Daimler India Commercial Vehicles Pvt Ltd (DICV), a wholly owned subsidiary of Daimler Truck AG (Daimler Truck), today signed an MoU with IIT Madras Incubation Cell (IITMIC) to set up a technology epicentre.

The objective of the technology epicentre is to co-create mid- to long-term solutions necessary for the future of mobility. The foundation of this partnership is ‘technology-led mobility transformation’. The partnership – DICV-IITMIC – was inaugurated at IIT Madras Research Park in Chennai.

The aim of the MoU
Under this MoU, DICV and IITMIC aim to identify, mentor and provide opportunities to Indian technology start-ups, who will work towards finding futuristic solutions for the Indian mobility space in the years to come and introduce them to the market. The focus will be on all aspects, such as de-carbonisation (electric, hydrogen), road safety (ADAS-based safety technologies), efficiency, ecosystem creation and even preparing the industry for paradigm shifts in supply chain and logistics, manufacturing, product development, software driven vehicle architectures, ESG and other allied areas.

Sharing his thoughts on the partnership, Satyakam Arya, Managing Director and CEO, Daimler India Commercial Vehicles, said, “India is going through rapid industrial and economic changes, and technology will be at the core of businesses and lifestyle going forward. Daimler Truck has always been at the forefront of technological development in the commercial vehicle space. We invested in India for the long term because we believe in its huge potential. DICV’s partnership with IITMIC is a watershed moment because this collaboration is based on a common belief that technology should be created and leveraged to transform the marketplace and not just product offerings. We also believe that by investing in and nurturing bright Indian technology start-up companies, we will contribute to India’s growing economy and sustainably lead the change in commercial vehicles, logistics and in the domain of mobility services.”

Two strengths as one
Through this partnership, both DICV and IITMIC will be putting their respective strengths to use. DICV will leverage its commercial vehicles domain expertise, while IITMIC will utilise its background in academia to strengthen the innovation and start-up ecosystem across India.

Throwing further light on this, Prof Ashok Jhunjhunwala, President – IIT Madras Research Park, IITM Incubation Cell, asserted, “As fossil-fuel-based vehicles get replaced by battery-powered or hydrogen-powered electric vehicles in the near future, innovation and the pursuit of deep-tech start-ups in the area will be a major task. The DICV-IITMIC joint incubator would strive to become a leading incubator, where young talent flourishes; further it will become a think tank for a fossil-fuel free world tomorrow. IITMIC and DICV will leverage our respective strengths to jointly provide mentorship and nurture start-ups by exchanging and participating in seminars, forums, events and symposiums that will help drive solutions for future mobility.”  

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Piaggio Vehicles (PVPL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Italy's Piaggio Group, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the State Bank of India (SBI) Lucknow circle. The strategic partnership is designed to leverage the Uttar Pradesh Government’s CM Yuva Yojna, a flagship initiative targeting employment and self-reliance for 150,000 youth across the state through small business ownership.

The agreement was signed by Amit Sagar, Executive Vice-President for CV Domestic Business and Retail Finance at PVPL and Vibhash Kumar, Deputy General Manager at SBI.

Under the collaboration, SBI’s network of over 1,600 branches across central and eastern Uttar Pradesh will provide retail financing solutions for Piaggio’s entire three-wheeler portfolio, encompassing both Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) and Electric Vehicle (EV) platforms.

The credit structure, operating under the combined guidelines of the state-level CM Yuva Yojna and federal Mudra schemes, targets eligible youth entrepreneurs aged 25–40 years. The partnership introduces financial terms to lower the total cost of ownership:

• Interest Structure: zero percent interest loans enabled by a 100 percent government interest subsidy.
• Loan-to-Value Ratio: Funding coverage spanning 85 percent to 90 percent of the total vehicle cost.
• Repayment Profile: A fixed four-year repayment tenure with no external guarantor requirements.
• Capital Incentives: Full refund of the initial margin money upon successful completion of the loan repayment cycle.

To streamline the onboarding process, Piaggio India will set up dedicated CM Yuva Help Centres across its authorised dealership network in Uttar Pradesh. These walk-in centres are designed to offer application guidance, documentation verification, and direct financing coordination within the showrooms.

Amit Sagar, said, “India’s mobility landscape is evolving rapidly. From small entrepreneurs to fleet operators, a new class of owners is emerging, and they need financing that understands their realities. Through this partnership, Piaggio India and State Bank of India are bringing together the strength, trust, and reach of two respected institutions to make vehicle ownership simpler, faster, and more accessible. By leveraging the Uttar Pradesh Government’s CM Yuva Yojna which offers eligible young entrepreneurs 0% interest free financing, government-backed subsidies, and simplified access to business ownership; we are creating meaningful opportunities for self-employment and enterprise development at scale. This initiative goes beyond vehicle financing; it is about enabling aspirations, fostering entrepreneurship, and contributing directly to employment generation for the youth of Uttar Pradesh. Piaggio India remains committed to supporting inclusive economic progress through practical, sustainable, and accessible mobility solutions.”

Vibhash Kumar, added, “This collaboration combines SBI’s trusted financial capabilities and extensive network with Piaggio’s established leadership in the three-wheeler segment to create meaningful livelihood opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs across Uttar Pradesh. Through CM Yuva Yojna, we are committed to supporting youth-led enterprise by making affordable financing widely accessible, thereby strengthening self-employment, last-mile connectivity and long-term economic development.”

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Volvo Trucks India has introduced the Volvo FMX Edge, an off-road dump truck configured for heavy-duty mining operations. The vehicle was unveiled at the company’s manufacturing facility in Hoskote, Bengaluru.

The development of the truck follows the deployment of the company's FMX500 8x4 platform, which has more than 3,000 units operating across Indian mine sites. The FMX Edge has been designed to align with changing structural trends in the domestic mining market, such as the deployment of higher-capacity excavators and the demand for predictable material handling cycle times.

The FMX Edge features a 31.2 cubic metre SAE heap body capacity and a 2.8-metre-wide body configuration. This design is engineered to support material loading compatibility with high-volume industrial shovels and to manage overburden movement. The vehicle incorporates electronic stability control and vehicle tracking mechanisms intended to minimise operational downtime and maintain fuel efficiency during full-load duty cycles.

The truck rollout was followed by an application-led demonstration session at the Volvo CE Customer Centre Ground. The presentation was conducted jointly by Volvo Trucks and Volvo Construction Equipment to showcase integrated machinery solutions for bulk material handling and extraction processes.

Per-Erik Lindström, Executive Vice-President, Volvo Trucks International, said, “India is a cornerstone for Volvo Group’s future and an increasingly important market for Volvo Trucks. The launch of Volvo FMX Edge reflects our commitment to Indian customers and to solutions designed around real operating needs. Built on Volvo’s global expertise and shaped by Indian mining requirements, the Volvo FMX Edge is a strong example of our focus on customer success, sustainable progress and long-term growth.”

B Srinivas, Managing Director and CEO, VE Commercial Vehicles, said, “Volvo Trucks has earned the trust of Indian mining customers over nearly three decades by delivering solutions that perform in real operating conditions. The Volvo FMX Edge is a natural evolution of this journey. It is engineered around customer outcomes like productivity, safety, uptime, efficiency and lifecycle value. With FMX Edge, we reaffirm our commitment to supporting India’s mining sector with solutions built for confidence and long-term partnership.”

B Dinakar, Business Head of Volvo Trucks India, added, “The Volvo FMX Edge has been developed with a clear purpose – to help mining customers achieve better outcomes every day. It is not just about capacity; it is about confidence, predictability, safety and lifecycle value. Shaped by inputs from mine sites, project teams, maintenance teams, operators and drivers, the Volvo FMX Edge represents Volvo Trucks’ response to the needs of modern mining operations.”

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Ashok Leyland, one of the leading commercial vehicle manufacturers, has secured an order to supply 715 vehicles from surface transportation company VRL Logistics.

The contract involves the supply of AVTR 3120 haulage trucks, BOSS 1615 trucks and Oyster staff buses to update and expand the logistics provider's fleet.

As part of the understanding, Ashok Leyland has handed over the first batch of 300 trucks, with the remaining 415 vehicles scheduled for deployment before the end of the year.

The vehicles are equipped with tracking technologies and electronic diagnostic features intended to decrease maintenance downtime, prevent unscheduled stoppages and manage fleet operating costs. Over the long term, the vehicles will support VRL Logistics' regional cargo operations and employee transit requirements across India.

Anand Sankeshwar, Managing Director, VRL Logistics, said, “We have absolute confidence in the quality, reliability, and performance of Ashok Leyland trucks. Their strong after-sales support enables uninterrupted operations, while the rapidly expanding service network gives us a clear operational advantage. The fresh order of 715 vehicles marks a strategic deepening of our partnership to drive higher logistics efficiency. Backed by Ashok Leyland’s relentless focus on innovation and our forward-looking transport strategy, we are confident of sustained success on the road ahead.”

Madhavi Deshmukh, National Sales Head of MHCV, Ashok Leyland, added, “We are delighted to strengthen our long-standing partnership with VRL Logistics. Over the years, VRL has worked closely with us in developing new products and features tailored to the emerging needs of customers in the logistics industry. This order win is a testament to the trust and confidence VRL Logistics have in Ashok Leyland’s technology and performance and it reinforces our dedication to creating efficient and technologically advanced products that exceed customers’ expectations. Our focus continues to be on developing advanced, safe, and efficient mobility solutions that meet the evolving needs of our customers.”

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Tata Motors, one of the leading commercial vehicle manufacturers globally, has presented a portfolio of 11 products at an exhibition in South Africa.

The display includes a range of vehicle platforms and powertrain technologies, including electric vehicles and traditional internal combustion models, designed for international market applications.

Tata Motors displayed four zero-emission models developed for specific cargo and industrial duties, which include Tata Ace Pro EV, Tata Intra EV, Tata Ultra E.9 and Prima E28.K.

The display also featured next-generation intermediate trucks and mass mobility passenger buses – Intra V30 & V70, Azura 1918, Ultra Prime RE and long-distance buses, the LPO 1618 Magna (44-seater), LPO 1623 Nova (49-seater premium coach), and the LP 909 school and staff transport bus.

Tata Motors maintains a presence across 29 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, with cumulative regional sales exceeding 340,000 commercial vehicles. The company provides a lineup of over 60 models supported by a network of more than 320 service touchpoints. To support its regional supply chain, the company utilises seven local assembly operations located in South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia.

Asif Shamim, Head of International Business, Tata Motors, said, “This showcase reflects our continued focus on developing relevant, application‑led mobility solutions for our international markets. The portfolio presented here demonstrates the range of platforms and technologies we are building across segments, including electric vehicles, tailored to different use cases and operating conditions. It also reflects the strength of the engineering and development capabilities behind these products, enabling us to deliver solutions that are practical, reliable and built to support customer productivity.”

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