Vehicle Factory Jabalpur

Vehicle Factory Jabalpur (Hindi: वाहन निर्माणी जबलपुर), is a military motor vehicle factory, located in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India, part of Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited which was previously a part of Ordnance Factory Board, controlled by the Ministry of Defence, Government of India.[1]

Vehicle Factory Jabalpur
Company typeDefence Vehicles Manufacturer
IndustryDefence
Founded1969; 55 years ago (1969)
Key people
Ashok Gupta, IOFS
(Chief General Manager)
ProductsMilitary vehicles
Number of employees
2,600
ParentArmoured Vehicles Nigam Limited (current)
Ordnance Factories Board (former)

History

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The production of Shaktiman trucks (MAN 415 L1 AR), Jonga (Jabalpur Ordnance and Guncarriage Assembly) Light Utility Vehicles and the Vahan 1 ton (Nissan 4W73 Carrier), began at the Gun Carriage Factory Jabalpur, in 1959.[2] Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the then Prime Minister of India, was present to witness rolling out of the first batch of vehicles at GCF. It was shifted to the present location in 1969.[3] It started manufacturing Shaktiman trucks with license from MAN SE of Germany, [4] along with Jonga[5][6] and Vahan 1 ton under license from Nissan of Japan.[7] All three of the above products have been retired and replaced by the new products.[8]

Products

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VFJ manufactures and assembles general staff vehicles, logistics vehicles, light armoured vehicles like bullet-proof vehicles, mine protected vehicles[9] and specialist role vehicles such as rocket launchers, self-propelled howitzers, water bowsers, fuel tankers, field ambulances, tippers, battery command posts, generator sets, light recovery vehicles, field artillery tractors, kitchen containers etc. It also has some variants for civilian applications.

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Technology

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VFJ has an R&D centre responsible for development of future vehicles and related technologies. It has tie-ups with Ashok Leyland and Tata Motors. Its research partner is Vehicle Research & Development Establishment of Defence Research and Development Organisation.

Customers

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Since VFJ produces defence vehicles, its primary customers are the Indian Armed Forces, Central Armed Police Forces,[10] State Armed Police Forces, Paramilitary Forces of India and Special Forces of India, which have land-based operations. It also supplies vehicles to civilians, government and private organisations.

References

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  1. ^ "Indian Ordnance Factories: Our Factories". Ofb.gov.in. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
  2. ^ [1][dead link]
  3. ^ "Indian Ordnance Factories: Vehicle Factory Jabalpur". Ofb.gov.in. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
  4. ^ "Shaktiman (4 x 4) 4,000 kg truck (India) - Jane's Military Vehicles and Logistics". Jane's Information Group. 19 March 2012. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
  5. ^ "JONGA (4 x 4) 0.25 ton light vehicle (India), Light vehicles". Jane's Information Group. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
  6. ^ "MYJONGA.COM". Abhilash Nambiar. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
  7. ^ "Metro Plus Coimbatore / Wheels : Monster on the move". The Hindu. 22 May 2008. Archived from the original on 13 June 2009. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
  8. ^ "Jabalpur auto parts makers facing tough times". Business-standard.com. 26 September 2009. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
  9. ^ "VFJ to provide upgraded Mine Protected Vehicles against Naxals". www.thehitavada.com. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  10. ^ "Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D)". Bprd.nic.in. Retrieved 6 August 2012.