OKA 4wd
An OKA tour bus used by the Coober Pedy Oodnadatta One Day Mail Run
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| Industry | Automotive |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1986 |
| Headquarters | Bibra Lake, Western Australia |
| Products | Four wheel drive trucks and buses |
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Production output
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1987-2008 |
| Owner | Reymer Pty Ltd |
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Number of employees
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50 at Australian peak (estimate) |
OKA Australia was an Australian company that manufactured all terrain vehicles, particularly four wheel drive trucks and tour buses. OKA is currently owned by the holding company Reymer Pty Ltd.
The OKA factory was in Bibra Lake, Western Australia. OKA manufactured three consecutive models: the XT, LT and NT. These models were available in a variety of body styles including cab-chassis, single cab, dual cab, multi cab and bus. While fewer than 500 OKA vehicles were built, elements of the company's designs and technology have been integrated into the vehicles of other manufacturers.
OKA started in 1986 when a group of Australian mine executives discussed that each of them needed an off-road truck with a three-ton payload and nothing on the market at the time filled those requirements. Those executives formed a consortium and the OKA brand was born.
Having agreed on the blueprints, the group undertook a comprehensive market study covering over 1,200 mining companies, government departments, farmers, the Australian military and potential private users to establish the parameters for the design.In 1987, work on the first prototype began and in 1988, it underwent its first test. Prototypes continued to be produced even during production up until 1992.
Soon after, the first production model, the XT, entered production. It was followed by the LT which was itself followed by the final model, the NT. These vehicles have been supplied to government departments, tour operators, private industries, mining industries, the military and recreational companies and were, aside from Australia, sold in Papua New Guinea and Africa. The development of adapted models for the UAE and European markets was commenced but was never completed.
In 1997, OKA licensed its technologies to Indian auto maker Hindustan Motors to produce their RTV brand of multi-utility vehicles. It has been regarded as one of the most rollover prone vehicles and was discontinued in 2008. Initial models and prototypes were built in Australia however production was soon moved to India.
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Wikipedia