Ashok Leyland Introduces Taurus and Hippo Heavy-Duty Trucks in India

After more than half a century of silence, two of the most recognizable names in India’s heavy trucking story are coming back. Ashok Leyland is set to launch the Taurus and Hippo trucks, not as nostalgic throwbacks, but as fully re-engineered, modern heavy-duty machines aimed squarely at today’s demanding commercial vehicle market.

A Revival Rooted in Legacy, Built for Today

Ashok Leyland’s decision to bring these trucks back is clearly strategic. The Indian CV market is evolving fast. Higher payloads, tighter deadlines, rising fuel costs and brand recall still matters a lot to fleet owners. By reviving these names, Ashok Leyland is betting that trust built decades ago, combined with modern engineering will make a huge impact.

Taurus: Built to Conquer

The new Taurus stays true to its original reputation as a reliable heavy-duty truck, but underneath the familiar name is a thoroughly modern truck.

Key Highlights

• 8.0-litre A-Series engine producing 360 hp
• Peak torque up to 1600 Nm
• Zero-drop front axle
• Focus on best-in-class uptime
• Superior Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)
• AI-enabled site support*, hinting at predictive maintenance and smarter service

Applications

• Coal and iron ore transport
• Limestone and marble stone hauling
• Overburden (OB) removal
• Large-scale earthwork operations

Hippo: Powered for Progress

If Taurus is about raw domination, Hippo feels like the more tech-forward sibling. It’s still heavy-duty to the core, but with extra emphasis on drivability and control.

Key Highlights

• 8.0-litre A-Series engine with 360 hp
• 1600 Nm torque
• Solo HR axle 
• Zero-drop front axle
• i-VAC system for best-in-class fluid efficiency
• Automatic Traction Control
• Hill Start Assist
• Superior TCO

Applications

• Over-dimension cargo
• Cement and steel
• Blue metal and sand
• Coal and bulk materials

Conclusion

The relaunch of Taurus and Hippo signals a broader intent. Ashok Leyland is smartly blending heritage with high-performance engineering, especially in segments like mining, infrastructure and bulk logistics where reliability matters. If these revived legendary trucks perform on-site, they may well reclaim their old status as a reliable heavy-duty truck for modern India.

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