Maruti Gypsy out, Tata Safari new army vehicle

The Safari Storme is set to replace the ageing Maruti Gypsy as the general service vehicle for the Indian Army as Tata Motors has won the army’s order for new SUVs, according to a report by the Economic Times. The government had shortlisted the Safari Storme and Mahindra’s Scorpio more than three years ago after which both were put into testing.

Although both the Safari and the Scorpio passed rigorous technical trials by the army, which tested the vehicles in conditions such as high-altitude, snow, deserts and marshy land, Tata Group appears to have presented a better financial deal, the report added. While the initial quantity of the order is 3,192 units, the order size could increase 10 times in the coming years.

The version of Safari Storme for the army is quite different from the one available for civilians. The drivetrain has been upgraded and the suspension has been majorly modified to take care of off-road capabilities.

The army wanted to move away from a GS 500 (General Service 500kg) platform, which includes the Gypsy, to a GS 800 (800kg) platform as the need was for a hardtop vehicle with a heavier payload carrying capacity. The army floated a tender to that effect, following which Tata Motors and Mahindra took part in the discussion.

The move could give a shot in the arm to the defence wing of the carmaker, known as Tata Motors Defence Solutions. Last year, the carmaker won an order to supply 1,239 units of its high-mobility 6x6 multi-axle trucks to the Indian Army. The trucks would be used for loading, unloading and transportation of ammunition, spares and other operational equipment. The order was valued at over Rs 900 crore and was the single largest order awarded to a private Indian original equipment manufacturer in the country.