Malayalam Motors - FAQ

FAQ

Product
Q. What is the origin of Dost? What does "Dost" stand for?

Dost has been created by Ashok Leyland to be an entrepreneur's reliable partner and trusted friend. Dost has been designed around the driver of the vehicle, providing him exceptional performance and operational efficiency as well as better drivability and comfort.

Dost has been designed and developed jointly by Ashok Leyland and Nissan and tuned to Indian road conditions and business requirements.

Dost has been tested extensively for over 10 lakh kilometers to deliver a truly accomplished and contemporary vehicle, ensuring complete peace of mind for the consumer during the ownership period.

Q. What is the contribution of each partner i.e. Nissan and Ashok Leyland in the Joint Venture project?

Nissan has a lineage of more than 75 years in manufacturing Light Commercial Vehicles globally, while, Ashok Leyland has over 60 years of history in making commercial vehicles for India. This rich experience has gone into the development of Dost and would also form the basis of development of future products. Through the Joint Venture, Ashok Leyland and Nissan have come together to leverage their knowledge and expertise to make world-class Commercial Vehicles suited to Indian conditions.

Q. What is the mileage?

Mileage depends on payload carried and driving conditions, but Dost, with a rated load of 1250 kg, gives an amazing mileage of 17.6 KMPL *(ARAI certified-BSIII ) in ideal conditions.

Q. What are the Unique Features of Dost?

Q. What is the loading capacity?

Dost has a loading capacity of 1.25 Tons payload, but the vehicle has been designed and tested extensively, keeping in mind the Indian customer's loading conditions and practices.

Q. Is leaf spring available in the front axle? How many leaf springs are there in the rear axle of Dost?

Yes. Both front and rear axles have Leaf Spring Suspension. In the front, we have 2 Transverse Leaf Springs & in the rear axle, we have 3 Leaf Springs. These Leaf Springs are parabolic & have double the capacity of a traditional Elliptical Leaf Spring.

Q. What are the cc, hp, Torque and no. of cylinders in Dost?

1,500 cc, 55 hp, 3 cylinder TDCR (Turbo charged Diesel Common Rail) engine with 150Nm Torque. This is a special high-torque engine for better pickup and better gradeability. The torque is 150 Nm @1600-2400 rpm. However the low-end torque is available at 1000 rpm.

Q. How many gears does Dost have?

Dost has 5 forward gears and 1 reverse gear. 5th gear is an overdrive for better mileage.

Q. What is Dost's maximum speed?

Dost can easily be driven at 90 kmph.

Q. What is the ground clearance?

Ground clearance for this vehicle is the best in its class at 177 mm.

Q. Where is the engine placed?

The engine is placed below the cabin, in between the driver & co-driver seat. This has been designed to reduce the overall length of the vehicle without compromising on the loading space and capacity. Hence, the vehicle is easily maneuverable in busy streets also.

Q. What is Dost's seating capacity?

With an additional cushion in the center, there is a provision to comfortably seat 3 people. After folding all the seats, the cabin becomes a comfortable space for the driver to sleep inside.

Q. What are the various Ready-to-Use Vehicles (RUV) available on Dost?

The various RUV on Dost are Steel containers, Refrigerator containers and Aluminum Containers. We will arrange for fabrication and delivery of different types of container conversions through our dealers.

Q. What is the delivery time of RUVs?

An RUV vehicle can be delivered within 2-8 weeks, from the date of booking, depending on the variant.

Q. What are the colours and models available?

Q. Will the front face of Dost be metal or fibre?

For better safety of driver and co-driver, the vehicle has been designed with fully metal cabin, with an Impact Absorption Bar in the front.

Q. How is the safety of Dost's cabin?

The vehicle comes with many safety features:

  • - Semi-forward cabin
  • - Front Impact Absorption Bar
  • - Seat belt (ELR type)
  • - Brakes, which adjust according to load (LSPV)
  • - Multi-reflector Clear Lens Headlamp, for better lighting during night time

Sales, Finance, Exchange
Q. How much funding can a customer get as a loan?

It will actually depend on the customer profile and the financier's policies. Normally the funding will be in the range of 80%-85%of Dost Ex-Showroom Price.

Q. Who are the major financiers funding the vehicle?

The company is in the process of establishing association with leading finance companies. Customers will have the option of choosing the finance company that best suits their requirement. Leading companies, with whom we have tied up, are:

  • Sundaram Finance Ltd.
  • Shriram Transport Finance Ltd.
  • Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd.
  • Indus Ind Bank Ltd.
  • L & T Finance Ltd.
  • Reliance Capital Ltd.
  • Dhanlaxmi Bank Ltd.
  • ICICI Bank Ltd.
  • Yes Bank Ltd.
  • HDFC Bank
  • Cholamandalam Investment & Finance Company Ltd.


You can arrange finance from other banks and finance companies as well; we will assist you in the same.

Q. Do you have any exchange offers available?

Our dealership will assist you in arranging exchange of your old vehicle.

Q. What is the approximate Rate of Interest (IRR)?

The IRR depends on the financier and customer profile. In the market, it currently varies between 14 - 18% and this rate is the sole discretion of the financier.

Q. What is the tenure of the loan ?

It could be 3-4 years depending on the financier.

Q. What are the papers required for getting finance?

Documents required could be all/some of the below and similar documents are required for the guarantor also:

  • Age, ID, Address & Signature proof documents
  • Experience Proof, Driving License, Fleet list, Property Documents, ITR for the last 2 years
  • Bank Statements for last 6 months
  • Repayment track/Statement of account for earlier finance availed
  • Letter of Authority signed by all partners & copy of Partnership Deed (in case of partnership firm)
  • Board resolution & Copy of Memorandum & Articles of Association (in case of Private & Public Ltd Co.)


Note: This list is only indicative and would depend upon the financiers.

Q. What is the resale value for Dost?

Though it is too early to gauge the resale value of the vehicle, this vehicle is also from the stable of Ashok Leyland and hence, like all AL products, this too will be reliable, rugged and durable and will account for high resale value.

Q. Why is it better to take insurance from the dealer?

It is better to take insurance from the dealer for a transparent deal and in case, there is an accident later on, you will get uniform claim-servicing at all our dealerships across India.

Q. What will be the down payments?

It will actually depend on the financier from whom you will get the finance for the vehicle, but the initial down payment will be generally in the range of Rs.40,000 to 60,000 depending upon the customer. The Loan-To-Value (LTV) is generally in the range of 80-90%, depending upon the customer finances and financier approvals.

Q. What will be the booking amount for Dost?

Customers can book the vehicle with Rs 10,000.

Service & Spares
Q. What is Dost's Engine life?

Dost's Engine life is 2.5 lakh kilometers. Till then, there will be no requirement for a major overhaul.

Q. What will be the Warranty duration & terms ?

Standard Warranty is 1 year or 50000 kms, whichever is earlier.

Q. How many free services are available?

4 Free services are available – 5000 kms or 3 months, 10000 kms or 6 months, 20000 kms or 9 months, 30000 kms or 12 month; whichever is earlier respectively.

Q. How does Dost spare parts' prices compare with those of competition?

Spare parts prices are very competitive.

Q. Is there any Helpline service available?

Yes, Helpline no. is 1800 102 2666 and customer can call the Helpline from 6 am to 10 pm

Q. Are all parts covered under warranty?

Basic Coverage: Components, other than normal wear and maintenance items, are covered for 1 year or 50000 kms from the date of purchase.

Q. Where can I go for warranty repairs?

We recommend getting all warranty repairs done at our authorized dealers. We also recommend use of AL Genuine Spare Parts.

Q. How many accessories will be available with DOST?

Customers can buy genuine accessories like Seat Cover, Steering Cover, Mud Flaps, Middle Cushion, Bull Bar & MP3 player from the dealers.

Q. Will adding an accessory to my Dost vehicle impact Warranty?

Warranty will be applicable to those vehicles in which, genuine accessories have been added as recommended by AL.