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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GreenCell Mobility (GCM) has announced the deployment of 570 electric buses in Delhi to expand the city's zero-emission public transport. The initiative follows an USD 89 million investment round from the International Finance Corporation (IFC), British International Investment (BII) and Tata Capital.

The deployment began with a recent event at Ramlila Maidan, where 500 electric buses were introduced by the Delhi Government.

GreenCell Mobility will supply 12-metre, air-conditioned buses featuring batteries designed for Delhi's road conditions. The vehicles will operate from depots in Rajghat, Dilshad Garden and Seemapuri.

The e-buses come with an Integrated Transport Management System (ITMS), real-time vehicle tracking and internal and reversing cameras. It also is equipped with Passenger Information Systems and infrastructure for differently-abled commuters.

Beyond the capital, GreenCell Mobility is executing projects across several states including 700 buses Uttar Pradesh, 750 buses in Andhra Pradesh, 582 buses in Madhya Pradesh, 400 buses in Bihar and 50 intercity buses for MSRTC in Maharashtra.

Backed by Eversource Capital, GCM currently operates a fleet of over 1,200 electric buses supported by 270 charging stations. Following the recent funding, the company plans to scale its total fleet to over 3,700 electric buses under the National E-Bus and PM Seva E-Mobility programmes.

Devndra Chawla, MD & CEO, GreenCell Mobility, said, “Delhi’s electric bus rollout represents the next phase of India’s public transport transition from pilots to scaled, city-wide adoption. This deployment showcases how institutional capital, policy intent and operational capability can come together to deliver clean mobility at scale. Our focus is not just on adding electric buses but on building a reliable, technology-led public transport ecosystem that cities can depend on over the long term.”

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Mahindra Group has announced plans to build its largest integrated manufacturing facility for automobiles and tractors in Nagpur, Maharashtra. The announcement was made during the Advantage Vidarbha industrial event.

The company has committed a total investment of INR 15,000 crore over a 10-year period to strengthen its footprint in the state. The project includes a 1,500-acre site in Vidarbha and a 150-acre supplier park in Sambhajinagar.

Upon completion, the facility will have an annual production capacity of 500,000 vehicles and 100,000 tractors. Production is scheduled to commence in 2028.

The location provides access to the Samruddhi Expressway and rail links for domestic and export distribution. The Sambhajinagar supplier park will provide components to this new plant as well as existing facilities in Chakan and Nashik to improve logistics and localisation.

The automotive unit will support the NU_IQ architecture and produce vehicles across internal combustion engine (ICE), electric vehicle (EV) and other powertrain technologies. The facility will utilise automation and digital systems. Additionally, Mahindra will acquire land in the Igatpuri-Nashik region to expand engine and product capacities for its technology business.

Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister of Maharashtra, said, “Mahindra’s decision to establish its largest integrated auto and tractor manufacturing facility in Maharashtra is a strong endorsement of the state’s robust industrial ecosystem and progressive policy framework. This landmark investment will generate significant employment, accelerate regional development in Vidarbha and surrounding areas, and further reinforce Maharashtra’s position as a leading manufacturing hub in India.”

Rajesh Jejurikar, Executive Director & CEO, Auto and Farm Sector, Mahindra & Mahindra, said, “This facility represents a bold step forward in Mahindra’s manufacturing journey. Designed to support our next generation of vehicles and tractors, it brings together scale, flexibility and advanced technology within one integrated footprint. It strengthens our ability to deliver world-class products while staying true to our commitment to ‘Make in India for the World.’ We are proud to deepen our partnership with the state of Maharashtra through this transformative investment.”

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SANY India has expanded its national network with the opening of two new 3S dealerships, reinforcing its market presence and customer-first philosophy. In a strategic partnership with M/s. Avni Automobiles, the company inaugurated a facility in Indore designed to serve Madhya Pradesh. This location will provide comprehensive sales, service and spare parts support to customers in Indore and surrounding key areas, including Dewas, Pithampur, Sanwer, Hatod and Betma. Simultaneously, the company launched a second new 3S outlet in Thiruvarur, Tamil Nadu, which operates under a Company Owned and Company Operated model to directly enhance regional engagement and support.

Both state-of-the-art facilities feature a modern showroom, a dedicated service bay and an organised spare parts section, all structured to ensure a seamless customer experience and efficient access to SANY’s extensive range of construction, mining, road, logistics and energy equipment. The Indore inauguration was marked by the presence of Rahul Tiwari, Regional Manager of SANY India, alongside senior officials from both SANY and Avni Automobiles. Similarly, the Thiruvarur opening included T Ravishankar, Regional Manager, and Karthik M, COCO Head of SANY Trichy, with other senior SANY India leaders.

These inaugurations represent significant milestones in SANY’s growth trajectory, aimed at supporting regional infrastructure development. The expansions underscore the company’s commitment to delivering world-class products and unmatched after-sales support through localised excellence, thereby strengthening its nationwide network to meet growing customer needs across India.

Rangasami S, Head – Mini & Small Excavator, SANY India, said, “Madhya Pradesh has always been the frontier of infrastructure growth in central India, driven by rapid growth and increasing investments in Bharatmala, mining and urban development projects. Our partnership with M/s. Avni Automobiles for this 3S dealership marks a significant step towards strengthening our service network and enhancing customer accessibility. With this addition, we aim to deliver not only superior products but also prompt support and holistic solutions to our customers in the region.”

Abhishek Jain, Founder, M/s. Avni Automobiles, said, “We are excited to partner with SANY India, a brand known for its engineering excellence, customer satisfaction and commitment to innovation. Through this 3S dealership, we are committed to offering end-to-end solutions from sales to service and spare parts. This partnership reinforces our commitment to provide reliable & timely support to customers in and around Indore. We are dedicated to supporting the infrastructure growth of the region in collaboration with SANY India.”

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The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) and Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop a rating system for commercial driving. The partnership aims to establish a framework for driving standards, insurance assessments and background checks.

The project focuses on creating a technology stack to support a digital public infrastructure for a nationwide rollout. This initiative addresses the current difficulties in monitoring commercial driver performance, safety and well-being, which are often affected by inconsistent standards and limited accountability.

The system will use data-driven approaches, leveraging smartphone inputs and vehicle sensor data to evaluate driving behaviour. The goal is to provide fleet operators, insurers and government bodies with a tool to track performance and compliance in real time.

Prof Gitakrishnan Ramadurai, Project Coordinator at IIT Madras, said, “Trucks and truck drivers are the backbone of our country. This project provides them an aadhaar for their good work. The driver rating system rewards good driving and helps correct risky driving thereby saving lives, money and time for all stakeholders.”

The collaboration combines academic research with industrial application to translate data into scalable products. By incentivising responsible driving, the system is intended to improve employability for drivers and provide data for policymaking.

Prof. Ashwin Mahalingam, Dean of Alumni and Corporate Relations at IIT Madras, said, “IIT Madras has been at the forefront of research in road safety and mobility, with the goal of building systems, processes, and infrastructure that ensure safer outcomes for our roads, drivers and commuters. Our partnership with Daimler is a testament to our shared commitment to this vision and also emphasises how industry-academia collaborations play a crucial role in translating research into impactful, scalable and ready-to-implement products and processes that deliver meaningful societal impact.”

For Daimler India Commercial Vehicles, the partnership aligns with corporate sustainability goals focused on driver professionalism and safety within the transport ecosystem.

Alexander Schoen, Chief Financial Officer, Daimler India Commercial Vehicles, stated, “At DICV, road safety and responsible mobility are central to how we approach sustainability. This collaboration with IIT Madras reflects our commitment to using technology and data-driven innovation to create meaningful, scalable solutions that improve driver safety, professionalism, and well-being across the commercial transport ecosystem. By contributing to the development of a universal driver rating framework, we aim to support safer roads, stronger livelihoods, and a more accountable mobility system for India.”

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