We鈥檝e been spearheading the electric revolution in India
Please tell us about some of the innovative products you鈥檝e recently introduced to the market?
We鈥檙e proud to be the first OEM in India to introduce a fully battery-driven 22-tonne class excavator. In addition to that, we have a 5.5-tonne loader and a 2-tonne loader, with the 3.5-tonne version being a new addition.
We鈥檝e also introduced a 45-tonne pay load battery driven electric reach stacker, and we offer a full range of battery-driven forklifts and AWPs (aerial work platforms). All of these machines are equipped with lithium ion battery. We still maintain our regular engine models, including excavators, wheel loaders, and motor graders. We've also introduced a smaller HP wheel loader and motor grader, specifically to cater to the PMGSY (Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana) sector, where we had previously lacked options.
LiuGong has an impressive lineup of electric machines. Tell us more about the wheel loaders category in which Liugong is the leader.
We鈥檝e been doing very well in the wheel loader segment in India over the last few years. In fact, it鈥檚 visible in this expo that we have one of the largest ranges of battery-driven machines in India. As far as I know, no other OEM has such a diverse range of electric-powered equipment. We鈥檝e been spearheading the electric revolution here in India.
Are these machines all manufactured locally in India?
Currently, No. Our machines are partially assembled in India, with some components coming from our parent company. However, looking forward, we plan to manufacture these machines entirely in India. We are committed to making our future more aligned with Indian green future of cutting down carbon footprint and this transition is an important part of our strategy.
Electric machines are one of the current trends in the market. What other trends are you noticing globally, and how are they impacting India?
Globally, a lot of people are talking about hydrogen-powered machines. However, for India, it's still early to predict when that will become a reality. We understand how to generate electricity here, but generating hydrogen and making it a viable fuel source is still a bit far off. Some have tried it in Europe, but I believe it鈥檚 too early to bring it to India. I foresee it being at least five to six years before we see hydrogen-powered machines becoming a major part of the market.
Tell us about your skill development and training initiatives.
Skill development is a two-phase process for us. First, we are part of the Infrastructure Equipment Skill Council (IESC), where we train our operators, mechanics, and engineers. They get certified through this programme. Additionally, we run internal training programmes to enhance the technical skills of our service engineers. We don鈥檛 just focus on technical skills, though; we also emphasise soft skills development, especially for our sales and service teams. The days of just handing over a leaflet and sending a machine are long gone. We now focus on understanding the work that needs to be done first and then guiding our customers on the right machine to purchase. It鈥檚 an ongoing process, and the industry is definitely evolving in this direction.
Moving forward, what is your market strategy?
We鈥檝e been a customer-centric company for many years now. Our main focus is on understanding our customers鈥� needs and how we can deliver the best solutions to them. We aim to provide exceptional service, ensuring that our machines are on the road and operational as quickly as possible. For us, the priority is always getting the machine up and running鈥攕peed is crucial.
Could you tell us a bit about your dealership network and how it supports your strategy?
We currently have around 30 dealerships across South Asia. Many of these dealerships have been with us for quite a while, and they are fully aligned with our business goals. Regardless of the machine鈥攚hether it鈥檚 our machine or a competitor鈥檚 model鈥攚e understand that different machines can present unique challenges. Our priority is always to get the machine on the road as quickly as possible, focusing on practical solutions first, and addressing other dynamics second.
How would you evaluate your business performance in 2024, and what are your plans for 2025?
In 2023, we ended the year with about 800 excavators sold. For 2024, we鈥檙e aiming for around 1,900, which is more than double that number. Looking ahead to 2025, we鈥檙e targeting over 3,000 machines. For our wheeled equipment, we were at around 1,000 last year, and this year, we鈥檙e forecasting 1,500 units.
How is the demand for electric versions of your machines shaping up?
The demand for electric machines has definitely started to grow. We鈥檙e still in the early stages, but we鈥檝e been actively educating our customers on the advantages of electric machines. Indian customers are increasingly knowledgeable and want to get the best value for their money. People are willing to invest more upfront in Capex if they can see a return on investment over time.
Fortunately, we also have the support of a stable government that is pushing the Go Green initiative, which has been a major boost. This movement started with two-wheelers and four-wheelers, but now, the entire sector is focusing on going green. It鈥檚 not just a local trend鈥攐ur parent company in China has also been very committed to this. In fact, I that the number of electric machines we've sold globally is equivalent to planting three million trees!
A-303, Navbharat
Estates,
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Sewri (West), Mumbai - 400 015,
Maharashtra, India
+91-22-24193000
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