Tata Safari Storme to replace Maruti Suzuki Gypsy as new Army vehicle

For years, Maruti Suzuki Gypsy has been the preferred choice of the Indian Army. The petrol powered 4x4 off-road machine was spot on for the Army requirement that demands flawless running in high-altitude, snow-bound regions to deserts and marshy land. In fact, annual order from the Indian Army was one of the key reasons that Maruti Suzuki continued production of the Gypsy. However, emerging reports indicate the Army is set to replace its fleet with Tata Safari Storme.

Tata Motors has received an initial order of close to 3,200 vehicles, which could increase 10-fold in the coming years from the Army, report ET Auto. An official statement is yet to be released but the report claims Ratan Tata led group has beaten Mahindra Group that offered Scorpio SUV for the competition that kicked off in 2013.

Both Indian manufacturers' SUVs were successful in the rigorous technical trials by the Army. It seems Tata Group has presented a better financial deal for the Army. The force now requires an SUV with additional safety features and more power that runs on diesel, a fuel that's more readily available, given its large fleet of trucks and heavy-duty vehicles. Since the Gypsy runs on the petrol engine, the Army seems to have forced to look into other SUVs.

The army has over 30,000 Maruti Suzuki Gypsy units in service and it will progressively replace them starting next year. "The initial order is for 3,198 new SUVs but the total number is likely to go much beyond that. The army prefers a single model across its units and formations as it is easier on logistics," an official involved in the process told ET.