Ashok Leyland TAURUS HIPPO relaunch strengthens high-horsepower truck portfolio

On the relaunch announcement date, Ashok Leyland brought back two of its most iconic truck brands, TAURUS and HIPPO, reviving nameplates that once defined India’s heavy commercial vehicle landscape. The Ashok Leyland TAURUS HIPPO relaunch signals a renewed focus on high-horsepower applications while building on decades of engineering credibility.
The announcement was made by Shenu Agarwal, Managing Director and CEO of Ashok Leyland, along with senior leaders Sanjeev Kumar, President of Medium and Heavy Commercial Vehicles, and Madhavi Deshmukh. Customers, dealers, and media representatives attended the event, underlining the importance of the relaunch for the company’s core markets.
TAURUS and HIPPO positioned for high-horsepower applications
Under the Ashok Leyland TAURUS HIPPO relaunch strategy, TAURUS is positioned as the brand’s premium high-horsepower tipper range, while HIPPO returns as the flagship tractor portfolio. Both product lines are developed on Ashok Leyland’s AVTR modular truck platform, enabling flexibility across configurations and operating requirements.
Powering the trucks is the 8.0-litre A-Series six-cylinder engine, delivering 360 horsepower and 1,600 Nm of torque. This powertrain is engineered to handle demanding duty cycles common in mining, infrastructure development, and large construction projects, where uptime and pulling power directly influence fleet productivity.
Legacy brands with strong recall in the Indian market
HIPPO built a strong reputation from the 1980s through the early 2000s, earning trust as a dependable heavy-haul tractor across long-distance operations. TAURUS, meanwhile, created history as India’s first multi-axle truck and became so closely associated with the segment that operators continue to use the name generically for multi-axle tippers.
By reviving these legacy brands, Ashok Leyland aims to combine established market recall with modern engineering, addressing today’s performance, safety, and efficiency expectations without losing the emotional connection operators associate with the TAURUS and HIPPO names.
Features focused on durability, safety, and productivity

• The relaunched trucks are designed specifically for tough operating environments.

• Standard features across the range include heavy-duty drivetrains, reinforced chassis architecture, Hill Start Assist, and Automatic Traction Control, supporting safer and more consistent performance on challenging terrain.

• HIPPO models additionally offer optional technologies such as Advanced Driver Assist Systems and Tire Pressure Monitoring, reflecting the growing demand for safety and predictive maintenance solutions in the heavy commercial vehicle segment.

Strategic importance for Ashok Leyland’s growth plans
Agarwal emphasized that the vehicles are engineered for demanding applications, combining durability with higher productivity to improve overall fleet economics. Kumar highlighted that tippers and tractors remain among the fastest-growing segments in the heavy commercial vehicle industry, making the Ashok Leyland TAURUS HIPPO relaunch a strategically important move.
The trucks will be sold through Ashok Leyland’s nationwide dealership network. With this relaunch, the company strengthens its presence in the high-horsepower commercial vehicle segment while paying tribute to brands that shaped its legacy in India’s trucking industry.