From all accounts, Ashok Leyland (AL), one of India's leading bus makers, is in cruise control. It has an oversized share of the market at 41.78 per cent, and, along with Tata, which has 41.94 per cent, rules the universe of buses in India. Moreover, Ashok Leyland has a considerable advantage over the smaller players — especially from abroad, like Volvo or Isuzu — with its strong distribution network of 420 nationwide dealers, enviable brand identity, good relations with state transport corporations as well as local sourcing partners. Yet, AL has decided it needs to push the envelope in products and technology. It has done so by buying a 75 per cent stake in British bus manufacturer Optare, in December 2011, with the intention of bringing its flagship bus, Solo, described as a low-floor midibus, to the Indian market. The bus will hit Indian roads in the next few months. This could turn out to be a savvy move.