Currently the Senior Vice President - Product Development Head, Commercial Vehicles at Mahindra Group, Dr Venkat Srinivas is set to succeed Jalaj Gupta as the Business Head for Mahindra Truck & Bus Division (MTBD), effective 1 November 2024. 
Jalaj Gupta is moving out of the Mahindra Group, claim sources aware of the development. Reporting to Vinod Sahay, President and Chief Purchase Officer, Mahindra Group and also the President of Aerospace, Defence, MTBD and CE business verticals, Dr Srinivas will also head the CE business vertical of the Group. 
While the current Group Platform Head – Electric Vehicles, Manoj Varghese, is expected to take over from Dr Srinivas and would report to R Velusamy, the President of Automotive Technology and Product Development (MRV, Chennai) as the head of commercial vehicles (ICE and EV), Dr Srinivas in his new position will leverage his long-standing experience and knowledge in the M&HCV domain. 
Involved in the engineering of the newly launched Veero small commercial vehicle on a modular platform, Dr Srinivas earlier held the position of Senior Vice President, Principal Chief Engineer and Product Head for MTBD. Before that, he was Vice President and Head – Engineering and Product Development, MTBD. 

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In what is seen as a global energy crisis on the back of the ongoing war between Iran and USA-Israel, is now also expected to have an impact on the Indian transport sector.

Bal Malkit Singh, Advisor & Former President – All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC), has called for proactive government measures to protect the economy and the road transport sector from the effects of escalating tensions in the Middle East. The warning follows a surge in crude oil prices to nearly USD 95 per barrel and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz as of late February 2026.

The road transport sector is experiencing a slowdown due to reduced industrial output. Industry observations indicate a decline of up to 50 percent in certain segments, with projections suggesting this could reach 70–80 percent if current disruptions persist.

Furthermore, it can also lead to rising prices for fuel, lubricants, tyres and AdBlue (urea). He has expressed concerns over driver migration due to fewer work opportunities and the closure or price increases at highway eateries.

The ‘energy war’ scenario is impacting the wider MSME ecosystem, leading to higher production costs and operational challenges for small businesses and trading establishments.

Singh has urged the government to implement policy support to maintain economic stability, emphasising that the transport sector serves as the lifeline for domestic trade.

Proposed interventions include:

• Deferment of Equated Monthly Instalments (EMIs).
• Introduction of soft loan schemes.
• Targeted tax relaxations for transporters and MSMEs.

Bal Malkit Singh, said, “The current geo-political developments are an early warning signal for our economy. The road transport sector, being the lifeline of trade and commerce, is already experiencing stress due to reduced movement and rising operational costs. If timely interventions are not considered, the situation could escalate significantly in the coming weeks. It is essential to support MSMEs and transporters through relief measures such as deferment of EMIs, soft loan schemes, and tax relaxations to ensure business continuity and economic stability.”

Image credit: Samuel Wolfl/Pexels

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Euro NCAP has announced that Allianz has joined the Safer Trucks programme as an Associate Member, which combines vehicle safety assessment with commercial risk data.

The Safer Trucks programme, launched in 2024, provides safety ratings for heavy goods vehicles (HGVs). In its first two years, the initiative has assessed 30 truck models and identified safety gaps in the freight sector. Data indicates that in collisions involving HGVs, 90 percent of fatalities are occupants of other vehicles or pedestrians and cyclists. Freight transport accounts for the movement of 95 percent of goods across the EU.

Allianz operates in 70 countries and will contribute expertise on risk trends and claims data. The Allianz Center for Technology will serve as the centre for automotive technology and traffic safety to promote vehicle safety.

The involvement of insurers in safety assessments aims to inform manufacturers and fleet operators about areas for improvement. According to the programme, avoiding accidents reduces repair costs and downtime, which can lead to lower insurance premiums for fleets.

Matthew Avery, Director of Strategic Development, Euro NCAP, said, “We are delighted to welcome Allianz to the Safer Trucks programme. Their expertise in risk and casualty analysis adds a valuable new dimension to our multi-disciplinary approach. Safer Trucks is designed not only to benchmark safety performance but also to catalyse improvements in truck design and technology. By integrating risk insight from Allianz with our independent testing data, we aim to accelerate safety innovation across the commercial vehicle sector.”

Matthias Trustedt, Head of Global P&C, Allianz SE, said, “Joining Euro NCAP’s Safer Trucks initiative aligns with our commitment to reducing road risk through evidence-based insights. We believe that independent safety ratings, tied to real-world risk data, can influence both purchasing decisions and the development of safer vehicle technologies. Allianz is proud to support this important work, to help fleet operators make informed choices that protect drivers and other road users, and to offer them tailored and risk-based insurance solutions.”

Christian Sahr, MD, Allianz Center for Technology, said, “Our accident research shows that modern safety systems in trucks can significantly reduce the number of serious accidents. In addition to protecting life, avoiding accidents brings economic benefits for fleet operators because a fleet with lower repair and downtime costs is more efficient, offers better working conditions for drivers, and has significantly lower insurance premiums. Through our cooperation with Euro NCAP, we see excellent opportunities to use our combined expertise to improve the market penetration of safety systems that are already available and that contribute to accident prevention.”

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Piaggio Vehicles (PVPL), a subsidiary of the Piaggio Group, has secured an order for more than 100 units of its Ape Xtra Bada 700 cargo three-wheeler from HeidelbergCement India.

The three-wheelers will be deployed across 53 districts in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar. This order marks the entry of the new diesel cargo model into industrial applications.

The Ape Xtra Bada 700 features a 700 DI diesel engine, a 7-foot cargo deck and a payload capacity of 750 kg, which is the highest in the three-wheeler cargo segment. The vehicle is equipped with 12-inch radial tyres, a digital instrument cluster with a 3.5-inch LCD and an optional rear sensor for reversing.

The vehicle architecture includes a chassis and suspension geometry designed for stability and load distribution. The cabin is engineered for long-distance operation and the engine is tuned for torque and pickup. Piaggio offers a five-year warranty on the model. The company positions this three-wheeler as a replacement for entry-level four-wheeler small commercial vehicles (SCVs) due to its operating economics.

Amit Sagar, Executive Vice President, CV Domestic Business & Retail Finance, Piaggio Vehicles, said, “This flagship order from Heidelberg Cement India Limited is a strong validation of the Ape Xtra Bada 700’s disruptive capabilities. At Piaggio India, we have always believed in pushing the boundaries of innovation in the last-mile mobility segment. The Ape Xtra Bada 700 sets new industry benchmarks in engine capacity, deck size and payload, and is designed to empower customers with more productivity and superior earnings. Breaking into applications traditionally dominated by 4-wheeler SCV marks an important milestone in our journey of offering better TCO and profitability to our customers.”

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Tata Motors, one of the leading commercial vehicle manufacturers, has received orders for more than 5,000 buses and bus chassis from various State Transport Undertakings (STUs) across India. The company secured these orders through a competitive e-bidding process with deliveries scheduled to take place in phases according to agreements with the respective transport corporations.

The orders were placed by several organisations, including the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC), Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC) and the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC), among others. The contract includes models such as the Tata Magna, Cityride and Starbus, as well as LPO 1618, 1622 and 1822 chassis variants. These vehicles are designed for intercity, long-haul and intracity operations.

The company's passenger vehicle portfolio includes vehicles ranging from 9-seater to 55-seater capacities. To support these fleets, Tata Motors provides Sampoorna Seva 2.0, a vehicle lifecycle management programme. This service includes maintenance, spare parts availability and breakdown assistance through a network of over 4,500 sales and service touchpoints.

Anand S, Vice-President and Head, Commercial Passenger Vehicle Business, Tata Motors, said, “This recognition by multiple State Transport Undertakings reflects the deep trust placed in Tata Motors’ mobility solutions. Our buses are designed to deliver comfort, safety and long‑term reliability across varied terrains and duty cycles. With strong product engineering and a lifecycle support ecosystem built around customer uptime, we continue to enable STUs to serve millions of passengers every day. These cumulative orders strengthen our position as the country’s preferred mobility partner and reinforce our commitment to shaping India’s public transport of tomorrow.”

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