India’s “Economic Times” reported today that Italian motorhome manufacturer PLA S.p.A. -- in partnership with Indian coach and specialist vehicle manufacturer JCBL -- is to sell its HS75 Fiat Ducato-based motorhome on the Indian sub-continent. This latest move by PLA clearly indicates that competition in the nascent Indian recreational vehicle market is heating up. In October, 2012, the RVing Examiner reported that Basecamp -- a Maharashtra, Mumbai-based travel and outdoor company -- were adding two German touring caravans (travel trailers) -- the Hymer Sporting 465 and Dethleffs New Line 410 TK -- to their Indian camping portfolio.
Priced at Rs 75-80 lakh, PLA’s 4-berth HS75 weighs in at just 3500kg and is offered with Fiat’s 2.0, 2.3 or 3.0cc engine. According to the Economic Times Chandigarh-based JCBL hope to sell around 500-600 coach-built PLA units per year over a three-year period. The FWD Fiat Ducato platform -- badged as the Ram ProMaster -- will enter the U.S. market for the first time in Q3 2013.
Founded by 75-year-old entrepreneur, Pier Luigi Alinari, in Colle di Val D’elsa in Italy’s Tuscany region in February, 2010, PLA manufactures three ranges of smaller European-style motorhomes -- all on the Ducato chassis. These are badged as the PLA, PLASY and PLASY Live series.
HS75 Data: Vehicle Width: 232 cm, Vehicle Height: 295cm, Vehicle Length: 742 cm • Fresh Water 100L • Black Water 19L • Fridge 160L • Truma Combi Heating Boiler 4000 Kcal • Additional Information: PLA •
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