Road Rhino

Launched on January 12, 2006, at the Auto Expo, about 5,000 to 6,000 Rhinos will be produced this year. The number of units produced in the coming years will of course depend on the feedback received from the market.

But right now only Punjab gets to buy it. The Punjabi willingness to try out new things is why the company has decided to launch the vehicle first only in the state. And if Punjab approves, only then will the Rhino be launched in Haryana and Delhi.

THE response from the dealers has been enthusiastic so far. So sure of success is Manoj Goel, a dealer of Rhino in Sangrur, that he8217;s gone ahead and spent a lot on his showroom. 8216;8216;I attended last year8217;s auto expo where the Rhino received tremendous response,8217;8217; says Goel, who sold 16 Rhinos on the day of launch.

Brainchild of Deepak Mittal, the Rhino has been designed with technical assistance from MG Rover, UK. The MUV comes in three models. While the basic model costs Rs 5,45,000, the deluxe model comes at Rs 6,85,000.

It was four years ago that Deepak, the younger Mittal son, decided to branch out with an MUV. He was spurred on by his passion for automobiles. 8216;8216;Moreover my ideas received another shot in the arm when I received some very good response from foreign companies. It took us four years to conduct intensive market and other researches.8217;8217;

The vehicle is being manufactured at a 50-acre plant at Amb in Himachal Pradesh.

Next on the Mittals8217; agenda is to a car for the common man.