The advantage is that customers of trucks and buses can buy the final product directly from vehicle manufacturers, instead of approaching a body builder with a chassis, as has been the case in the past.

Mumbai-based Tata Motors, India's biggest commercial vehicle manufacturer, has invited vendors (body builders) to set up a facility closer to its chassis manufacturing plant.

Ashok Leyland, the third-largest commercial vehicle maker in the country, is offering fabricated designs on its products to meet consumer requirements.

Customers of a fully-built vehicle bought directly from the manufacturer benefit from the desired performance expected from the vehicle, compared to an uncertified body mounted on a chassis, which does not come with much guarantee.

Ravindra Pisharody, executive director (commercial vehicles) at Tata Motors, said: "Customers go to specialized tin-shed body makers, which in many cases are not (built) as per regulations. Quality is never guaranteed."

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