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. 

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

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.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Chartered Speed is deploying nearly 3,000 electric buses across 18 cities in India as part of the Pradhan Mantri e-Bus Sewa & e-Drive Scheme. The company aims to enhance public transportation in Tier-II and Tier-III cities, with the full network projected to cover 200 million kilometres annually.

To support these operations, Chartered Speed has implemented a technology-led infrastructure, including a Command & Control Centre for fleet monitoring and structured training programmes for drivers.

The company has already commenced operations with 55 electric buses, including 25 nine-metre buses (27-seaters) and 30 seven-metre buses (22-seaters) in Shillong, Meghalaya. The launch was led by Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma.

Furthermore, in Rajasthan, it is managing an order for 876 buses across the state, with initial operations started for 29 buses in Jaipur and 18 buses in Bhilwara, inaugurated by Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma.

Sanyam Gandhi, Whole-Time Director, Chartered Speed, said, "The commencement of electric bus operations in Shillong, Jaipur and Bhilwara marks an important milestone in our larger vision of deploying 3,000 electric buses across 18 cities under the PM e-Bus Sewa & e-Drive Scheme. These deployments reflect the growing momentum of electric mobility adoption across India and reinforce our commitment to delivering reliable, efficient and environmentally responsible transportation solutions. Through continued partnerships with state governments and transport authorities, we aim to make public transit cleaner, more accessible and more efficient while contributing meaningfully to India’s clean mobility journey."

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Mumbai-headquartered commercial vehicle major Tata Motors has secured orders for more than 3,400 electric commercial vehicles (eCVs), covering freight, logistics and passenger mobility sectors. The orders include approximately 2,000 small commercial vehicles (SCVs) & pick-ups, 900 trucks and 500 buses.

The eCVs will be deployed across industries, including e-commerce, logistics, FMCG, FMCD distribution, intra-city transport, mining and inter-city passenger travel.

The company stated that electric mobility in commercial vehicles is shifting from early adoption to large-scale deployment in India, with usage expanding across segments and real-world applications.

Tata Motors stated that it is leading this transition with the widest portfolio of electric commercial vehicles, supported by an enabling ecosystem that ensures electrification is both practical and profitable. Beyond vehicles, the company is partnering closely with fleet owners and customers to optimise performance, uptime, charging and financing across the entire lifecycle. As adoption of electric commercial vehicles deepens, Tata Motors remains focused on delivering customised, end-to-end solutions that enable customers to transition confidently and seamlessly to zero-emission mobility.

Portfolio Expansion

Over the past 12 months, Tata Motors has expanded its eCV portfolio to include Ace Pro EV, Ace EV, and Intra EV for distribution in the Small Commercial Vehicles segment.

Ultra EV range (7-12T), Prima EV 55T tractor and Prima EV 28T tipper in the Intermediate and Heavy-Duty segment. For passenger mobility, it has introduced the Starbus EV and Ultra EV buses.

Till date, Tata Motors has over 3,800 electric buses in operation, which have covered a cumulative distance of more than 550 million kilometres. Additionally, there are over 17,000 Tata eSCVs on the road.

To support the adoption of these vehicles, the company has established a charging network through partnerships with over 14 charge point operators, alongside financing solutions, fleet management tools via Fleet Edge and uptime assurance programmes.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Prawaas 5.0, India’s premier multimodal passenger mobility event, is scheduled to take place from 9–11 July 2026 at the Helipad Exhibition Centre (HEC) in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.

Guided by the central theme, ‘Towards Safe, Smart & Sustainable Public Transport,’ the flagship event will gather government authorities, fleet operators, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), technology developers and investors to accelerate the adoption of integrated, efficient and environmentally responsible public transit systems.

The 5^th edition of the event is organised by the Bus and Car Operators Confederation of India (BOCI) and is hosted by the Akhil Gujarat Pravasi Vahan Sanchalak Mahamandal and co-hosted by both the Gujarat Luxury Cab Owners Association and the Gujarat Tourist Vehicles Operators Association. MM Activ Sci-Tech Communications serves as the event curator.

As India's transit sector undergoes a structural transformation driven by electrification, regulatory safety updates, and digital network integration, Prawaas 5.0 aims to serve as a catalyst for fostering dialogue between state transport undertakings, central policymakers and private fleet operators.

The event will also showcase intelligent transport systems (ITS), digital ticketing frameworks, AI-driven fleet telematics and clean-energy mobility solutions.

It provides an on-ground platform for new vehicle product launches, strategic business matchmaking and infrastructure investment.

Building upon its previous editions, the three-day convention is projected to secure comprehensive representation from all 36 Indian States and Union Territories. The last edition attracted over 15,000 industry professionals, more than 10,000 bus & car operators and featured over 300 leading mobility companies.  The event was attended by more than 1,500 delegates, supported by over 60 expert speakers across technical panels and industry conferences.

The large-scale exhibition will serve as an interactive arena for stakeholders across the commercial mobility value chain to address current operating challenges, such as unit economics and infrastructure constraints, while establishing partnerships to modernise India's passenger transport network.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!