today’s Encore launch ceremony included gifting of an Ambassador car by Mr. Madan Mitra to Ms. Asha Roy of Singur who had won the second place in the 200 metres event in Asian Athletics Meet held at Pune in July, 2013. “Hindustan Motors is proud to be part of the felicitation ceremony of Ms. Asha Roy who has brought honour and joy to the country and West Bengal, overcoming adverse circumstances since her childhood. HM’s involvement reflects its abiding commitment to the state government’s pro-people policies and the community,” Mr. Uttam Bose stated.
