Ashok Leyland Ltd recently launched Circuit series first Electric Bus Made in India. The country's first Made in India 100 percent electric bus is a zeroemission vehicle created under the leadership of Vinod K. Dasari, who perfectly understands the market conditions and dynamics. This bus, which is specifically developed for Indian road and load conditions, is validation of this fact. Having the future perspective, the company is spearheading with its innovative products. It has bagged order worth US$ 170 million (about Rs 1,140 crore) from Tanzania to supply vehicles, gen sets and spares. The company is also expanding its wings in the defence sector. Ashok Leyland Defence Systems (ALDS) has selected U.S. global security and aerospace company Lockheed Martin, for the pursuit of its Indian Armed Forces - Light Specialist Vehicle (LSV) and Light Armoured Multipurpose (LAM) vehicle programs.

It is not only about the innovative and market oriented products. Dasari equally pays attention to the process of manufacturing. The company's Pantnagar manufacturing facility won Deming Prize, a widely recognised quality award in the world. Ashok Leyland Pantnagar has become the first truck and bus plant in the world and also the only CV manufacturer outside of Japan to win the Deming Prize.

Dasari joined Ashok Leyland in 2005 as Chief Operating Officer and was appointed as Whole Time Director in 2008. This was followed by his current position of Managing Director in 2011. Envisioning the year 2017, Dasari said, "It will be a crucial year for the commercial vehicle industry as BS IV will become mandatory across the country. This is what the industry has been asking the regulatory body for some time. Whatever the regulation, to provide a roadmap to implement the same and then there shouldn't be any changes to it. With the expectation of GST, AC cabins for trucks and other safety features, the year looks interesting for the industry."

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