Remember the OX, the flat-pack truck designed by Gordon Murray Design’s iStream technology, made for developing markets? It’s making a visit to India in the latter half of 2018, as a part of ‘OX to India’ mission — which is possible by a partnership between Shell and GMD.
Shell will back production and transportation of a bespoke prototype of the truck to India. In its regular spec, it can carry a payload of 1900 kilos and seat up to 13 persons in total. It’s also lightweight, and is designed for both self-assembly and low-cost, simple maintenance. If can be supplied fully assembled or flat-packed, too — latter in case of the OX to India. The OX, made ‘in close alignment with Global Vehicle Trust’, uses Shell fluids like Shell Rimula.
Shell Global Commercial’s Executive VP, Huibert Vigeveno said, “Shell is eager to play a role alongside others in developing and promoting mobility solutions in developing regions. The OX to India demonstration will see the concept validated and discussed on the ground in a real world setting. We know limited mobility in hard-to-reach communities in developing economies can restrict access to basic services and can limited the effectiveness of efforts to improve the quality of life. The OX ha the potential to broaden access to transport possibilities and all the resulting benefits that come with this.”
GMD’s Executive Chairman, Professor Gordon Murray said, “After our highly successful co-engineering Shell Concept Car programme with Shell, it is exciting to be one again working with Shell on the next phase of this extremely important and ground-breaking project. The OX is one of our most important engineering designs and it is certainly the vehicle of which I am most proud of, as its disruptive design has the potential to change the current mobility model and with Shell’s vision this vehicle could go on to improve so many people’s lives.”
GVT’s founder Sir Torquil Norman said, “I’m so please to welcome Shell aboard the OX project and for sharing GVT’s vision that this remarkable and versatile vehicle will provide a transformation in affordable mobility for so many people where the need is most acute. With Shell taking the OX to India we can demonstrate its capability in a key market, which will help attract long-term production partners.”
