Hinduja group subsidiary, Ashok Leyland is planning to launch the 5ton light commercial vehicles (LCV), passenger and compressed natural gas (CNG) versions of Dost in India.

The company also plans to increase the LCV production by 30% with investments of about $92.9m (INR500 crore) in the venture in next two years.

Ashok Leyland chief financial officer K Sridharan was quoted as saying by the business-standard.com that the LCV segment will be increased to 11,000-12,000 units in the fourth quarter from 9,000 vehicles per quarter, since the supply constrains has been resolved.

"Our inability to ramp up production to cater the demand was due to sourcing of gear boxes, which was done by the JV, which is now been resolved," Sridharan said.

The launch is expected to be made before the new green field facility at Pillaipakkam, Chennai starts production in 2016, which is being constructed under the company's joint venture (JV) with Nissan that was inked in 2011.