Delhi Inducts 100 Allison-equipped JBM CITYLIFE Buses
- By MT Bureau
- February 22, 2022
Allison Transmission, a designer and manufacturer of vehicle propulsion solutions for commercial and defence vehicles, has announced that 100 JBM CITYLIFE city buses are being added to the existing fleet of Delhi city.
In a recent function held at Rajghat Depot in Delhi, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot flagged off the low-floor air-conditioned buses.
The buses are equipped with Allison T280 fully automatic transmissions. The BS-VI complaint ‘JBM CITYLIFE’ buses which run on compressed natural gas feature CCTV cameras, a public address system, a smart card ticketing system, a real time passenger information system, Automatic Bus Vehicle Location System, stop request buttons and a wheelchair ramp, the company said in a release.
C.K. Goyal, Vice President, Road Transport, DIMTS, said, “With Delhi city expanding rapidly, we are committed to providing a modern public transportation system with a safe and comfortable ride to our passengers. Keeping this in mind, the Delhi government introduced low-floor buses equipped with fully automatic transmissions for enhanced passenger comfort and increased safety under a cluster scheme of Transport Department, Govt. of NCT of Delhi.”
DIMTS is the Integrated Mechanism of Transport Department, Govt. of NCT of Delhi. The buses are introduced under OPEX Model and procured by the concessionaire.
Allison said its torque converter experiences very little wear, and the transmissions require only periodic fluid and filter changes to maintain peak performance. Manual transmissions and AMTs both rely on a clutch that eventually burns out and requires more downtime for maintenance. With the Allison Torqmatic Series specially designed for city buses, it further reduces downtime by increasing the life of the brakes, the release claimed.
Nishant Arya, Vice Chairman and MD, JBM Auto Ltd, said, “Allison Transmission is a world leader in automatic transmissions and has been our partner in consistently delivering convenient, safe and technologically superior public transportation solutions. We are extremely delighted to collaborate with Allison as we see substantial value in their transmissions.”
Anshul Gupta, Commercial Director, Allison Transmission India, said, “The highlight of the fully automatic transmission is that fleet owners can experience a greater overall economic value with reduced downtime and the ability to get more work done. We are delighted that all low-floor CNG buses in Delhi NCR, over 4,500 currently in operation which are from leading OEMs in India, trust Allison.” (MT)
Blue Energy Motors Joins PARIVARTAN Scheme To Deploy Electric Heavy-Duty Trucks
- By MT Bureau
- October 23, 2026
Pune-headquartered alternative commercial vehicle maker Blue Energy Motors has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) under the PARIVARTAN Scheme. The partnership aims to facilitate the replacement of commercial vehicles with electric trucks within the Delhi-National Capital Region.
The initiative supports the transition to freight mobility options by incentivising the replacement of transport units. Blue Energy Motors deploys electric and liquefied natural gas truck platforms across freight routes, accumulating operational distance and reducing emissions.
Anirudh Bhuwalka, Founder & Managing Director, Blue Energy Motors, said, "The PARIVARTAN Scheme is an important step towards accelerating the transition to cleaner freight mobility in India. Our participation reflects Blue Energy Motors’ commitment to supporting the Government’s vision for sustainable transportation and enabling wider adoption of electric heavy-duty trucks. We believe that the right policy support, coupled with advanced technology and a strong domestic manufacturing ecosystem, can play a pivotal role in accelerating India’s transition towards zero-emission freight transportation."
SWITCH Mobility, PURPLE BUS Launch Vidarbha's First Electric Intercity Bus Service On Nagpur–Chandrapur Route
- By MT Bureau
- October 20, 2026
SWITCH Mobility Ltd, a global leader in electric buses and light commercial vehicles and part of the Hinduja Group, has joined forces with intercity operator PURPLE BUS to roll out the region's first electric bus service linking Nagpur and Chandrapur, widening the operator's Vidarbha footprint. Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari oversaw the ceremonial dispatch of the inaugural six units, drawn from a 50-bus EiV12m intercity electric order placed by Purple Bus for deployments across Vidarbha.
Organisers chose Dussehra, a festival traditionally viewed as favourable for fresh ventures, as the launch date, a nod to the manufacturer's continuing push for safe, dependable and sustainable public transport in the region. Travellers between the two cities stand to gain better connectivity along with a safe, comfortable and eco-friendly way to travel.
The Nagpur–Chandrapur service is the third intercity project this year between SWITCH Mobility and Prasanna Purple Mobility Solutions, building on electric coach launches along the Mumbai–Pune and Dombivli–Pune corridors in April 2026 and October 2026, respectively. The recurring tie-up points to rising operator confidence in electric buses for high-frequency intercity routes and to SWITCH Mobility's growing part in India's shift towards sustainable intercity travel.
The new route strengthens the partnership with Prasanna Purple Mobility Solutions and furthers the company's wider aim of making zero-emission public transport accessible in Indian cities and towns. Linking key Vidarbha centres, the service is expected to ease daily commutes, boost local economic activity and speed the move towards cleaner intercity mobility. The EiV12m coach, engineered for long-distance journeys, pairs 45 pushback seats and a 350 km per-charge range with fast-charging capability, advanced safety systems, a quiet ride and SWITCH iON connected technology for real-time monitoring.
Ganesh Mani, Chief Executive Officer, SWITCH Mobility, said, “Nagpur and Chandrapur share a close economic and cultural relationship, and strengthening this corridor with our partner Prasanna Purple Mobility Solutions is an important step in our mission to build future-ready public transport across India. Following our deployment on the Mumbai–Pune route earlier this year, we are glad to extend this partnership to Vidarbha and to contribute to the region’s growth by supporting the everyday movement of the people who depend on it. This launch reaffirms our commitment to sustainable, people-first mobility solutions in Maharashtra and beyond.”
Saurabh Patwadhan, Director, PURPLE BUS, said, “At PURPLE BUS, our goal is to make electric the default way people travel between cities, not the exception. We are building that future route by route, from Mumbai–Pune, one of India’s busiest corridors, to Nagpur–Chandrapur, where we now bring Vidarbha its first electric bus service. Our fleet has already covered more than one million kilometres (1,000,000 km) in electric intercity operations, and the data shows what many operators doubted: electric coaches deliver a lower total cost of ownership and a lower cost per passenger-kilometre than diesel. Our partnership with SWITCH Mobility has been central to proving that, and it gives us the confidence to scale sustainable intercity mobility across Maharashtra.”
Scania Opens New SEK 975 Million R&D Proving Ground In Södertälje
- By MT Bureau
- October 20, 2026
European commercial vehicle major Scania has inaugurated its research and development proving ground in Södertälje, representing an investment of SEK 975 million. The 85-hectare site includes 13 kilometres of paved road and 4 kilometres of gravel road to support testing across electrification, autonomous driving, safety systems and vehicle dynamics.
The facility incorporates three irrigated braking tracks constructed from asphalt, concrete and basalt tiles, enabling testing across varied friction surfaces and cornering conditions. The site also features specialised environments for evaluating driver assistance technology, including automatic emergency braking, lane support and blind-spot warning systems, alongside scenarios for autonomous vehicle development. The construction project integrated environmental measures, including ECO asphalt and renewable HVO100 fuel for logistics, avoiding approximately 30,900 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions.
Christian Levin, President and CEO, TRATON GROUP and Scania, said, "The transformation of transport requires us to continuously strengthen the way we develop and validate new technologies. This investment is about building the capabilities we need for the future while ensuring that the solutions we bring to our customers have the safety, quality and performance they expect."
Sara Forsberg, CTO and Head of Brand Identity Development at Scania, said, "New technology only creates value when it performs in the real world. The R&D proving ground gives our engineers greater possibilities to test, learn and validate solutions under demanding conditions. It strengthens our ability to turn innovation into solutions that deliver real value for our customers."
Niklas Klingenberg, Head of Group R&D, TRATON GROUP, said, "Advanced testing and validation capabilities become increasingly necessary as we develop the next generation of transport solutions. The R&D Proving Ground is an important addition to our landscape and strengthens our ability to turn new technologies into proven solutions."
Eicher Trucks & Buses Opens Pro X Small Commercial Vehicle Dealership In Noida
- By MT Bureau
- October 19, 2026
Eicher Trucks & Buses, a division of VE Commercial Vehicles, has inaugurated a 3S dealership facility in Noida for its Eicher Pro X small truck range. Operated by Punjab Mobility, the 7,000-square-foot facility is located on NH-34 at Dadri in Gautam Buddh Nagar, providing integrated sales, service and spare parts support.
The showroom will sell the 3-tonne and 3.5-tonne Gross Vehicle Weight range of small commercial vehicles across electric, diesel and compressed natural gas powertrain options.
The location provides access to industrial and logistics hubs across Noida, Greater Noida and the Dadri region, including the Multi-Modal Logistics Hub and the Dadri-Noida-Ghaziabad Industrial Region, with transport connectivity via the Eastern Peripheral Expressway, the Delhi-Meerut Expressway and the Yamuna Expressway.
Abhishek Chaudhary, Senior Vice-President of SCV Sales & Marketing, VE Commercial Vehicles, said, "The Eicher Pro X range is designed for the evolving needs of last-mile logistics, with a strong focus on efficiency, connectivity, driver comfort and uptime. With three energy-efficient powertrains, 100% connected technology and multiple configuration options, it is engineered for applications including e-commerce, parcel courier, FMCG and industrial goods movement. Punjab Mobility Private Limited’s presence strengthens our presence in Noida and brings the Pro X range and enhanced ownership support closer to customers across the Delhi-NCR region. Born electric-first, the Eicher Pro X offers customers in the NCR the opportunity to switch to electric trucks that are approved under the PARIVARTAN scheme."
The dealership infrastructure features digital vehicle configurators, dedicated workshop bays, electric vehicle charging infrastructure and EV-trained service personnel. To support vehicle uptime across the National Capital Region, the facility operates mobile service vans and breakdown assistance units alongside power backup systems.
Comments (0)
ADD COMMENT