The Bus and Car Operators Confederation of India (BOCI) announced the Prawaas 4.0 exhibition to be held from 29 – 31 August 2024 at the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre (BIEC).

Prawaas 4.0 is an effort towards multi-modal transportation, where it will carve the future of mobility. The conference will host expert talks, exhibit displays of latest technology in the sector and an award ceremony will recognize exceptional contributions and the talent within this industry. Poised to be an unparalleled convergence, bringing together over 100+ expert speakers, 200+ leading exhibitors, 1500+ industry delegates, and 6000+ bus and car operators, with an expected attendance of over 10,000 business visitors.

The theme of Prawaas 4.0 this year will be ‘Safe, Smart, and Sustainable Passenger Mobility’ and promises to bring together the entire spectrum of multimodal transport stakeholders. This includes manufacturers of buses and cars, fleet owners, as well as partners in metro and LEVs from all 36 States and Union Territories of India. In this edition of Prawaas, a significant emphasis will be placed on the school Bus segment, Tourism, Electric Vehicles (EV), and Metro systems.

The unveiling of the Prawaas 4.0 was graced by esteemed dignitaries such as Ramalinga Reddy, Minister for Transport and Muzrai, Government of Karnataka; Jagdeo Singh Khalsa, Chairman, BOCI, Prasanna Patwardhan, President, BOCI; Alah Baksh Afzal, General Secretary, BOCI; Harsh Kotak, Treasurer, BOCI and Jagdish Patankar, Executive Chairman, MM Activ, the Event Curators. 

Realizing the vision of "Viksit Bharat" by the Prime Minister, Prawaas 4.0 advocates for increased utilization of public transport. This promotes the reduction of road congestion while also conforming to sustainability objectives.

The associates for the event include Karnataka State Bus Owners Association, Karnataka State Tourism Private Transport Owners Association, Karnataka State Travel Operators Association, Karnataka Tourist Motor Cab Maxi Owners Welfare Association, Bangalore Tourist Taxi Owners Association.

Tata Motors, Redbus, Eberspaecher Suetrak, Abhibus, VECV, Ashok Leyland, JBM, Repose, Bitla, Mahindra School Bus Division, Urjja Bus, MG Motor, Valeo, Trans ACNR, Valeo Motherson and more corporates are also expected to participate.

“In the past three years, Prawaas has united the Bus, Taxi, and Transport industry to address regulatory needs and system improvements. State and Central government support is vital for enhancing quality of life and industry growth. Our focus is on delivering top-notch tourism experiences, necessitating infrastructure improvements, safe roads, better accessibility, and reduced taxes. Nationwide, 380 million people travel by bus, with Karnataka alone hosting 120 million passengers in KSRTC buses. Prioritizing tourism development will drive growth in the transport sector. We have already boosted accessibility with the online All India Permit Service and reduced parking fees at the Kalasipalyam bus stop. We will back the entire ecosystem, aiming to generate Rs 500 crores annually. Let's stand together to ensure the event's success,” said Shri Ramalinga Reddy, Minster for Transport and Muzrai, Government of Karnataka.

"In the bustling streets of Bangalore, a city thriving with transportation innovation, we stand at a pivotal juncture, recalling Darwin's enduring wisdom: adaptability is paramount for survival. The growing demand for accessible public transport is evident, given the surge in personal vehicles and infrastructure costs. Presently, private businesses own 92 percent of buses in India, while 85 percent of the populace relies solely on public transit. This underscores the urgent need to reconsider public transport, bridge the gap between private and public transit, and reform taxes to incentivize bus usage. Every step towards a brighter future showcases our shared commitment and collective foresight," said Prasanna Patwardhan, President, BOCI.

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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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US-headquartered electronic systems and technology company for commercial vehicles, buses, coaches, and off-highway equipment, Stoneridge, has announced its participation in IAA Transportation 2026.

The company is set to exhibit the EVO ECU platform, an electronic control unit designed to support the transition to software-defined vehicles (SDVs). The unit provides processing capability and connectivity, intended to manage vehicle complexity while reducing integration efforts and system costs.

Natalia Noblet, President and CEO, Stoneridge, said, “IAA Transportation will provide our first opportunity to showcase the significant advancements we have invested in to support our customers’ evolving needs. Our investments in engineering, software development, and customer-focused innovation are enabling us to deliver solutions that improve safety, simplify vehicle integration and increase operational efficiency.”

Stoneridge will also feature its Innovation Truck, a demonstrator vehicle equipped with an integrated vision solution and connected tractor and trailer technologies. The display follows the MirrorEye Camera Monitor System, for which the company has produced over 150,000 units. The demonstrator serves to show the integration of the company's technology portfolio for driver awareness and fleet operations.

Christian Leblanc, Global Vice-President of Product and Project Management, Stoneridge, said, “Vehicle architectures are evolving rapidly as manufacturers seek greater functionality, flexibility, and efficiency. EVO ECU has been designed to address these challenges by providing a high-performance platform that simplifies integration while enabling future expansion for emerging safety, security, and connectivity applications. Equally as importantly, the platform has been designed with commercial vehicle manufacturers in mind. It provides the scalability required to support future innovations while helping customers reduce complexity throughout sourcing, validation, and deployment.”

Stoneridge employs approximately 3,200 people. Its European operations include offices and technology centres in Sweden, the Netherlands, Estonia, France and the United Kingdom.

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New Holland, a brand of CNH Group, has expanded its farm mechanisation portfolio in India with the launch of its new HD and XHD Series Rotary Tillers (Rotavators). The new range is manufactured at the company’s facility in Pune.

The equipment is designed for diverse soil types and agro-climatic zones, aiming to improve soil preparation, productivity, and field performance. A high swing diameter facilitates deeper tillage, improving seed-to-soil contact. The heavy-duty multi-speed gearbox allows farmers to adjust operations based on specific soil conditions, which the company states helps optimise fuel use and save time. The units incorporate Metal Twin-Faced (MTF) seals to protect the rotor hub from water ingress, and utilise DTM paint technology for corrosion resistance.

Tarun Khanna, Director Marketing (AG) India, New Holland, said, "Farm mechanisation is increasingly becoming a key driver of agricultural productivity and efficiency in India. As farmers look for equipment that can deliver superior performance, durability and operational efficiency, the demand for reliable mechanisation solutions continues to grow. The launch of our HD and XHD Series Rotary Tillers reinforces New Holland's commitment to supporting Indian farmers with advanced implements that are engineered for demanding field conditions and designed to enhance productivity."

Following the national unveiling at the company's Greater Noida facility, New Holland plans to introduce the range through a series of dealer-level launches across India. This release is part of the brand’s broader strategy to offer a comprehensive suite of agricultural implements to support modern farming practices.

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