BharatBenz Opens 12Th Touchpoint In Maharashtra

BharatBenz, a wholly owned subsidiary of the German manufacturer Daimler Truck AG, has announced the opening of its new dealership facility in Beed, Maharashtra. This is the company’s 12th facility in the state.

Operated by Prabal Trucking, official dealer of BharatBenz trucks and buses for Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, the new facility is strategically located on NH52 in Beed and spans over 35,000 square feet. The new touchpoint features a state-of-the-art 3S (sales, service, spares) experience and ensures timely and efficient service delivery to customers, enhancing their ownership experience.

Force Motors Launches The Urbania Deluxe

Force Urbania Deluxe

Pune-headquartered commercial vehicle company Force Motors has launched the Urbania Deluxe, replacing the current-generation Urbania as its standard offering in the shared mobility segment.

The Urbania Deluxe features a 2.6-litre, four-cylinder turbo diesel engine delivering 100 kW and 350 Nm of torque. It comes with leatherette seats, wood-finish flooring, 16-inch alloy wheels, a power sliding footstep, a TFT instrument cluster, a 23 cm HD touchscreen infotainment system and an 8-speaker Digital Theatre System.

Safety features include 3-point seat belts for every passenger, airbags, all-wheel disc brakes, Electronic Stability Program, Anti-lock Braking System, Electronic Brake-force Distribution and Engine Drag Torque Control.

The CV is available in three wheelbases and eight seating layouts ranging from 9+D to 16+D configurations through the dealer network, with prices starting at INR 2.87 million ex-showroom.

The Urbania Deluxe comes with Force Care package featuring i-Pulse telematics, a 5-year/500,000 km warranty, a 3-year sensor warranty and 3 years of Roadside Assistance.

Prasan Firodia, Managing Director, Force Motors, said, "With Urbania, we redefined premium shared passenger mobility in India and created an entirely new segment that has found strong acceptance both in India and across international markets. Its success reflects the growing preference for vehicles that combine superior comfort, safety and modern engineering. With the introduction of the new Urbania Deluxe, we are taking this platform to the next level with enhanced performance, premium features and advanced technology to meet the evolving expectations of our customers and deliver the premium travel experience passenger’s demand. As the premium mobility segment continues to evolve, we remain committed to enhancing our products and delivering mobility solutions that set new benchmarks in passenger comfort, safety and performance."

Prawaas 5.0

Prawaas 5.0, an event focused on the public transport industry, concluded on 11 July 2026 at the Helipad Exhibition Centre in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. The three-day event marked the 10th anniversary of the Bus & Car Operators Confederation of India (BOCI).

The event recorded 20,129 registrations and hosted 227 exhibitors, 20 startups and 120 speakers across 15 sessions. It saw participation from 31 states and union territories, as well as 11 countries.

During the event, two Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed. The first, between Rotary International District 3080 and BOCI Naari, aims to support the skilling and employment of women as drivers. The second, between Rotary International District 3080 and BOCI, addresses the mental well-being of drivers and road safety.

Prasanna Patwardhan, President of the Bus & Car Operators Confederation of India (BOCI), said, "As BOCI completes ten years, Prawaas 5.0 reflects how collaboration, innovation and progressive policymaking are shaping the future of passenger mobility in India. Over the past three days, the exhibition has brought together operators, policymakers, manufacturers, technology providers and entrepreneurs on a common platform to exchange ideas, build partnerships and explore solutions for the sector's evolving needs. The participation and enthusiasm witnessed this year reaffirm our collective commitment to building a safer, smarter and more sustainable passenger transport ecosystem that supports the vision of Viksit Bharat."

The Bharat Prawaas Awards 2026 honoured 72 recipients, including 50 BOCI Excellence Awards and 22 redBus People's Choice Awards. The event was organised by BOCI, hosted by the Akhil Gujarat Pravasi Vahan Sanchalak Mahamandal, and curated by MM Activ Sci-Tech Communications.

Tata Motors Partners UCO Bank For Commercial Vehicle Financing

Tata Motors CV - UCO Bank

Tata Motors, one of the leading commercial vehicle manufacturers, has inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with UCO Bank for financing solutions.

Through this collaboration, customers will have access to interest rates, loan approvals and processing. The agreement includes loan-to-value funding options and repayment tenures. The partners will coordinate across branches and dealerships to reach customers in urban and rural markets.

Shashikant Kumar, General Manager & Zonal Head – Mumbai, UCO Bank, said, “The signing of this Memorandum of Understanding with Tata Motors Limited marks another significant milestone in UCO Bank’s commitment to delivering innovative and customer centric financing solutions. Through this strategic partnership, we aim to provide seamless, competitive and timely financing for TATA Motors commercial vehicles, enabling entrepreneurs, fleet operators and businesses to expand with confidence.”

Rajesh Kaul, Vice-President & Business Head – Trucks, Tata Motors Ltd., said, “We are pleased to partner with UCO Bank to further strengthen the financing ecosystem for our commercial vehicle customers. Access to organised and competitive financing is a key enabler for our customers' growth, and UCO Bank's strong nationwide presence makes them an ideal partner in this endeavour. This MoU reinforces our commitment to delivering end-to-end solutions, from world-class vehicles to organised financing that empower our customers to grow their businesses with greater confidence and convenience.”

At present, Tata Motors’ product portfolio ranges from 1-tonne to 55-tonne cargo vehicles and 10-seater to 51-seater mass mobility solutions. The company provides services through its Sampoorna Seva 2.0 initiative, the Fleet Edge platform and a network of over 4,500 sales and service touchpoints.

Volvo 9600 Seater-Sleeper Coach Launched At Prawaas 5.0

Volvo 9600 Seater-Sleeper

Volvo Buses India, a business unit of VE Commercial Vehicles, has unveiled the Volvo 9600 Seater-Sleeper coach at the Prawaas 5.0 exhibition in Gandhinagar. It is designed to combine seating and sleeper configurations in a single platform for intercity, tourism and pilgrimage routes.

The 15-metre coach accommodates 51 passengers, featuring 24 upper-deck sleeper berths and 27 lower-deck seats equipped with calf support. It is powered by the Volvo VEDX8 engine and utilises an I-shift transmission. The interior includes an integrated kitchenette, an onboard toilet, mobile charging points and entertainment systems.

S S Gill, Chief Commercial Officer, VE Commercial Vehicles, said, “India's bus industry is evolving rapidly, with rising passenger expectations for premium travel experiences and operators seeking higher productivity and operational efficiency. At Volvo Buses India, we continue to shape the future of mobility by combining globally proven engineering with innovations that address evolving needs of the Indian market. The Volvo 9600 Seater-Sleeper expands our premium coach portfolio with a flexible solution that meets customer expectations for safety, comfort and luxury."

Suresh Chettiar, Executive Vice-President – Bus Division, VE Commercial Vehicles, added, "The Volvo 9600 platform has been widely appreciated for setting new standards in luxury, safety and passenger comfort. Building on that success, we are introducing the Volvo 9600 Seater-Sleeper to meet the growing demand for more flexible premium travel solutions. Featuring 24 upper sleeper berths and 27 premium lower-deck seats with calf support, the new coach enables operators to efficiently cater to both short- and long-distance routes while delivering an elevated travel experience for passengers."

The vehicle introduces safety features, including a 360-degree camera system and camera-based electronic rear-view mirrors. It also includes a tyre pressure monitoring system, a driver state monitoring system to detect fatigue and an alcohol interlock system. The coach is equipped with a telematics solution for real-time monitoring of vehicle location, performance and fuel consumption.