India’s commercial vehicle (CV) industry is rapidly aligning with global standards, thanks to policy reforms, evolving customer expectations and a robust domestic ecosystem. Automakers and suppliers are making significant strides in cost competitiveness, safety innovations and integrating alternative energy solutions. As the sector continues to evolve, the need for collaboration and strategic discussions has never been more critical.

Recognising this imperative, Motoring Trends, a leading automotive magazine, hosted its inaugural Commercial Vehicles Conference on 21st November 2024, in Pune, India. Themed ‘Moving India Forward’, the event served as a platform for industry leaders, including OEMs, suppliers, technocrats, fleet operators and industry partners, to address challenges and identify opportunities shaping the future of the Indian CV landscape.

By bringing together stakeholders from across the value chain, the conference underscored the importance of collective action in driving innovation, enhancing safety standards, and adopting sustainable practices. As the CV industry transforms to meet global benchmarks, such forums are vital to ensuring India’s leadership in the sector while addressing its unique market dynamics and needs.

Mahindra Truck & Bus, Ashok Leyland and Apollo Tyres supported the event as sponsors, while Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) was the Associate partner, while Asian Trucker and Tyre Trends were the Media partners. The delegates at the event attended from a range of companies such as Tata Motors, MAN Trucks, Continental India, Tyresoles India, and Volvo Trucks among others.

The event kicked off with Dr Seshu Bhagavathula, Director, CityQ and an automotive industry veteran delivering the Keynote address, where he highlighted how urban cities around the world are working to decongest and decarbonise their streets. “This (decongestion and decarbonisation) requires a serious relook and focus on improving urban mobility as well as the role of alternative energy to support the transition,” Dr Bhagavathula.

Rashmi Urdhwareshe, Former Director, Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) shared her perspective on how the automotive industry has been focussing on not just introducing the latest technologies, but also co-developing solutions to meet the India-specific needs. She emphasised  the close cooperation between testing agencies, suppliers and OEMs that is accelerating the transition to the latest technologies.

Making commercial vehicles safer

The commercial vehicle population on Indian roads accounts for a small parc of the total vehicles, but ranks 3^rd when it comes to the vehicles involved in road accidents. In 2022, more than 460,000 accidents took place in India, which resulted in over 168,491 people losing their lives and over 443,366 people being injured.

The first panel discussion of the day focussed on one of the most important aspects pertaining to the CV industry – Safety. The panellists for the session included – Dr Venkat Srinivas, Head Of Business, Mahindra Truck & Bus; Rahul S. Mahajan, Deputy Director, The Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI); Sudeepth Puthumana, Head of Segment – ADAS, Autonomous Mobility, Continental Automotive India and Prashant Kakade, Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH).

The session, moderated by Bhushan Mhapralkar, Editor, Motoring Trends, touched upon various factors ranging from ADAS technology, and road designing to driver training and sensitisation.

SKP Amarnath, Group Head - R&D, Apollo Tyres gave a presentation on ‘Commercial Vehicle (Truck) Evolution In India And Impact On Tyres’. He dwelled into the key developments that have taken place in the CV industry and how tyres can play a key role in influencing vehicle safety and efficiency.

Vijay Shrinivas, Member, TREA - Tyre Retreading Education Association and CEO, Indag, gave a presentation on ‘Driving Sustainability and Circularity in Commercial Vehicle Industry’. He presented his thoughts on how treading not only helps save costs on tyre replacement but also enables higher circularity and thus helps reduce carbon emissions too.

Alternative energy & future of commercial vehicles

The role of alternative energy has been a key topic of discussion globally across vehicle segments. While there has been a focus on electrification in certain vehicle classes, the commercial vehicle segment will need to adopt a mixed approach depending on the application and use case.

The second panel discussion was on the topic of Alternative Energy and the Future of Commercial Vehicle. The panellists – Dr Bhagavathula ; Mahesh Babu, CEO, Switch Mobility; Anil Baliga, President, EKA Mobility; Boddapati Dinakar, Executive Vice-President, Sales & Marketing, Volvo Trucks, VECV; Shailesh Zinge, Director - Marketing, Growth Initiatives and Program Management, Engine Business, Cummins India and A Ramasubramanian, CTO, Blue Energy Motors presented their perspective on the alternative fuel segment.

The session was moderated by Nilesh Wadhwa, Assistant Editor, Motoring Trends.

The discussion focussed on how industry stakeholders were exploring various energy mix ranging from electric, LNG to future fuels such as hydrogen and fuel cells. The panellists agreed that globally too at present there was no single fuel that could completely overhaul the commercial vehicles segment. There was a need to not only focus on the vehicles but the necessary charging/refuelling ecosystem.

Transport ecosystem

The health of the CV industry is one of the key barometers to understand a country’s economic prosperity. While one can discuss the trends, policies and technologies, it is imperative that the views of the key stakeholder – fleet operators – are taken into account.

The third panel discussion of the day was on the topic of ‘Transport Ecosystem’. The panellists for the session were - Bal Malkit Singh, Chairman - the Core Committee, Former President, All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) Prasanna Patwardhan, President, Bus & Car Operators Confederation Of India (BOCI) and Sanjay Sasane, Principal, Institute of Driving Training and Research (IDTR).

The session, moderated by Sharad Matade, Executive Editor, Motoring Trends, had an indepth discussion on how fleet operators continued to face headwinds ranging from increases in operational expenses, driver shortages and road infrastructure among others. At the same time, the revenues had not kept up at the same pace. The panellists also presented their perspectives on the adoption of newer technologies and alternative fuels.

Atul Patil, Vice-President – Marketing, Pin 365 delivered the Vote of Thanks. 

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Eicher Trucks and Buses, a business unit of VE Commercial Vehicles (VECV), has launched the Eicher Pro X Diesel, expanding its offering in the 2-3.5 tonne Small Commercial Vehicle (SCV) segment.

The new diesel model follows the earlier release of the Eicher Pro X EV, providing both electric and diesel options for customers and regions requiring diesel power.

The Pro X Diesel features a new E449 diesel engine developed to deliver fuel efficiency and power for performance across terrains. The model is built as an 'Expert' solution for small firms, fleet operators and first-time buyers, focusing on performance, uptime and ownership.

The vehicle includes the segment’s largest cargo deck (10 feet 8 inches) and offers a long service interval of 30,000 km. This combination is intended to increase the goods carried per trip and reduce operating costs. The Eicher Pro X Diesel has been tested across India’s varied conditions for use in applications such as e-commerce, FMCG and regional logistics.

Vinod Aggarwal, MD & CEO, VE Commercial Vehicles, said, “With the launch of the Eicher Pro X Diesel, we are taking another significant step in transforming last mile logistics in India. The Eicher Pro X range – now available in both electric and diesel variants – reflects our commitment to serve our customers as they transform logistics in India’s Amrit Kaal. Co-created with customers, the range combines Eicher’s proven expertise in fuel efficiency, reliability and superior uptime with the operational flexibility that many businesses seek from a diesel powertrain. This launch strengthens Eicher’s presence in the rapidly evolving small commercial vehicle segment and aligns with our vision to partner India’s progress with smart, sustainable and efficient logistics solutions.”

S S Gill, Chief Commercial Officer, VE Commercial Vehicles, said, “The Eicher Pro X Diesel is a state-of-the-art product designed for customers and drivers in the large SCV segment. It introduces segment-leading comfort and safety features, including a crash-test certified metallic cabin, ergonomic D+2 seating, driver state monitoring system (DSMS) and daytime running lamps (DRL). Intelligent connectivity through the My Eicher App, predictive diagnostics, remote immobiliser and real time monitoring through the 24x7 Uptime Centre support further enhances operational control and security, delivering peace of mind for owners.”

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Swedish commercial major Volvo Trucks recently won the 2025 Green Truck Award for its Volvo FH Aero model. The win demonstrates the impact of the company's technologies and innovations on fuel efficiency, with the Aero cab and aerodynamic improvements contributing to fuel consumption and CO2 emission reductions.

The company's push for fuel savings includes a new in-house developed stop/start engine feature, which builds on the existing I-See and I-Roll technologies.

The feature works by constantly monitoring road data and road curvature. The engine is temporarily turned off when an oncoming downward slope is identified along the route. When the engine is off, zero fuel is consumed, resulting in no CO2 tailpipe emissions.

The functionality is activated at speeds above 60 kmph. Depending on conditions like topography and ambient temperature, the new I-Roll with Engine stop/start will cut up to 1 percent of fuel and CO2 emissions on top of already achieved savings.

The new feature will be offered on the Volvo FH and FH Aero with the 13-litre diesel engine. Customers can order it from November 2025.

Jan Hjelmgren, Head of Product Management, Volvo Trucks, said, “Our engineers have done it again – innovating a new engine technology that contributes to making transport by truck more fuel-efficient. As part of our decarbonisation strategy, we will continue to innovate to make our combustion engines even better and to reduce our impact on the environment.”

Volvo Trucks’ overall decarbonisation strategy includes combustion engines powered by renewable fuels, battery-electric and fuel-cell electric trucks.

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Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV) has announced that Satyakam Arya, its Managing Director and CEO, has been designated as President and Chief Executive Officer of Hino Motors. The appointment is planned to come into effect from 1 April 2026.

In the new strategic position, Arya will move to Tokyo, Japan to manage Hino Motors’ global operations and transformation. This move marks a significant leadership decision for the planned integration of Daimler Truck and Toyota Motor Corporation’s commercial vehicle subsidiaries, Mitsubishi Fuso and Hino Motors.

Achim Puchert, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler Truck Holding, responsible for Mercedes-Benz Trucks and BharatBenz, said, "Satyakam has been an outstanding leader during his time with us, demonstrating exceptional expertise in commercial vehicle operations and a deep commitment to customer success. His strategic acumen and proven ability to drive transformation position him perfectly for this new leadership role. We wish him all the best in his new role and in the years ahead."

Under Arya’s leadership, DICV is said to have achieved record profitability growth across its truck and bus portfolio while doubling its customer base. The company’s dealership network expanded from 182 to over 385 locations nationwide.

On sustainability, DICV became India's first commercial vehicle manufacturer to switch to 100 percent renewable energy. The company also secured the country's first IGBC Green Factory Building V2 certification. DICV led industry innovation by introducing EU safety standard ECE R29-03 cabin compliance, launching products like TorqShift (AMT) tippers and the HX Series, and navigating a seamless BS VI OBD2 transition.

"India's commercial vehicle industry is entering a transformative decade. With infrastructure investments accelerating and the push toward sustainable mobility gaining momentum, the fundamentals for growth have never been stronger. DICV has built a solid foundation, exceptional leadership, and the momentum to capitalise on these opportunities. I'm confident the team will continue to reach new heights," said Arya.

"Leading Hino Motors is both an honour and an opportunity. I'm excited to contribute to this integration while building on Hino's rich 80-year heritage and creating value for customers across global markets," he added.

Succession planning for Daimler India Commercial Vehicles operations is currently underway, with details to follow in the coming weeks. The appointment reflects the importance of the planned Mitsubishi Fuso – Hino Motors integration. Arya will return to Japan, where he previously spent four years with Daimler Truck Asia, bringing transformation expertise to his new leadership role.

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Ashok Leyland, one of India’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturers, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Punjab National Bank (PNB) to provide competitive dealer finance options for its dealers of Medium and Heavy Commercial Vehicles (M&HCVs).

As per the understanding, Punjab National Bank will offer customised financial products to Ashok Leyland dealers to support their working capital and inventory funding needs. The initiative aims to strengthen dealerships by providing easy and flexible access to credit.

The MoU was signed by K M Balaji, Chief Financial Officer, Ashok Leyland and Amitabh Rai, General Manager, Punjab National Bank, in the presence of senior officials from both organisations.

Balaji said, “Ashok Leyland is pleased to partner with Punjab National Bank to offer enhanced financial support to our dealer partners. This collaboration will provide comprehensive financing solutions with flexible and convenient options, helping our dealers manage their business more efficiently. Leveraging PNB’s strong network across the country and competitive pricing, this initiative will further strengthen our reach and enable sustained growth for our dealer ecosystem.”

Madhavi Deshmukh, National Sales Head, Ashok Leyland, said, “This partnership with PNB will make financing more convenient for our dealers, ensuring smooth business operations and better customer service. We look forward to working closely with the bank to create value for our dealer partners.”

Rai added, “We are extremely happy to partner with Ashok Leyland. Through our varied financial solutions, our goal is to offer convenient and complete financing choices to the dealers. We believe that this partnership will meet the business needs of both organizations and create a strong positive impact.”

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