Ashok Leyland Extends Its ‘Road To School’ Programme
- By MT Bureau
- July 08, 2024
Ashok Leyland has extended its corporate social responsibility programme – ‘Road to School’ – in partnership with Hinduja Leyland Finance to 352 schools in Erode, Salem and Dharmapuri districts of Tamil Nadu.
By doing so the commercial major aims to improve the primary and middle school education in government schools in these three districts. It also aims to bring about social equality among the school students in the remote villages through the programme, which would reach over 1,700 schools and benefit 2,00,000 students in more than six states across the country.
In Ammapettai of Erode district, the collector there, Thiru Raja Gopal Sunkara inaugurated a new ‘Road to School’ programme. A similar programme in Konganapuram and Magudanchavadi blocks of Salem district was inaugurated by the collector there, Dr Brinda.
The launch of expansion of Road to School programme in Palacode, Dharmapuri district was inaugurated by the collector there, Smt Santhi.
Speaking regarding the new ‘Road to School’ programme developments, N V Balachandar, Consultant CSR and Corporate Affairs, Ashok Leyland, mentioned, "Ashok Leyland has proudly nurtured this initiative, witnessing its remarkable growth over time. For us, 'Road to School' is far more than just a CSR program; it represents a company-wide commitment to driving real, meaningful change in the lives of students. We firmly believe in the transformative power of education and its lasting impact on individuals. With the inclusion of schools in Erode, Salem, and Dharmapuri into our 'Road to School' family, we are thrilled to expand our impact and contribute to building our country’s future.”
“The programme has over the years has created a huge impact in the remote rural schools which has enabled children to improve not only in learning levels but important aspects such as life skills, sports and art, thereby improving their ability to be competitive. The programme's uniqueness is the social development initiatives that we do in these villages align with the sustainable development goals. The 'Road to School' is a programme beyond education and in the true sense focusses on holistic development,” he added.
Road to School (RTS), Ashok Leyland's leading CSR initiative in collaboration with Learning Links Foundation, strives to bridge educational disparities among students in rural and underserved areas attending government schools across India. The Road to School Program envisions fostering holistic development and promoting inclusive education as a means of social empowerment. It supports both academic and co-curricular growth, encompassing health, hygiene, physical and emotional well-being, and sports. RTS program is aligned with the United Nations Global Sustainable Development Goals on improving the quality of education, scholastic and co-scholastic development including sports, and art education, and promoting good health and well-being amongst underserved children from government schools.
The Road to School program has made significant strides in improving educational infrastructure across Tamil Nadu. With this, Ashok Leyland Limited and Hinduja Leyland Finance Limited have extended their support to 352 primary and middle government schools across Dharmapuri, Erode, and Salem districts of Tamil Nadu. These schools are in blocks identified by the State government as educationally disadvantaged or in need of targeted interventions. This initiative aims to enhance the educational quality and holistic development of over 20,000 children enrolled in these institutions.
Since its inception in 2015 in Krishnagiri district, Tamil Nadu, the program has expanded remarkably. Today, it reaches over 1,700 schools and benefits 2,00,000 students in more than six states across the country.
Ashok Leyland is steadfast in its mission to impact 1 million students, ensuring every child in India has access to quality education. With a commitment to nurturing this vision, the company aims to make a lasting difference in the educational landscape in India.
Force Motors Partners Ministry of Road Transport & Highways For Delhi-NCR Vehicle Scheme
- By MT Bureau
- June 30, 2026
Pune-headquartered Force Motors has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) to participate in the Commercial Vehicle Replacement Scheme for the Delhi-NCR region.
The scheme facilitates the replacement of BS-IV and older trucks and buses in Delhi-NCR with BS-VI or electric vehicles to lower emissions. Under the agreement, Force Motors will provide benefits to customers through its dealership network in the region.
Prasan Firodia, Managing Director, Force Motors, said, "Force Motors is pleased to partner with the Government of India in this important initiative to modernise the commercial vehicle fleet in the Delhi-NCR region. The scheme aligns with our commitment to delivering cleaner, more efficient mobility solutions. We look forward to enabling fleet operators and customers to transition to the latest generation of commercial vehicles through this collaborative initiative."
Ashok Leyland Opens New LCV Dealership In Maharashtra
- By MT Bureau
- June 30, 2026
Chennai-headquartered automotive major Ashok Leyland has inaugurated a new dealership for Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs) in Ratnagiri. This facility is the 16th LCV dealership in Maharashtra, adding to a distribution network of 950 touchpoints across India.
The new dealership is operated by Lavekar Motors as a 3S (Sales, Service and Spares) facility, which features 8 service bays and is located near Mahanagar CNG Pump.
Viplav Shah, Head – LCV Business, Ashok Leyland Ltd. said, “Maharashtra 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. The opening of this new dealership marks yet another step in our commitment to delivering world-class products and unmatched services to our valued customers.”
Till date, Ashok Leyland has sold over 600,000 LCVs in India, which are manufactured at the Hosur plant.
Stoneridge To Showcase EVO ECU Platform, Innovation Truck At IAA Transportation 2026
- By MT Bureau
- June 30, 2026
US-headquartered electronic systems and technology company for commercial vehicles, buses, coaches, and off-highway equipment, Stoneridge, has announced its participation in IAA Transportation 2026.
The company is set to exhibit the EVO ECU platform, an electronic control unit designed to support the transition to software-defined vehicles (SDVs). The unit provides processing capability and connectivity, intended to manage vehicle complexity while reducing integration efforts and system costs.
Natalia Noblet, President and CEO, Stoneridge, said, “IAA Transportation will provide our first opportunity to showcase the significant advancements we have invested in to support our customers’ evolving needs. Our investments in engineering, software development, and customer-focused innovation are enabling us to deliver solutions that improve safety, simplify vehicle integration and increase operational efficiency.”
Stoneridge will also feature its Innovation Truck, a demonstrator vehicle equipped with an integrated vision solution and connected tractor and trailer technologies. The display follows the MirrorEye Camera Monitor System, for which the company has produced over 150,000 units. The demonstrator serves to show the integration of the company's technology portfolio for driver awareness and fleet operations.
Christian Leblanc, Global Vice-President of Product and Project Management, Stoneridge, said, “Vehicle architectures are evolving rapidly as manufacturers seek greater functionality, flexibility, and efficiency. EVO ECU has been designed to address these challenges by providing a high-performance platform that simplifies integration while enabling future expansion for emerging safety, security, and connectivity applications. Equally as importantly, the platform has been designed with commercial vehicle manufacturers in mind. It provides the scalability required to support future innovations while helping customers reduce complexity throughout sourcing, validation, and deployment.”
Stoneridge employs approximately 3,200 people. Its European operations include offices and technology centres in Sweden, the Netherlands, Estonia, France and the United Kingdom.
New Holland Launches HD And XHD Series Rotary Tillers In India
- By MT Bureau
- June 23, 2026
New Holland, a brand of CNH Group, has expanded its farm mechanisation portfolio in India with the launch of its new HD and XHD Series Rotary Tillers (Rotavators). The new range is manufactured at the company’s facility in Pune.
The equipment is designed for diverse soil types and agro-climatic zones, aiming to improve soil preparation, productivity, and field performance. A high swing diameter facilitates deeper tillage, improving seed-to-soil contact. The heavy-duty multi-speed gearbox allows farmers to adjust operations based on specific soil conditions, which the company states helps optimise fuel use and save time. The units incorporate Metal Twin-Faced (MTF) seals to protect the rotor hub from water ingress, and utilise DTM paint technology for corrosion resistance.
Tarun Khanna, Director Marketing (AG) India, New Holland, said, "Farm mechanisation is increasingly becoming a key driver of agricultural productivity and efficiency in India. As farmers look for equipment that can deliver superior performance, durability and operational efficiency, the demand for reliable mechanisation solutions continues to grow. The launch of our HD and XHD Series Rotary Tillers reinforces New Holland's commitment to supporting Indian farmers with advanced implements that are engineered for demanding field conditions and designed to enhance productivity."
Following the national unveiling at the company's Greater Noida facility, New Holland plans to introduce the range through a series of dealer-level launches across India. This release is part of the brand’s broader strategy to offer a comprehensive suite of agricultural implements to support modern farming practices.

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