Tata Motors Bags Order From Bangladesh Army For 200 Units Of The Tata Hexa

The Bangladesh Army would soon begin using the Tata Hexa if all goes according to plan. Reports have revealed that Tata Motors has bagged an order for 200 Tata Hexa SUVs from the Bangladesh Army.

According to Tata Motors, the Hexa has been tested rigorously and has met all the requirements and specifications of the Bangladesh Army. Tata Motors is no stranger to supplying vehicles to the armed forces.

The Indian Air Force has been using the Tata Sumo and Tata 407 along with Tata's buses. The Navy too uses the Tata Sumo and Tata's buses. Paramilitary forces of India rely heavily on Tata's vehicles. The Indian Army has been using the Tata Sumo and Tata Trucks for a long time now along with Tata's armoured vehicles in areas of conflict.

More recently, the Indian Army awarded Tata Motors with a contract for the supply of 3,192 units of the Tata Safari. Deliveries of the GS800 Indian Army Tata Safari had begun in mid-2018. Now, Tata Motors has bagged the contract to supply 200 Tata Hexa SUVs to the Bangladesh Army.

The armed forces require different types of SUVs. One of these types are utility vehicles that will be used for multiple purposes. For the utility purpose, the Bangladesh Army uses the Ford Ranger, Toyota Hilux, Mitsubishi L200, Land Rover Defender and Toyota Land Cruiser. The other type is a staff vehicle.

A staff vehicle is an SUV that is used by officers and other high-ranking officials for their commute and travel. The Bangladesh Army has the Mitsubishi Pajero (known in India as the Mitsubishi Montero) as its staff vehicle.

However, the vehicles are pretty old and it is a huge task to maintain them and keep them running. Hence, it could be that the Bangladesh Army might be looking for a replacement for these SUVs.

Sujan Roy, head - international business, passenger vehicles, Tata Motors, said: "Bangladesh is a key market for us and this order is a clear sign of Tata Motors' commitment and growing success in the market. We are exploring multiple avenues to work closely with the Bangladesh armed forces and look forward to a long and rewarding partnership for both parties."

Tata Motors entered the Bangladesh market back in 2012 and in the short span of seven years, has grown to become the second largest auto manufacturer in the country. Tata Motors currently sells the Indigo, Tiago and Nexon in the Bangladesh market. The Tata Hexa is not yet on sale in Bangladesh and the 200 units for the country's Army would be manufactured in India and then exported.

The Tata Hexa is powered by a 2,173cc, four-cylinder, turbo-diesel engine with a maximum power output of 153bhp and a peak torque output of 400Nm. Transmission duties are handled by a 6-speed manual gearbox. The SUV is available with a choice between 2WD and 4WD drivetrains.

The Bangladesh Army quite naturally has picked the 4WD variant for its requirements. Several specialised changes will be made to the SUV before being delivered to the Bangladesh Army, but it is unclear at the moment, what those changes are.

Thoughts On 200 Units Of The Tata Hexa To Be Supplied To The Bangladesh Army

The Mitsubishi Pajero/Montero being used by the Bangladesh Army is expensive to maintain. Hence, the country's army has chosen the Tata Hexa for the job. The Tata Hexa will in all probability never see the frontlines of battle or anything close to it.

It will be used as a personal transport vehicle for high-ranking officials in the Bangladesh Army. Thanks to Tata's presence in Bangladesh, it would be easy to maintain as well.