Indian Autos Thread

shaardula · Post by **shaardula** » 12 May 2009 08:44

Sanjay M wrote:nice tatas

Neela · Post by **Neela** » 12 May 2009 12:26

amit wrote: Neela I don't really agree to your point about asking for something in return. If the Brits wanted management control why didn't they nationalise when Ford wanted to dispose JLR?

I think in true Brit style they let Tatas pick up the huge tab for JLR ($3b) and now, thinking the Tatas are in difficulty they want to get JLR back for cheap.

I really hope the BS report is correct. It's about time the Indian govt via the banks uses Indian's increased financial muscle to help companies like Tatas in their foreign acquisitions.

The thing to remember is the JLR acquisition has been a really huge infusion of technological knowhow into Tata Motors. For example Jaguar's suspension tech is supposed to be industry leading. And Land Rover still makes the best SUVs in the world.

Amit, if taking back control of JLR is in their minds, it is quite risky and I doubt if the UK has the wherewithal to manage such a huge task. Before they even think of taking back control, a plan has to be in place to outline what they intend to do. They simply cannot "nationalise" JLR and try to sell it later ....finding buyers for the entire operations will be difficult. Will the UK govt. shell out for running the company, paying the workforce and worry about sales? And for how long?

I think this is a show of brinkmanship from the British side. Will Tatas bite? Naah....job losses, closing businesses more job losses, more lost revenue. The pressure is on the British government. With politicians in UK being ridiculed for their misuse of public money, they are really cornered. And a bungled JLR issue with Tata is instant death for the politicians involved.

Tata can still run the show with the research centres. (Unless they have cut a deal with the unions for job guarantees over a period of X years...which means Tata could be in trouble. Will try to getsome info on the deal )

bart · Post by **bart** » 12 May 2009 16:03

The latest terms proposed by the Treasury are pretty unreasonable, in fact most believe the were set up to fail. Keep in mind that Tata is neither asking for aid or bailout, they simply want the govt to be guarantors for their loans so they can get cheaper and easier credit.

Looking at forum posts on the UK newspaper articles, the UK seems to be full of left-wing nuts who are only to happy to see JLR bite the dust.

vsudhir · Post by **vsudhir** » 12 May 2009 17:01

bart saar

Looking at forum posts on the UK newspaper articles, the UK seems to be full of left-wing nuts who are only to happy to see JLR bite the dust.

Quite the contrary. UKstan is not nearly leftwing enough onlee. Can only hope for a miracle (such as a 400% turnout of the packee vote) and have labor return triumphant to manage treasury and the foreign office.

Gaurav_S · Post by **Gaurav_S** » 13 May 2009 10:36

Honda's new small car to be priced below Rs 5 lakh

NEW DELHI: As it gears up to launch its ultra-premium compact 'Jazz', Honda has started work to bring in another small car at lower price.

Senior officials at Honda Siel Cars India (HSCI) told TOI that a new R&D team will be in place from June whose main task would be to further indigenise and localise production of key components to keep the price of the new car at around Rs 4.5 lakh, much lower than the Jazz's expected Rs 7 lakh tag. The new small car is expected to be launched within three years.

"The R&D team will be headed by a senior Honda official from Japan. The expected size of the team is around 25 members and it will also have people from Honda's India operations from departments like manufacturing and purchase," officials said.

The new car will push Honda at the centre of the highly competitive big volume compact car segment. While Maruti dominates the premium compact segment with its Swift petrol and diesel models, other key players are Hyundai's Getz and i20, Skoda Fabia and GM's U-VA.

The new car would be the first model from Honda that will be developed with India as a lead market. While Japan was the lead market for the Jazz, US was the lead market for the Accord and Civic and Thailand for City.

Sources said unlike expectations of modest volumes from the Jazz due to its high price, Honda expects the new model to garner big volumes, riding on competitive pricing. Sources indicated that the car could be made in the company's yet-to-be-completed plant at Tapukara in Rajasthan where work was stopped last year in view of the slowdown.

"Honda is looking at big volumes from the new car. The new Rajasthan plant will have an initial capacity of 60,000 cars annually that can go up to 2.5 lakh units, making it a natural choice for a big volume product," the sources said.

ET

Vipul · Post by **Vipul** » 14 May 2009 04:51

Mahindra & Mahindra Indian car company readies Sarasota showroom.

Gaurav_S · Post by **Gaurav_S** » 14 May 2009 20:25

Bajaj gets patent for multi-spring shock absorbers

Bajaj Auto has applied for patent in several countries for this unique technology and is taking necessary steps to counter the menace of Chinese manufacturers unscrupulously marketing cheap copies of the technology in Nigeria (as "NeXus" brand motorcycle) and in Kenya and Uganda (as "Nebula" brand motorcycle), the statement added.

krishnan · Post by **krishnan** » 15 May 2009 10:41

Not to forget GULSHAR brand in china

Yogi_G · Post by **Yogi_G** » 15 May 2009 19:39

Maruti, Tata hunt for US, European car engineers

vina · Post by **vina** » 17 May 2009 10:05

For all ye faithful of heart and soul .

If you miss the true faith in massa, you can find it here

May 17, 2009
Handlebars
A British Classic, but It’s New (and It’s Not British, Either)
By JAMES PARCHMAN

CHENNAI, India

AMID all the recent buzz over vehicles coming out of India, here is one model you may have missed: the Royal Enfield Bullet Classic C5.

In some circles, this introduction is bigger news than the debut of the Tata Nano; if the past is any guide, the next all-new Royal Enfield Bullet won’t arrive for another half-century. While a list of motorcycle brands predating Royal Enfield is short — Harley-Davidson, Triumph and a handful of others qualify — the tally of bike models that have lasted 54 years is pretty much limited to the Royal Enfield Bullet.

The Bullet Classic C5 (not to be confused with the Bullet Classic, a much older design, or the Bullet Classic G5, a model that uses the newest engine in an older chassis) went on sale in Europe late last year. The first production bikes destined for the United States began rolling off the assembly line here at the Thiruvottiyur factory, where Bullets have been made for more than 50 years, in mid-February and are expected in showrooms next month.

To say that the C5 is a striking motorcycle or one that looks to have been lifted directly from a motorcycle museum is no overstatement. On a visit to the factory in this coastal city of more than four million people (and known as Madras until 1996), it easily stood out from the olive-green military Bullets and chrome-laden domestic-market Electras and Thunderbirds awaiting final inspection and shipment.

The heart of the C5 is its air-cooled 499 cc power plant, an all-new design that continues the single-cylinder layout of its predecessors. It retains the trademark cadence of a thumper — the common nickname given to large-displacement 1-cylinder bikes — but now the engine and transmission, formerly separate components, have been integrated to create the Unit Construction Engine. The UCE, as Royal Enfield calls it, is fuel-injected and designed to be efficient, reliable and environmentally friendly. It will be used on all Royal Enfield export models.

The C5 will cost $6,395, not including a destination charge of about $300, depending on the dealer’s location. It will be offered in black, deep maroon and a retro teal green that is midway between mint and turquoise. The primary color is used on the frame, fenders and side-cover lids; the fuel tank features white panels with a prominent Royal Enfield logo. Knee pads and hand-painted pinstripes complement the 3.8-gallon tank.

Taking into consideration the dense traffic and left-lane driving protocol around Chennai, my testing of the Bullet C5 was confined to Royal Enfield’s track. Fully fueled, the C5 felt solid at 412 pounds, and 18-inch Avon Speedmaster tires provided good grip. Steering was responsive, but not twitchy.

The bicycle-style sprung solo seat is comfortably large, and a passenger pillion will be available as a dealer option. The instrument panel is spartan; I found myself wishing for a tachometer.

If the randomly picked test machine was any indication, Royal Enfield got it right with the electronic fuel injection from Keihin, a Japanese maker that supplies many bike companies. The C5 started quickly and the idle was smooth and quiet; transitions between power on and off — a maximum of 27 horsepower, according to the company — were seamless.

The C5 is electric-start only, though other models with the UCE will retain the kick pedal for now. A cable-actuated clutch provides good feel, allowing the 5-speed transmission to shift flawlessly. The front brake is a single 11-inch disc; combined with a rear drum, ample stopping power is on hand for the C5’s achievable speeds.

The claimed top speed of 82 miles an hour will not keep the C5 in the lead dog position for long, even in a pack of 250 cc Kawasaki Ninjas. However, a design requirement was for all-day cruising at 70 m.p.h. That’s higher than the speed limit in much of the United States, and should not overly tax machine or rider.

An unseen cost of many motorcycles is the need for regular maintenance that requires a trip to the dealer. The Bullet Classic C5 shines in this respect. Being air-cooled, there is no need to look after antifreeze and radiator hoses. Hydraulic lifters in the UCE motor eliminate periodic valve-lash adjustments; the filters for air and oil can be replaced in minutes. Royal Enfields equipped with the UCE are being backed with a two-year unlimited mileage warranty in the United States.

Kevin Mahoney, the importer of Royal Enfield for the United States, said that the fuel economy of the UCE engine, over 80 miles a gallon in early tests, will be a pleasant surprise.

California riders need not reach for their checkbooks, at least not yet — Royal Enfields are currently 49-state machines. The company expects California certification to be completed this year and bikes to be on sale there by spring of 2010.

Like Harley-Davidson, Royal Enfield holds its heritage as an important part of the product’s story. Gordon G. May, author of “Royal Enfield: The Legend Rides On,” writes that 1891 was the year in which production of bicycles and rifle parts began in Redditch, England.

Royal Enfield was an established motorcycle manufacturer when the single-cylinder Bullet made its debut in 1932. Its chrome trim, full mud guards and peanut-shaped gas tank made it a sporty addition to a company whose products had become a bit stodgy.

The Indian military played a major role in assuring the Bullet’s longevity. In 1953, Prime Minister Nehru began encouraging development of a domestic automobile manufacturing industry. Subsequently, 800 British 350 cc Bullet’s were sold to the Army as kits, to be assembled in India.

Enfield India was formed in 1955 to make civilian and military Bullets under license. The following year, the current factory in suburban Chennai began production, using tooling shipped from Redditch. In the succeeding half-century, the fortunes of Enfield India generally waxed, while those of the parent company — and the entire British motorcycle industry — were on the wane.

In the 1950s, the roster of British motorcycle brands included AJS, Ariel, BSA, Matchless, Norton, Royal Enfield, Triumph, Velocette and Vincent; today only the Triumph name continues as a production brand (and Norton has had many attempts at resuscitation). Bullet production in England ended in 1962. Attempts were made to revive the marque but it folded in the 1970s.

Enfield India continued churning out Bullets, even exporting them to Europe in the 1980s. The company was also innovative in production of a diesel-powered motorcycle, the Taurus. The 6.5 horsepower machine achieved over 160 m.p.g. but production was halted in 2002, before the rise in fuel prices that might have secured its viability.

India has since become an automotive parts powerhouse. Local sourcing has helped Royal Enfield to remain competitive, and the domestic material content of the C5 exceeds 90 percent. With the Bullet Classic C5, the Royal Enfield designers have succeeded in building on the Bullet heritage and in their interpretation of retro-classic British style.

If you’re the owner of a few gray hairs, you can easily picture Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn, dressed in tweed and astride matching green C5s, out for an afternoon ride in the English countryside. A little younger? Substitute Brad and Angelina for Cary and Kate, leather for tweed, black C5 for green and upstate New York for the Midlands; it still works.

svinayak · Post by **svinayak** » 21 May 2009 01:58

Vipul wrote:Mahindra & Mahindra Indian car company readies Sarasota showroom.

Japan owns our car market, we have German Cars, English cars, Sweedish Cars, French Cars, if these India cars were made in the USA I would be all for their success, but to simply have their dealerships here and no production lines, we need India made cars like we need another
Rush Limbaugh.
If these were American Made, It would create jobs, and help restore the American car Industry, as for INDIA, no thanks, so some salespeople and mechanics will have jobs, otherwise it will be all India all the time.

Ameet · Post by **Ameet** » 21 May 2009 22:32

UK Govt ready to guarantee loans for Tatas' JLR business

http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage ... R+business

JLR, which employs 15,000 people, is awaiting the government approval for the 340-million-pound loan from the European Investment Bank. The EIB has already given its approval several weeks ago, but cannot dispense the cash until Britain agrees to repay it if JLR goes bankrupt.

dinakar · Post by **dinakar** » 23 May 2009 13:57

Suppiah wrote:Wonder what labor problems they are talking about - is non-availability or have the commies taken control of the unions to sabotage the industry to benefit their masters in Beijing?

A report about the Hyundai labour problem in Frontline, this report give some snippets about what went wrong...
Advantage union

They also said that while there was no big resentment among permanent employees over salaries, the temporary workers were mostly underpaid and were often asked to do the work normally done by permanent employees.

As for working conditions, workload and the general treatment of employees, both permanent and non-permanent, there are a lot of grievances. Long hours of work, say 10 to 12 hours sometimes, job insecurity, harsh shop-floor practices and ruthless punishment for even petty slips have driven many of the workers to look for a protective shield.

The factory has a total workforce of about 6,000, of whom only 1,556 are permanent and earn anything between Rs.8,000 and Rs.22,000 a month. The rest, numbering about 4,500, are temporary and in the categories of casual workers, apprentices, trainees and contract labour. Their monthly wages range from Rs.3,000 to Rs.4,500. Labour contractors supply a substantial number of workers in these categories.

AnimeshP · Post by **AnimeshP** » 29 May 2009 20:17

Tata Motors launches six new vehicles; pilot runs in July

Key Points

Tata motors planning on launching 6 new trucks to take on Volvo and Scania
Trucks will be produced in Jamshedpur and Gunsan (South Korea)
New models developed by Tata Daewoo Commercial Vehicle Co. in South Korea and a technical centre located in Europe

shaardula · Post by **shaardula** » 30 May 2009 21:47

in another thread

Yogi_G wrote: a lambretta scooter, ...err replace the lambretta scooter with a wagon r in my case

is it possible to get a lambretta now?

Suraj · Post by **Suraj** » 31 May 2009 01:23

Tata has just released their World Truck range, built by the Daewoo Truck company they acquired. Very nice looking:
Tanker
Trailer
Trailer
Dumper
Covered trailer

Raja Bose · Post by **Raja Bose** » 31 May 2009 03:43

^^^ Nice!

But are these rendered pics or pics of the real thing?

bart · Post by **bart** » 31 May 2009 04:47

Suraj wrote:Tata has just released their World Truck range, built by the Daewoo Truck company they acquired. Very nice looking:
Tanker
Trailer
Trailer
Dumper
Covered trailer

Not exactly, the trucks will be made both in India and SK, and the bulk of the manufacturing will presumably be done in India. The resources of the TDCV (South Korea) and Tata European Technical Center were used in this project, but the project was very much driven and executed out of TM India. What I mean to say is that its not just a case of Tata buying TDCV and using their technology - there was a truck range called Novus which was the existing technology and model of TDCV, however the World Truck is an entirely different project that Tata has been working on for many years.

Suraj · Post by **Suraj** » 31 May 2009 05:06

Raja Bose: the pics look like renders/PS-ed, though the truck does actually exist - there are clips of it on youtube. Tata officially announced the range a couple of days ago, so they'll be out soon enough. I came across the pics on Team BHP.

bart: Thanks for the background! Any details on availability and especially engine options ?

Here's some more info: link

The 10- to75-tonne trucks with 150-560 hp are fitted with air-conditioned cabins. The cabin is designed in Italy, the gearbox is sourced from Europe and the US while the chassis is from Mexico. The World Truck can hit 100 km/hour, which means, it can travel 700-800 km a day.

Tata Motors has invested nearly Rs 1,000 crore in product development and plant capacity for this range. The trucks will be made at the Jamshedpur facility and at Gunsan in South Korea. The Jamshedpur plant can produce 55,000 units initially, going up to 1.5 lakh units.

Raja Bose · Post by **Raja Bose** » 31 May 2009 06:06

Here is a video of the real thing:

Good to finally see desi trucks with small steering wheels instead of those Chakravyuha sized behemoths to which the driver would hang on to, for his dear life!

vera_k · Post by **vera_k** » 31 May 2009 07:28

I remember reading some time ago that many truck accidents are caused by driver fatigue due to the lack of power steering. Hopefully these new models come with power steering.

John Snow · Post by **John Snow** » 31 May 2009 08:05

The steering wheels were big because of the torque requirement to turn the tyres. With PS the steering dia can be small, even GMC jimmy with PS is still big. Ergonomics also I think. tata can now supply the old steering wheels to IN for submarine values to open and shut even PWD can benefit ( currently Russians supply them at exhorbitant price the same truck part OE for subs

Riginally Kirloskar used to make cummins engines both marine and stationary for compressors aux power plants etc.

Sridhar K · Post by **Sridhar K** » 31 May 2009 14:13

AL and TATA still sell trucks/bus chasis without PS. The truck and bus drivers were initially very reluctant to accept PS because they felt that they don't feel the road much especially during rains. However, things have began to change with the acceptance of power steering. Most STC buses in TN and Dumper lorries use power steering.

Even with PS, some of the buses/trucks still have those large dia steering wheels, may be just to maintain continuity with the older version for drivers comfort. Eicher buses, AL 12M have a smaller steering wheel whilst the viking, comet, TATA 1210/2 etc comes with the old steering wheel.

The driver riding a chasis is still a common sight but AL and TATA are slowly moving into the finished bus/truck market.

Dileep · Post by **Dileep** » 31 May 2009 14:20

Force motors, with MAN trucks has also announced a similar range of trucks. As the infra improves, operation of large, efficient trucks become feasible. Good!

Suraj · Post by **Suraj** » 31 May 2009 23:49

Force-MAN, Scania and Mercedes Benz have all initiated truck manufacturing in India. If the Tatas price these trucks competitively, with good features and a strong service network, they can grab a dominant share of the big truck market. With several high quality inter-city roads, these kind of trucks should be really popular.

tchandr · Post by **tchandr** » 01 Jun 2009 07:13

According to the local chaiwala, AMW was initially meant for essar's shipping/cargo arm. It worked so well, the power-to-be decided to launch it in general market. Another player gearing up in this segment is Mahindra. Has a joint venture with Navistar group of US.

Vipul · Post by **Vipul** » 01 Jun 2009 07:27

Add Swaraj Motors to the list.They have already launched the inter-city Bus. AL is also launching its new range of trucks by year end.
Force Motors had ambitious plans for the MAN range of trucks.It was the earliest player amongst the new entrants and had started production in 2006.Its target though for sales this year is just 500 trucks.

hnair · Post by **hnair** » 03 Jun 2009 06:22

Suppiah-saar, something that we were talking about

GM to sell Hummer to Chinese company

China's Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery Co. said Tuesday afternoon that it reached an agreement to acquire the brand from GM for an undisclosed ammount. The Detroit automaker had announced Tuesday morning that it had a memorandum of understanding to sell the brand of rugged SUVs, but it didn't identify the buyer.

Only an H&D seeking company run by jernails equipped with morale-sapping SRBMs would buy Hummer brand amidst the changing world opinion about big cars and the impending penalities in owning big vehilces. dont those Wall Street YumBeeAys look more sober...

The best buys for Indian firms would be the tech-heavier oiropean ones, for some of the oiropean politicians can be bought out by India in future, compared to the more rigidly run police state that is US (with surveillance of its own politicians etc). US ones should not be touched with a barge pole, for no one knows when the current socialist govt of US will nationalize highly inefficient corporates

(feels good to say this whole para.... been waiting since '70s for that

)

amol.p · Post by **amol.p** » 03 Jun 2009 09:47

GM India finds the going tough

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Gen ... 610686.cms

NEW DELHI: General Motors India is having a tough time raising cash from local financial institutions, which are wary of lending to a company whose
parent is in deep trouble, the head of the automaker’s Asia-Pacific operations said.

GM India is looking to raise $200 million to invest in an engine manufacturing unit in Talegaon, Maharashtra, as well as working capital for operational expenses, after funding from its embattled parent was cut off.
GM Corporation on Monday filed for bankruptcy protection in the US.

“We have found it difficult to attract interest from Indian financial institutions but we haven’t given up yet. We are in advanced talks with two other sources and are pursuing both Indian and non-Indian financial institutions,” GM group vice-president and GM Asia-Pacific president Nick Reilly said in a conference call with reporters.

archit · Post by **archit** » 03 Jun 2009 18:33

g.kacha wrote:Tata Motors launches six new vehicles; pilot runs in July

These vehicles seem appropriate for specialised military applications such as long-haul flat-bed trailers for tank carriage; mobile rockets launchers, crash fire tenders, mobile hospitals and many more applications.

Questions:

In military parlance, what are these these vehicles categorised as?
Is there a specific thread on BRF where i can read/discuss more on these platforms?

Typically, Tata, ALL, Volvo, MAN, Tatra and Mahindra with their Navistar JV are hoping to garner a share of this pie.

I tried to look around and wondered if I could start an all new thread in a relevant section. But I don't want to jump the gun on that.

So if there's not a dedicated thread on this, what's the best section to start it in?

username changed to archit.
Rahul.

Yogi_G · Post by **Yogi_G** » 04 Jun 2009 21:40

Truckerman, welcome to BRF...

Just wanted to bring to your notice that your name does not match the forum rules...the names in this forum need to be human sounding...

Kakkaji · Post by **Kakkaji** » 04 Jun 2009 22:28

'World's cheapest car' coming to US

India's Tata Motors hopes to offer the Nano, which costs $2,300, to Americans within two years.

svinayak · Post by **svinayak** » 05 Jun 2009 01:14

Kakkaji wrote:'World's cheapest car' coming to US

India's Tata Motors hopes to offer the Nano, which costs $2,300, to Americans within two years.

One of my American friend keeps talking about Nano. He seems to be worried. I had to keep pacifying him that Nano will never come to US. After reading he knows all about TATA Motors now.

John Snow · Post by **John Snow** » 05 Jun 2009 01:59

If GOLDB(L)UM can be a human name
and BILL LORRY (Australian Cricket team captain in 1960/70s actually spelled Lowry)

Why cant Truker Mann be a human may be germanic name from India?

Ameet · Post by **Ameet** » 05 Jun 2009 02:30

What will New G.M. look like?

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/04/busin ... .html?_r=1

Highlights:

Part of the answer may be found at the India headquarters of General Motors, a new sandstone and tinted-glass building surrounded by dirt roads and corrugated tin shacks.

This week in Delhi, G.M. India will unveil its first clean-burning liquefied natural gas car. Later this year, it will introduce a minicar built for the Indian market, with the help of 1,500 frugal-minded engineers. In India, the new tiny car may be priced to compete with Tata’s $2,500 Nano.

Unlike G.M.’s United States business, these operations have been growing. Sales increased 10 percent last year in Brazil, 9 percent in India and 6 percent in China.

In India, G.M. has been late to join a veritable car-selling frenzy, after introducing the Opel to lackluster reception years ago. The company sold just 66,000 cars in India last year, well behind the market leader, Maruti-Suzuki, with nearly 800,000.

But G.M. has the capacity to produce four times as many, and has just opened a plant that will help reduce its reliance on imported parts.

The company is adding hundreds of engineers to its research and development operations in Bangalore, and plans to build a transmission plant if it can raise the cash in India.

bart · Post by **bart** » 05 Jun 2009 17:24

John Snow wrote:If GOLDB(L)UM can be a human name
and BILL LORRY (Australian Cricket team captain in 1960/70s actually spelled Lowry)

Why cant Truker Mann be a human may be germanic name from India?

How about 'Lorry Wala', when we have Batli Wala, Banduk Wala etc why not?

No offense intended to anyone, just saying that in lighter vein.

bart · Post by **bart** » 05 Jun 2009 17:40

BTW, why is the GM bigwig in the below ad winking:
http://www.chevrolet.co.in/content_data ... dence.html

John Snow · Post by **John Snow** » 07 Jun 2009 11:35

Tata Nano, Have they started to deliver them? Is it on schedule?

krishnan · Post by **krishnan** » 08 Jun 2009 14:31

Seems to be some problem with his eye , or its the way he poses for pictures

archit · Post by **archit** » 08 Jun 2009 17:52

John Snow wrote:If GOLDB(L)UM can be a human name
and BILL LORRY (Australian Cricket team captain in 1960/70s actually spelled Lowry)

Why cant Truker Mann be a human may be germanic name from India?

I am convinced that my experience at BRF would be resourceful regardless of my identity. Thanks Rahul, for doing the needful.

With an alternative forum-handle, I hoped to share and initiate dialogue on some modest bits of classified information that I am privy to. Obviously I can't do that now, you know, some of the cons of a slightly rare-ish name.

For now, I am sitting here staring at the pictures of the Tata Motors' World Truck, wondering what military functions it has the potential of performing. Any guesses? Can it take head on, the fleet of Tatra 12x12s for missile launch vehicles?

@Mods, is this the right place for such questions? There is certainly no existing discussion in any other section of BRF, that i could find. Thanks...