Mahindra Group has announced the appointment of Abanti Sankaranarayanan as Chief Group Public Affairs Officer effective 1 July, 2022. In this role, Abanti will lead Group Public Affairs (India & international), Group Sustainability and the Group Risk and Economist functions, the company said in a statement. Abanti will be a part of the Group Executive Board reporting to Dr. Anish Shah, Managing Director and CEO, Mahindra Group. 

She will be taking over the Group Public Affairs portfolio from Manoj Chugh, President, Group Public Affairs, who will be retiring on 1 April 2023. 

Dr. Anish Shah said, “At the Mahindra Group, Public Policy and Sustainability are pivotal and we are committed to leading ESG globally. It is paramount that we engage with all our relevant stakeholders proactively and effectively. This is a diversified role, which needed a seasoned leader to manage multiple stakeholders. Abanti is an accomplished business leader with vast experience across corporate affairs, social impact, strategy and managing large businesses. I am confident that she will be able to build the functions and help us in achieving our goals. I would also like to thank Manoj Chugh for his exemplary services to the Mahindra Group. He has been an integral part of our growth journey, contributing significantly to the organisation in his various roles.” 

Prior to joining the Mahindra Group, Abanti was Chief Strategy and Corporate Affairs Officer & Member – Executive Committee at Diageo India where her responsibilities included Public Policy, Regulatory and Trade, Market Access, Corporate Communication, Corporate Social Impact, Strategy and Ventures. Abanti joined Diageo India as Marketing and Innovation leader in 2010 and was subsequently promoted to Managing Director, Diageo India Pvt Ltd, leading Diageo’s business mandate for international spirits in India. She assumed the role of Chief Strategy and Corporate Affairs Director for the region in 2015, setting up these new functions as core and strategic to the business and a strong and integrated business partner to the rest of the company.  

Prior to Diageo, Abanti served as a member of the Tata Administrative Service (TAS) cadre since 1992 in various General Management and Marketing roles, across Tata Global Beverages (India & UK), the Taj Group of Hotels (India & the US), Tata Housing and Tata Finance. 

Abanti has been recognised by Business Today (Most Powerful Women in Business and Economy - 2019, 2020), Fortune India (The Most Powerful Women in Business - 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2016), IMPACT (50 Most Influential Women in Media, Marketing and Advertising - 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017), India Today (India’s 25 Most Influential Women, 2013) and Fast Company, New York (100 Most Creative People in Business, 2012), the release added. (MT)

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The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) and Eicher Trucks & Buses, a division of VE Commercial Vehicles (VECV), have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) regarding the replacement scheme for commercial vehicles in the Delhi-NCR region.

Under the agreement, Eicher Trucks & Buses will provide an 8 percent discount on the ex-showroom price of eligible vehicles. CV customers can also receive additional support regarding motor vehicle tax, registration fees, interest subvention and fuel benefits, as defined by the scheme criteria. The process will be managed through a digital platform integrated with the VAHAN database and the vehicle scrapping ecosystem.

S S Gill, Chief Commercial Officer, VE Commercial Vehicles, said, “For over 4 decades, Eicher Trucks and Buses customers have driven modernisation in the Indian CV industry. Carrying this tradition, Eicher Trucks and Buses is pleased to join hands with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways on their path-breaking policy to replace old and polluting vehicles from the NCR region. Eicher customers will gain from the substantial incentives offered by the Government of India and State Governments of Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan under this program."

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Chennai-headquartered commercial vehicle major Ashok Leyland has introduced a new range of trucks equipped with air suspension, which includes three models: the AVTR 4925 10x2 MAV, the AVTR 4625 10x2 MAV and the AVTR 4525 8x2 MAV. These vehicles offer payload advantages of up to 4 tonnes.

The trucks are designed to provide stability, reduce vibrations and improve tyre life. The company says that the suspension system requires no greasing, facilitating maintenance-free operations.

The new air-suspension-equipped truck range is available in cowl and cabin options with various loading spans. Standard features include Intelligent Vehicle Acceleration Control (iVAC) and Automatic Traction Control (ATC) to assist with fuel efficiency and traction.

Shenu Agarwal, Managing Director & CEO, Ashok Leyland, said, "Ashok Leyland has always been a technology leader in the Indian CV industry. Since our inception we have been known for introducing technology solutions that create meaningful value for customers. With the launch of the new Air Suspension technology in trucks, we are reinforcing that position. These new trucks offer best in class payload capability, improved comfort, and better performance, helping our customers improve productivity and profitability."

Sanjeev Kumar, President MHCV, Ashok Leyland, added, "Customers today are looking for vehicles that provide better efficiency, reliability, and value throughout their operations. Our new air suspension range has been developed keeping these requirements in mind. With benefits such as improved vehicle stability, reduced vibrations, superior ride comfort, and improved tyre life, these trucks are designed to deliver a better ownership experience for customers."

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Pune-headquartered Force Motors has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) to participate in the Commercial Vehicle Replacement Scheme for the Delhi-NCR region.

The scheme facilitates the replacement of BS-IV and older trucks and buses in Delhi-NCR with BS-VI or electric vehicles to lower emissions. Under the agreement, Force Motors will provide benefits to customers through its dealership network in the region.

Prasan Firodia, Managing Director, Force Motors, said, "Force Motors is pleased to partner with the Government of India in this important initiative to modernise the commercial vehicle fleet in the Delhi-NCR region. The scheme aligns with our commitment to delivering cleaner, more efficient mobility solutions. We look forward to enabling fleet operators and customers to transition to the latest generation of commercial vehicles through this collaborative initiative."

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Chennai-headquartered automotive major Ashok Leyland has inaugurated a new dealership for Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs) in Ratnagiri. This facility is the 16th LCV dealership in Maharashtra, adding to a distribution network of 950 touchpoints across India.

The new dealership is operated by Lavekar Motors as a 3S (Sales, Service and Spares) facility, which features 8 service bays and is located near Mahanagar CNG Pump.

Viplav Shah, Head – LCV Business, Ashok Leyland Ltd. said, “Maharashtra has always been an important market for us, and we are excited to further strengthen our presence in this region. Our relationship with customers is built on trust, performance, and shared growth. Our products are known for their superior mileage, reliability, and performance with a robust network and an industry-leading service retention, we take pride in the continued confidence our customers place in us. The opening of this new dealership marks yet another step in our commitment to delivering world-class products and unmatched services to our valued customers.”

Till date, Ashok Leyland has sold over 600,000 LCVs in India, which are manufactured at the Hosur plant.

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