L-R: Diego Graffi, Chairman & MD, Piaggio Vehicles and Ravi Chawla, MD & CEO, Gulf Oil Lubricants India.

Gulf Oil Lubricants India  (Gulf Oil), a leading player in the lubricants industry, and Piaggio Vehicles (Piaggio India), a subsidiary of the Italian Piaggio Group and a leading manufacturer of small commercial vehicles in the country, have renewed their strategic partnership agreement to extend collaboration for the co-branded lubricants across Piaggio’s CV segment.

The partnership had started in 2020 to develop lubricants to meet Piaggio’s vehicles demand for BS VI and EV offerings. The exclusive partnership has been renewed until 2030 for the customised lubricant solutions and will drive sales across retail, factory-fill, and export markets.

Ravi Chawla, MD & CEO, Gulf Oil Lubricants India, said, “We are thrilled to renew our partnership with Piaggio India, which aligns with our mission to bring industry-leading, specialised lubricants to diverse vehicle segments. Our collaboration has been built on a shared passion for innovation and growth, and together, we are poised to expand our reach and impact in both traditional and electric vehicle markets. With India's commercial vehicle market poised for significant growth driven by robust infrastructure development, this collaboration is well-positioned to capitalize on emerging opportunities and strengthen Gulf’s position as a trusted partner for OEMs, supporting our vision for sustained growth and excellence in the sector.”

With the renewal, Gulf will continue as Piaggio India’s exclusive lubricant partner for all factory fill, workshop, and retail requirements in India, along with exports to select international markets. The partnership will cover the full spectrum of lubricants, including advanced BS VI oils and new EV fluids, developed to meet the evolving needs of Piaggio India’s growing customer base.

Diego Graffi, Chairman & MD, Piaggio Vehicles, added, “This long-term renewal with Gulf Oil reinforces our commitment to delivering quality products that support optimal performance for Piaggio India’s customers. As both companies look to the future, Gulf's strategic investments towards growing the EV fluids segment align seamlessly with Piaggio's growing focus on electric mobility in India, particularly in the commercial lightweight and three-wheeler EV segments. We look forward to this next chapter of collaboration.”

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German automaker Mercedes-Benz Trucks has announced a series of investments in its company-owned retail and service network (Own Retail), including the construction of a new commercial vehicle centre in Koblenz. The project is part of a broader strategy to increase the manufacturer's own retail presence by more than 60 percent by 2030.

The dismantling of the existing 1963 logistics hall at the Friedrich-Mohr-Strasse site will begin in spring 2026, with construction of the new facility scheduled for autumn 2026. The centre is expected to be operational by early 2028, offering 4,000 square metres of floor space for the sales and service of Mercedes-Benz trucks, as well as service for Mercedes-Benz and Setra buses.

To optimise land use, Daimler Truck has partnered with the Kestenholz Group. While Daimler Truck develops the southern portion of the site for heavy commercial vehicles, the Kestenholz Group will construct a facility for Mercedes-Benz passenger cars and vans on the northern section.

The Koblenz workshop will include 3,000 square metres of technical space, featuring high-voltage workstations to support battery-electric models such as the eActros, eEconic and eCitaro. A specialised roof workstation will be installed to facilitate maintenance on bus batteries and truck cabs.

The facility also maintains a dedicated role in the defence sector, serving as the central hub for Mercedes-Benz truck spare parts for all German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) locations in Germany and specialising in military engine maintenance.

Stina Fagerman, Head of Marketing, Sales and Services at Mercedes-Benz Trucks, said, “The truck business is characterised by a high level of complexity, intensive consulting requirements and strong customer relationships. Through our company-owned retail operations and locations, we maintain close dialogue with our customers and continuously develop products and services. That is why we are convinced that our Own Retail operations will continue to be decisive for our success in the future. We plan to expand our Own Retail network by more than 60 percent by 2030. The complete renewal of existing locations, such as now in Koblenz, also plays an important role in our strategy.”

Volker Huntrup, Head of Mercedes-Benz Trucks Own Retail, Europe, added, “In addition to acquisitions in our European core markets, such as France, we continue to invest in Germany. The expansion of our manufacturer-owned sales network continues steadily. In doing so, we are consistently implementing our strategy.”

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Ashok Leyland has announced a partnership with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) as an Official Sponsor for the upcoming IPL (Indian Premier League) season. The Ashok Leyland logo will appear on the front right chest of the CSK jersey.

The agreement continues a relationship between the Hinduja Group and the IPL franchise, following a 15-year collaboration with another group entity, Gulf Oil. The partnership was finalised at Ashok Leyland’s headquarters by Chairman Dheeraj Hinduja and MD & CEO Shenu Agarwal, alongside CSK Captain Ruturaj Gaikwad and India’s 2026 U-19 World Cup-winning captain, Ayush Mhatre.

The event included the unveiling of the team's jersey for the 2026 season. Additionally, Ashok Leyland introduced a vehicle specifically designed for the ‘Whistle Podu’ fan base. This ‘Fan Bus’ is intended to facilitate fan engagement and transport during the tournament.

Dheeraj Hinduja, said, “We are delighted to join hands with the Chennai Super Kings, a team that embodies excellence, consistency, and a winning spirit. Through this partnership, we celebrate our shared values of resilience and high performance. We are proud to support a team that has brought immense pride to our home city.”

KS Viswanathan, Managing Director, Chennai Super Kings, added, “We are excited to welcome Ashok Leyland to the Chennai Super Kings family as our Official Sponsor. Ashok Leyland is an iconic brand with deep roots in Chennai and a legacy of excellence that mirrors CSK’s own journey. This partnership brings together two institutions built on performance, resilience, and a strong community connect.”

Shenu Agarwal, stated, “Our brand strategy has always focused on building strong emotional connections with our audience. This partnership is not just about a logo on a jersey—it is about being part of the journey of champions and engaging with millions of fans who value quality and reliability.”

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Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation has opened a new centre of competence in Chennai called the Fuso Technical Centre India. The development reflects the passion to drive the Fuso brand of commercial vehicles to new heights post the global development of separation of Fuso brand from the Daimler brand. Mitsubishi Fuso and Toyota’ Hino are now under Archion brand, which was announced in mid-2025. Archion as a separate entity – a new Japanese holding company formed by the merger of Daimler Truck's Mitsubishi Fuso and Toyota's Hino Motors – is set to launch on 1 April 2026. 
The development also reflects the role of the Chennai facility of Daimler India Commercial Vehicles in nurturing the Fuso brand since 2013. The facility has produced Fuso brand of commercial vehicles besides three other brands (BharatBenz, Freightliner and Mercedes-Benz) since 2013.  Against this backdrop, the new Fuso tech centre in Chennai has come up on a tight schedule and will have hundreds of new engineers among others. 
If this would beg to ask how the arrangement will be in the future and whether Fuso trucks will continue to be made in the Chennai facility, which is essentially a Daimer Trucks property, the fact is, the connection of Fuso trucks goes a long way with India and its commercial vehicle market. 
Since 2013, the Daimler Oragadam facility on the outskirts of Chennai has produced Fuso trucks for 100 percent export. It has been instrumental in changing the image of the Japanese commercial brand from one that would make light vehicles to the one that makes heavy-duty ones. 
 

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American commercial vehicle manufacturer Mack Trucks has revealed the redesigned Mack Granite at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The vocational truck features a new cab, updated safety technology and a shift in performance specifications ahead of its display at ConExpo-Con/Agg 2026.

The Granite introduces the Mack Protect safety suite, incorporating front camera and radar with 270-degree coverage. It is the first vocational truck to include radar systems on both the driver and passenger sides.

It features an electronic park brake with rollaway protection and automatic release. A standard system that contacts emergency services upon airbag deployment or rollover detection. Support for up to five camera inputs and an optional digital mirror system. It gets standard front and available side-curtain airbags.

The model is powered by the new Mack MP13 engine, producing up to 540 HP and 1,950 lbft of torque. Mack reports a 3 percent improvement in fuel efficiency over previous versions. The updated mDRIVE automated manual transmission offers 30 percent faster shifts and is available in 12-speed, 13-speed and 14-speed configurations.

Alternatively, customers can specify a Cummins X10 engine paired with an Allison automatic transmission. The truck utilises the MaxRide air load-distributing suspension, a proprietary eight-bag system designed for load management.

The galvanised steel cab is nine inches wider at the B-pillar than the previous model. It features a bonded curved windshield and meets Swedish Impact (BOF10) safety standards.

Interior updates include:

• Ergonomics: A flat-bottom steering wheel and steering column-mounted shifter.
• Displays: A digital instrument cluster and a three-way adjustable steering column.
• Utility: A bodybuilder tower between seats for control mounting and a t-slot dashboard for device attachment.
• Comfort: HVAC ducting in the door panels to deliver air at the driver's shoulder level.

The Granite will be produced at the Lehigh Valley Operations facility in Pennsylvania. Orders are scheduled to open in the second half of 2026, with production commencing in January 2027.

Stephen Roy, President, Mack Trucks, said, “The all-new Mack Granite embodies everything Mack stands for: legendary durability, uncompromising performance and a commitment to our customers who depend on these trucks to get the toughest jobs done. We’ve completely reimagined the Granite from the ground up, bringing the same level of innovation we delivered with our Pioneer and Anthem models to the vocational market.”

Alex Lee, Senior Product Manager, Mack Trucks, stated, “We’re bringing safety technologies to the North American vocational market that have never been available before. Features like the ePark Brake, 270-degree radar coverage and E911 auto-call are going to make a real difference in protecting drivers who work in some of the most challenging environments.”

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