At the IAA Transportation 2024 show in Germany, Sinotruk showcased a range of new commercial vehicles under the theme ‘Zero to Hero’. 

Besides an upgraded ‘Yellow River’ hydrogen internal combustion engine tractor with an impressive drag coefficient of just 0.286, the Chinese company presented the Sitrak hydrogen fuel tractor and the Howo Tongshuai pure electric light truck. 

With the innovative design, inspired by a droplet shape that enhances aerodynamics, the highlight of the “Yellow River’ hydrogen ICE (it has also set a Guinness World Record by traveling 4,871 km on a full tank, according to the Sinotruk), the Sitrak electric drive tractor the company exhibited, is engineered for long-haul logistics with a drive range of up to 450 km and does 825 kW of power as well as 75,000 Nm of torque.

The Tongshuai light electric truck, on the other hand, is fitted with a 100-kWh battery that can be charged in just about 20 minutes. The Bolden pickup truck is equipped with a Weichai WP2H 2.0T diesel engine that does 187 hp of power and 420 Nm of torque. 

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Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV) has reaffirmed India's strategic value within Daimler Truck after the formation of the ISEAA customer region for the Mercedes-Benz Trucks segment. The company also outlined BharatBenz's next growth phase, driven by product innovation, customer ecosystem expansion and continued investment.

The Mercedes-Benz Trucks segment houses two brands: Mercedes-Benz Trucks and BharatBenz. DICV serves Indian customers under BharatBenz, while the Mercedes-Benz Trucks brand caters to South-East Asia, Australia-Pacific and other markets. Under a new operating model, the segment is divided into Europe, LAMEA, China and ISEAA regions. ISEAA unites previously separate markets under one customer-focused structure.

DICV anchors the ISEAA region, placing India at the centre of a framework spanning India, South-East Asia and Australia-Pacific. This reflects DICV's growing role as a manufacturing, engineering and export hub. Since operations began, DICV has exported over 75,000 trucks and buses and more than 330 million parts to over 70 markets, and supplies medium-duty transmissions from Chennai to Daimler Truck plants in Germany. Covering 42 countries and nearly 2.8 billion people, ISEAA offers substantial long-term growth, with commercial vehicle demand expected to rise over 5 percent annually.

DICV is accelerating BharatBenz's transformation, targeting safer, more productive transport solutions. With India's safety norms evolving, BharatBenz is readying its portfolio with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems calibrated for Indian conditions. Building on HX and Torqshift launches in construction and mining, BharatBenz continues bringing globally proven Daimler Truck technologies to India. Torqshift Automated Manual Transmission, proven worldwide and adapted for Indian duty cycles, improves driver comfort, reduces fatigue and lowers Total Cost of Ownership.

DICV keeps investing in a customer ecosystem maximising uptime and lifecycle value. BharatBenz's TruckConnect digital fleet management solution enables performance monitoring and data-driven insights. The BharatBenz Rakshana programme now services over 98 percent of vehicles within 48 hours. DICV plans to expand its service network from 430 touchpoints to 600 by 2030, focusing on northern, eastern and north-eastern India.

India's expanded role is backed by continued investment in local manufacturing, engineering and technology. These build on DICV's recently announced additional investment of approximately INR 40 billion in Tamil Nadu under a non-binding facilitation MoU with the state government. This takes DICV's cumulative investment in India beyond INR 145 billion. DICV operates with 92percent localisation and is supported by more than 400 local suppliers, strengthening its ability to develop products for Indian and global markets.

Torsten Schmidt, CEO & Managing Director, Daimler India Commercial Vehicles and President Mercedes-Benz Trucks Customer Region ISEAA, said, "India has long been an important market for Daimler Truck and the home of BharatBenz. Through the new ISEAA customer region, we are bringing India, South-East Asia and Australia-Pacific closer together to strengthen collaboration, share capabilities and respond faster to customer needs across these markets. DICV serves as the anchor entity for the region, building on its established strengths in manufacturing, engineering and exports. For our customers in India, BharatBenz remains focused on delivering products and services designed specifically for local operating conditions, while benefiting from the scale, expertise and collaboration of the broader Mercedes-Benz Trucks segment.”

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Swedish truck maker Scania has introduced Scania Dynamic, a comprehensive truck update for R- and S series that further strengthens the driver experience and improves energy efficiency. Developed for the realities of modern transport, the update supports customers who need efficient and flexible vehicles suited to a wide range of assignments with a modern and driver-focused working environment.

“At Scania, we don’t take our position for granted. We need to keep our offering premium. With the introduction of Scania Dynamic, we level up on the driver environment, as well as the energy efficiency. We make what already works, even better,” says Christian Levin, President and CEO of Scania and TRATON Group.

Scania Dynamic reflects Scania’s continuous improvements, where every detail contributes to the overall performance and experience. A key customer benefit of Scania Dynamic is improved energy efficiency, with total energy consumption reduced by around 2 percent in this step, depending on vehicle specification and operation. The improvement is achieved through exterior updates that reduce air drag, including digital rear-view mirrors, side skirt extensions, a front that supports Increased Vehicle Dimension legislation, redesigned A-pillars, and new door handles.

Energy efficiency is relevant across powertrains. For combustion vehicles, lower energy consumption can mean reduced fuel use. For battery-electric vehicles, it can mean lower electricity consumption and better use of the energy carried on board. For customers, the result is practical: lower operating costs, reduced emissions and a vehicle that uses energy more efficiently in daily operations.

Digital rear-view mirrors are one of the most visible updates, combining improved visibility, and better energy efficiency through reduced air drag. For drivers, the system provides better visibility when reversing or manoeuvring in narrow areas, with two full-HD screens on the driver side and passenger side respectively. Views can be adapted to standard, zoom and wide-angle modes, depending on the situation. The screen also includes vertical adjustable reference lines with measurements. The camera lenses are positioned for natural dirt protection and include heating to help prevent fog, ice and snow.

Scania Dynamic places strong emphasis on the driver. Inside the cab, a new colour scheme creates a premium feel. With an increased number of recycled materials in the interior, with the curtains being 100 percent recycled and wall- and ceiling panels are containing 70 percent recycled material, it means large volumes of textiles are more resource efficient, while the work with lowering environmental impact through a higher amount of recycled material even more, continues. New textiles for beds, rear wall and ceiling, and updated seat upholstery contribute to a modern and cohesive cab environment.

The seat range has been developed in response to new safety regulations concerning headrests, while improving ergonomics and comfort. An 800 mm reclining bed option provides a flexible resting position, with a back section that can be adjusted up to 60 degrees.

Interior lighting has been expanded into several performance levels, from functional white lighting to Ambient+ with multiple solid colours and themes, such as the northern light. This allows drivers to tailor the cab lighting to their needs, from practical working light to a calmer atmosphere during rest periods.

“For drivers who spend hours on the road, these improvements make the cab a great place to work, rest and recover. Because a relaxed driver is not only more comfortable; a more intuitive working environment supports focus, reduce fatigue and contribute to safer operations,” said Lars Gustafsson, Senior Vice President, Head of Solutions Management, Scania.

The updated headlamps are also part of the driver experience. They provide improved visibility in dark conditions through extended high-beam range, a wider and brighter beam and better low-beam comfort. Automatic high beam provides optimal lighting without disturbing other road users. For drivers, this means less strain during night driving and better awareness in curves and when meeting oncoming traffic.

Driver assistance functions further support the driver to make daily operations less stressful, such as Safe Stop Assist, Forward Distance Alert, and Vulnerable Road User.

Speed Sign Cruise Control and Curve Speed Cruise Control support smoother driving. These systems support the driver rather than replace driver responsibility, making demanding operations more controlled.

Several updates focus on small but important details of everyday driving. A magnetic wireless charger provides 15 W charging power and keeps the phone in place and allows air to circulate underneath to reduce heat build-up. A glove hanger tray in the external storage compartment allows wet or dirty gloves to be stored outside the cab, with ventilated storage helping them dry efficiently and keeping the cab cleaner.

Scania Dynamic supports the reality of transport. It improves the vehicle experience and energy efficiency across powertrain, while giving drivers a more comfortable, intuitive and modern working environment.

“With Scania Dynamic, we continue to refine what already works. Through continuous improvements, dynamic design and strong driver focus, Scania helps customers reduce energy use, improve daily operations and choose the right solution for every assignment,” Gustafsson concluded.
 

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Chennai-headquartered commercial vehicle major Ashok Leyland, the flagship company of the Hinduja Group, has inaugurated its new light commercial vehicle dealership in Raichur, Karnataka.

This marks the company's 12th light commercial vehicle dealership in Karnataka, expanding its national sales and service distribution network to more than 945 touchpoints.

Thew new dealership is operated by channel partner SB Motors, the facility is located in Mukram Gunj, Raichur. The location functions as a sales, service and spares outlet, equipped with seven service bays and maintenance tools. The dealership will retail and service Ashok Leyland's light commercial vehicle portfolio, which includes the Saathi, Dost, Bada Dost, Partner and MiTR models, all produced at the company's manufacturing plant in Hosur.

The product range targets various payload segments within small commercial vehicle and light commercial vehicle applications.

The Saathi, which operates in the entry-level small commercial vehicle category, powered by a 45-horsepower engine producing 110 Nm of torque, with a payload capacity of 1,120 kg.

The Bada Dost features an 80-horsepower BS VI engine available across six variants for urban and intercity transport. The Dost range includes the Dost XL and Dost+ XL models, while the Partner covers the four-tonne payload sector in four-wheel and six-wheel configurations using the ZD30 engine. The MiTR platform provides passenger transport options for staff and school bus applications.

Viplav Shah, Head of Light Commercial Vehicle Business, Ashok Leyland, said, "Karnataka has always been an important market for us, and we are excited to further strengthen our presence in this region. Our relationship with customers is built on trust, performance, and shared growth. Our products are known for their superior mileage, reliability, and performance with a robust network and an industry-leading service retention. We take pride in the continued confidence our customers place in us, and the opening of this new dealership marks yet another step in our commitment to delivering world-class products and unmatched service to our valued customers."

At present, Ashok Leyland has an operational base of over 600,000 light commercial vehicles across India.

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Thermo King, a brand of Trane Technologies, has introduced four models to its all-electric EV series transport refrigeration lineup in the Asia Pacific region. The expanded series includes the EV500S, EV500e, EV300e and EV200e models, designed for urban temperature-controlled logistics.

The EV500S and EV500e units target urban distribution networks, including the transit of produce, e-commerce fresh goods and pharmaceutical supplies. The smaller EV200e and EV300e models are designed for short-haul last-mile retail deliveries from urban cold storage distribution facilities. The company shared that across the lineup, operating energy efficiency has increased by 8.3 percent compared to first-generation models.

Helen Ling, Vice-President, Thermo King Asia Pacific, said, "The shift to electric vehicles is transforming urban cold chain distribution, where balancing energy efficiency and temperature stability remains critical. Backed by more than a decade of electric refrigeration expertise, our new EV series marks another step forward in delivering greater energy efficiency, stronger reliability and smarter digital capabilities to customers while supporting more sustainable cold chain transport."

The units feature an intelligent control architecture that maintains interior cargo temperatures within a margin of 0.5 degrees Celsius. An economy mode option allows operators to limit power consumption during transport to conserve vehicle battery range. The hardware platform includes fault protection, automated defrost logic and waterproof casing to allow all-weather operation.

For fleet management, the series offers optional integration with an intelligent monitoring system using industrial-grade hardware. The telematics platform provides two-way remote control functionality, allowing operators to adjust compartment temperatures, modify operating states and clear system alarms via mobile applications, while retaining historical temperature records for compliance verification.

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