Whatever happened to the Yasoob Project?

[VCheng]

Is there any information on how many units of Yasoob were/are in service and how did they perofrm? Any pictures or other information available?

 

[Manticore]

Axle Products Limited

Axle Products limited signed an agreement with Raba Plc. of Hungary, to manufacture and distribute axle for commercial trucks. The agreement was signed by Chairman Yasoob Group of Companies, Javed Burki, and President Raba Plc. Barnabas Zalan. The agreement also involves transfer of technology.

Raba Plc is a major European manufacturer of automotive components. It manufacture wide range of axles for trucks, buses, agricultural and construction equipment. Raba's axle range covers most of the axle requirement for "Yasoob" trucks, both commercial and military. Rabas products are expected to fit well into the Yasoob trucks models and the technology transfer agreement should be most beneficial to the indigenous axle manufacturing capabilities in Pakistan. As Raba's current business is concentrated in USA and Europe this agreement can expand Raba's presence in Asia.

Some of the new Yasoob truck models in which these axles are planned to be introduced are: Mark-II, a 4x4 and 6x6 version for military use; 32 tonnes commercial truck, a 6x2, version. The Yasoob series of vehicle programme was initiated at the instance of the Army to eliminate the proliferation of vehicles in its fleet, become self-reliant in the design and manufacture of vehicles, save foreign exchange and induct "M" type vehicles with longer service life at a competitive price.

In the commercial sector, the Yasoob vehicles have also been very well accepted and a massive sales programme would be launched. Raba's axle manufacturing capabilities are comparable to other major Western manufacturers such as Rockwell and Dana. In 1995, the total sales revenue of Raba Plc. was about $200 million and axle business was the largest part of Raba's operations, contribution about 40 per cent of the annual turnover.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb092/is_4_31/ai_n28820249/pg_4/

i think ive uncounciously deleted a major chunk of my post while editing it...

 

[VCheng]

Did I miss any pictures of the Yasoob? I don't see it identified as such on those threads.

 

[fatman17]

army requirement was 300-600 units. it was stopped at 300 units due to cost over-runs. admittedly it was not a well planned project. there was no commercial aspect / sales plan to keep costs down. they yasoob's are now used to tow artillery around the country. it is not used as a utility truck. dont see many plying the roads. the former cricketer was involved in kick-backs but this has not been proved so far. there was certainly some 'dirty laundry' linked to this project.

 

[Safriz]

i think it was a very old project as i recall seeing a yasoob truck on hasan abdal road while on my way to pindi..that was atleast 20 years ago....it had a flat bed trailer with something heavy on it........probably a tank....but like i said its a 20 year old memory..just brought back by this thread...i do remember the truck..it was massive and yasoob written in urdu ..yay..aiin..seen..waoo..bayy.

 

[Safriz]

http://www.articles.janes.com/artic...ics/Yasoob-6-x-6-6-000-kg-truck-Pakistan.html

---------- Post added at 11:28 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:25 AM ----------

defence.pk/forums/military-photos-multimedia/56558-pakistan-army-trucks-2.html

 

[Mani2020]

Here is the pic of "Yasoob" truck

 

[VCheng]

Thank you all for the responses.

The truck does look capable enough, but it is sad to see the associated aspects pointed out that led to the overall failure of the project.

 

[Jango]

well, the truck does look heavy duty and good by the looks of it, was the reason only cost over runs and kick backs, or some technical and mechanical issues as well?

 

[farhan_9909]

production of yasoob to start again???????

 

[VCheng]

production of yasoob to start again???????

What is the source of this news?

 

[Aamir Hussain]

Ranger is sindh hav them as well. It was a good solid product.

 

[Aamir Hussain]

There were some other reasons of stopping production as well. There were bound to be teething problems in the initial batches.

 

[fatman17]

its all about cost/unit which was too high. imported trucks of the same category were cheaper, plus the bad planning, marketing and kick-backs (the cost was kept high to 'skim' of the top!)

 

[VCheng]

its all about cost/unit which was too high. imported trucks of the same category were cheaper, plus the bad planning, marketing and kick-backs (the cost was kept high to 'skim' of the top!)

The military mind calculates "cost-effectiveness" in a very different way, I see.