In what may come as a welcome push for road safety in India, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) plans to launch a new safety assessment rating for trucks and commercial vehicles on the lines of the Bharat New Car Assessment Program (BNCAP).

The announcement was made by Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways, while inaugurating a two-day workshop of Vehicle and Fleet safety jointly organised by the Global New Car Assessment Program (GNCAP) and the Institute of Road Traffic Education (IRTE).

“The idea is to encourage manufacturers to improve the production quality, making vehicles safer. Similarly, the government is already working on standards and a safety assessment system for battery-operated e-rikshaws in the country, as they suffer from safety issues. The safety improvement in e-rickshaws will improve their quality and generate more employment. India accounts for the highest number of fatal road accidents with 4.8 lakh road crashes each year resulting in 1.8 lakh deaths. The government’s top priority is on road safety, expansion of safe highways and vehicle safety and bolstering electric vehicles. The ministry is also working on reducing logistics cost to 9 percent in the next couple of years from the present 14-16 percent, as the automobile industry plays a key role in India’s economic growth.”

He further added that MoRTH was now also working on a law to determine the working hours for truck drivers. At present, many truckers continue to drive vehicles for 13-14 hours a day, as the country is facing a shortage of truck drivers.

The government also plans to set up 32 state-of-the-art driving institutes across the country. Air conditioning of driver compartments has already been made mandatory by the ministry. Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) to assist drivers has also been made mandatory”, the minister added.

It was just a few days back government introduced road safety as part of the school curriculum for students of classes 1-12, the modules are expected to be introduced in the current academic year.

David Ward, President Emeritus, Global NCAP, said, “Consumers in India with most vehicles having GNCAP and BNCAP assessment ratings have a better choice of safer vehicles. It is a good moment towards the UN objective of road safety by 2030.”

Dr Rohit Baluja, President, IRTE, added, “The two-day workshop will review progress in vehicle safety worldwide and in India since 2000 and the priority actions needed to achieve further improvements by 2030 and beyond. In particular, the meeting will examine efforts to improve automobile safety worldwide by reviewing the progress made by the G20 major economies, including India, to implement the Global Plan vehicle safety recommendations and feature special sessions on fleet and motorcycle safety.”

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VE Commercial Vehicles (VECV) has announced the appointment of B Srinivas as Managing Director and CEO, effective 1 April 2026.

At present, he serves as the Chief Operating Officer and will now succeed Vinod Aggarwal. He has worked with Eicher for over three decades across product strategy, purchasing, sales and marketing. He previously led the Eicher Bus business and served as Head of Product Strategy and Purchasing between 2022 and 2024.

Aggarwal, who has led VECV for 16 years, will now become the Chairman of the Board. He replaces Sofia Frandberg, who completes her three-year term as Chairperson, and will continue to be on the Board of VECV.

In addition, Rajinder Singh Sachdeva has been nominated to the Board following his retirement as Deputy CEO and Chief Transformation Officer. He replaces Raul Rai, who steps down as Director.

The leadership shift comes as VECV continues its strategy of expanding into new segments and markets. Since its formation in 2008, the joint venture has invested in capacity and technology to increase its presence in the Indian commercial vehicle market.

Siddhartha Lal, Chairman, Eicher Motors (EML), said, “I am delighted with the appointment of B Srinivas as the new Managing Director and CEO of VECV. It strengthens our well calibrated, long-term strategy and continuity at VECV. I have personally worked with Srinivas for over twenty-five years and seen his hands-on and inclusive leadership style. He is a thoughtful and courageous leader, and is willing to make changes and strategic shifts towards achieving the company’s long- term goals. I believe the company will benefit tremendously from his leadership – combining his customer focused approach, technological acumen and collaborative style. I wish him the best in his new role and look forward to working with him.”

Vinod Aggarwal, added, “My heartiest congratulations to Srinivas as he steps into the role of Managing Director & CEO of VECV. With over three decades of experience, he brings along a deep understanding of our legacy, versatile experience of the business and a strategic vision to scale new heights. I am confident he will accelerate our growth trajectory. I wish him great success and look forward to working with him as I transition into my new role as the Chairman of the company.”

B Srinivas, said, “My journey with Eicher has been truly remarkable. Having spent thirty-one years here in various capacities both in commercial and technical roles including the last two years as the Chief Operating Officer of VECV, I am looking forward to embarking on this next phase. I would like to thank the Board of VE Commercial Vehicles. for this opportunity, and entrusting me to drive our growth trajectory alongside my team.”

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Mahindra’s Truck and Bus Division has inaugurated a Sales, Service and Spares (3S) dealership in Hubli, Karnataka, in partnership with Indhu India Motors.

The facility includes seven service bays capable of maintaining more than seven vehicles per day, it also provides driver lodging, 24-hour breakdown assistance and AdBlue supplies. This expansion follows four years of volume growth for the division and brings Mahindra’s national network to more than 200 3S dealerships and 400 secondary service touchpoints.

At present, the Mahindra Group currently holds a 7 percent market share in the Indian truck and bus industry, with a 24 percent share specifically in the Intermediate and Light Commercial Vehicle (I&LCV) bus segment. The company has set a target to increase its total market share to 10-12 percent by FY2031 and over 20 percent by FY2036.

It’s current commercial vehicle range includes the BLAZO X, FURIO, OPTIMO and JAYO models. These vehicles are integrated with iMAXX, a telematics solution designed to provide fleet owners with data and control over transport operations.

The company offers two specific service guarantees for its truck range:

Roadside Support: A guarantee to have vehicles back on the road within 48 hours, or the company pays the customer INR 1,000 per day.

Workshop Turnaround: A guarantee of vehicle turnaround within 36 hours at a dealership workshop, or the company pays INR 3,000 per day.

Vinod Sahay, President – Trucks, Buses & Construction Equipment, said, "Delighted to inaugurate our new state-of-the-art dealership in Hubli. Indhu India Motors becomes another new dealership of Mahindra Trucks and Buses in Karnataka. Together, Mahindra Trucks and Buses and SML now have over 200 3S dealerships and over 400 secondary service touchpoints for trucks and buses across the country, providing world-class customer care to our valued customers. The Mahindra Group now holds close to 7% market share in trucks and buses, with a 24 percent market share in I&LCV buses. We are targeting to increase our market share to 10-12 percent by FY2031 and over 20 percent by FY2036."

Dr Venkat Srinivas, Business Head – Mahindra Trucks, Buses & Construction Equipment, added, “Our obsession with customer-centricity has driven us towards creating disruptive value propositions for our customers. Be it the guaranteed higher mileage of our entire product range, or the most advanced telematics solution – iMAXX, which gives the fleet owners complete control over their transport business or a rapidly growing network of dealerships and other formats of after-sales support paraphernalia, we are committed to impart the best customer experience in the Indian Commercial vehicle industry."

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IVECO BUS has signed two agreements in Uzbekistan to establish Completely Knocked Down (CKD) production of the DAILY minibus and nationwide distribution of its product portfolio. The move marks an expansion of the manufacturer's presence in Central Asia.

Production is scheduled to commence in May 2026 in partnership with Asaka Motors International. Distribution operations will be managed by ASAKA EFVI TRUCK AND BUS JV. The partners have set a target of 500 units in the first year, with plans to increase annual production and sales to 1,000 units within three years.

The CKD project is intended to support the development of an industrial ecosystem in Uzbekistan. By combining engineering with local manufacturing, the initiative aims to facilitate job creation and technical skills transfer within the national automotive sector.

The initial production programme will focus on the DAILY minibus, including diesel and electric versions. The vehicles are intended for use in urban and intercity transport, corporate fleets and tourism. Local assembly is expected to manage the total cost of ownership and reduce delivery times.

Sascha Kaehne, IVECO BUS AMEA Bus Commercial Operations, said, “The agreements signed in Uzbekistan represent an important step in our international growth strategy. By establishing local CKD production and a robust distribution structure, we are building a solid foundation for long-term development in Central Asia.”

Jalilov Avazbek, CEO, Asaka Motors International, added, “We are proud to collaborate with IVECO BUS to deliver advanced transport solutions in Uzbekistan. This partnership strengthens our industrial capabilities and supports the modernization of passenger mobility in the country.”

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NEMBHARAT, a zero-commission ride-hailing platform, has formalised a welfare framework for its commercial driver partners. The scheme includes an INR 1.5 million insurance cover and an employment guarantee within the company's mobility ecosystem.

The insurance is designed to support drivers and their families in instances of accident, illness, or death. World Economic Mobility Limited (WEML), the operator of NEMBHARAT, stated the initiative aligns with the New Labour Laws of 2025 regarding social security for gig and platform workers.

To qualify for the insurance coverage, drivers must operate commercially registered vehicles and complete the National Mobility Star Training Programme. This training is part of a broader effort to standardise service quality across the platform.

NEMBHARAT is introducing non-ride monetisation channels to provide income stability. Drivers who can no longer operate vehicles will be offered roles in sectors linked to the platform, such as: tourism services, inter-city mobility and hospitality logistics.

Governed by the NARAYANIHITI Trust, NEMBHARAT operates on a prepaid, cashless system. The platform does not charge subscriptions or commissions to its drivers. This model is intended to provide clarity on earnings for drivers and predictable fares for passengers.

Dr Kanchi Sharma, Director and COO, WEML, said, “India’s labour laws have laid an important foundation for strengthening worker welfare. In line with this vision, NEMBHARAT aims to support driver partners by enabling financial protection and promoting income stability. As part of expanding earning opportunities beyond ride-based trips, NEMBHARAT is also introducing non-ride monetization channels for its driver partners. Drivers who are unable to continue operating vehicles will be offered alternative roles within sectors linked to the mobility ecosystem. These roles include work across tourism services, inter-city mobility support and hospitality logistics connected to the platform’s network.”

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