Ajit John
Panjim: Polaris, an American major in the off-road and all terrain vehicles market intends to establish an assembly unit in the country in the next three years. This could be a precursor to a manufacturing unit depending on the response from the retail and military market in the country.
Pankaj Dubey, MD Polaris India said the company had expanded with 14 dealers in the country and one each in Nepal and Kazakhstan and were now looking to move further into Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh along with countries like Uzbekistan etc.
The company he said was looking at enhancing its presence in its three verticals namely individual customers, Polaris experience zones and defence. The company had supplied its off road vehicles to para military, six police forces which included the Gujarat police force. The company is at present assembling the vehicles and selling them in the Indian market. Pankaj said the company would need firm orders and a confirmation of substantial numbers if it had to set up a manufacturing unit in the country. With regards to an OEM, the company had not decided as yet as to its future course of action.
At present 15% of the company’s earnings are generated by its sale to the defence forces. This he expects to increase to 40-50% in the next five years. The company intends to make a dramatic push in the experience zones by increasing the number such zones in five years to 400.
Finally when asked if he would consider setting up a manufacturing unit in Goa, he said very initial interest had been displayed by various states but none from Goa.
At the defence expo, the company showcased the DAGOR (Deployable Advance Ground Off-Road) and MRZR4. These vehicles have been exclusively brought to India for the first time.Polaris India also showcased its 6-wheeled drive Off-Roader, SPORTSMAN® BIG BOSS 6X6 and RANGER® 6X6 800 at the event, which is being held between 28th–31st March, 2016 at Goa.
Polaris India has developed the DAGOR (Deployable Advance Ground Off-Road) vehicle under a contract fromelements of the U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) and international Special Operations Forces (SOF) customers.
