Pune based automotive major Force Motors (India’s largest van-maker) revealed today to the media the country’s first next generation shared mobility platform that has been simultaneously designed and developed for both Internal Combustion Engines and 100% Electric Drive.
The project codenamed T1N was triggered about four years ago with the objective to develop a truly world class shared mobility platform that would be way ahead of current offerings and raise the bar in terms of passenger comfort, convenience and safety to International standards.
Force Project T1N is the first vehicle in this category in the country offering crash and rollover compliance with air bags for driver and co-driver even though current Indian legislation does not mandate them. In addition, T1N comes with large ventilated disk brakes on all four wheels with ABS, EBD, EDTC and ESP offering unmatched safety for its passengers.
The T1N has been developed with global aspirations, it is design protected for plying in select markets of Middle East, Africa, ASEAN and South America where the T1N is expected to be an excellent value proposition vis a vis high premium products from Europe, Far East and USA.
A dedicated and exclusive team of about 100 young specialist engineers and senior managers, who were experts in their respective domains, were selected for this project by Force Motors. This team after doing benchmarking studies with domestic and international offerings developed and engineered the concept of this new platform.
Force Motors T1N development team then consulted with leading technology specialists, domain experts across the globe, in Italy, Spain, UK, Germany, Japan, USA to improve, refine and validate the platform to match international performance expectations.
The T1N with its next generation, international styling and body design is in a class by itself and in the same league as leading international offerings. The looks are further enhanced by first in segment signature day running LEDs, first in segment projector lamps and first in segment tail lamps with light guide technology, all making it a head turner whichever way one looks at it.
The T1N platform has been designed with a 2-box construction keeping the engine fully outside ensuring least NVH in passenger compartment. For the first time in this segment independent front suspension with transverse parabolic springs has been offered, giving it best in class ride quality.
T1N is powered by a new and more powerful BS6 compliant, Common Rail Diesel engine, offering peak torque of 350Nm. The platform will also offer BS6 CNG variant as also a class leading full electric version.
This new platform is underdoing final validation and homologation processes. A new state of the art facility, with body shop with robotic and laser welding facilities is being set up at the Pithampur works. These vehicles would be showcased at the forthcoming Delhi Auto Expo 2020. It is expected to be available for sale by the end of the year.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Prasan Firodia, Managing Director, Force Motors said, “As segment leaders, we considered it our duty to offer our customers not just what they need but what they aspire for, and hence we set about developing this truly world class next generation platform packaging leading edge technologies in every aspect. We are confident our customers will welcome it.”
Force Motors, was established in 1958 by Shri N. K. Firodia, with the vision to provide affordable commercial transport for the masses by harnessing the best available technology and offering economical, reliable and efficient products.
Today, Force Motors is a fully vertically integrated automobile company with expertise in the design, development and manufacture of the full range of automotive components, aggregates, vehicles and agricultural tractors. Its ‘Traveller’ and ‘Trax’ vehicle ranges are market leaders in their respective segments.
Force Motors is the flagship of the company group headed by Dr Abhay Firodia which has 15 manufacturing units across the country and a 14,000-strong workforce.
Since 1997, when Daimler AG took the decision to manufacture Mercedes cars in India, every engine fitted there has been produced at Force Motors. To date, it has supplied over 115,000 engines to Mercedes Benz India, and has a state-of-the-art dedicated facility in Chakan, Pune.
In 2015, BMW assigned Force Motors to produce and test the engines for all cars and SUVs to be made in India. A state of the art factory has been built to the exacting standards of BMW by Force Motors in Chennai close to their factory. Till date Force Motors has supplied over 45,000 engines to BMW.
In March 2018, Force Motors has entered into a joint-venture agreement with Rolls-Royce Power Systems AG to manufacture in India and supply worldwide, the 10 and 12 cylinder, Series 1600 engines (545hp to 1050hp) for power generation and under floor rail applications.
