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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JSW Greentech, the commercial electric vehicle arm of JSW Group, has launched the ‘AMPSTAR’ brand, which will design, manufacture, and sell electric buses and trucks in India. The ‘AMPSTAR: powered by JSW’ marks the industrial conglomerate's entry into the commercial mobility market.

The company will offer commercial mobility services alongside its vehicles, including charging infrastructure, vehicle financing, leasing options, Battery as a Service (BaaS) models and aftersales support.

AMPSTAR EVs will be available in power configurations ranging from 150 kW to 500 kW, with the production taking place at a 90-acre manufacturing facility located at the Aurangabad Industrial City (AURIC) in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra.

The plant has a planned annual capacity of 15,000 electric buses and trucks and contains a pre-treatment and electro-deposition line for bus manufacturing, an automated truck-cabin assembly line and an integrated battery production system.

The EVs are engineered with software, algorithms and drivetrain logic developed in-house by JSW Greentech. Structural features include a monocoque chassis and a double cooling battery system designed for local road and temperature conditions.

The bus range will span lengths from 7 metres to 18 metres for staff, urban, intercity and school transport, while the truck range will launch with a 55-tonne tractor-trailer, followed by tippers and fixed-body dumpers.

Sajjan Jindal, Chairman, JSW Group, said, "When we decided to enter electric commercial mobility, I saw it as an act of nation-building - moving India's people and goods on power generated within India, rather than fuel sourced from outside. We cannot control global oil prices. But we can control how much we depend on them. If I had to put our ambition for AMPSTAR in one sentence, it's this: we want AMPSTAR to be a catalyst for changing the way India moves. That's no longer just a business question. It's a question of who we want to be as a country. But for every customer to make bold choice of electric bus & truck, the economics have to make the case - not sentiment. When they do, the impact goes far beyond the vehicle itself: energy security, lower logistics costs & greater global competitiveness for Indian industry, a stronger manufacturing ecosystem built here in India, and cleaner future for the next generation. That's the journey AMPSTAR begins today- mile by mile, disrupting the way India moves."

Parth Jindal, JSW Group, said, "AMPSTAR brings the full strength of JSW into commercial mobility, with one ambition: to change how India moves its people and its goods. We spent months listening to customers and stakeholders, and one thing was clear, real barriers to adoption go well beyond the vehicle itself. That is when we started designing around the complete customer journey and created full stack electric commercial mobility solution. AMPSTAR brings together two powerful ideas: 'Amp,' comes from Ampere – the unit of electric current, representing technology that amplifies performance. 'Star’ represents aspiration, leadership and progress. The brand identity reflects that same ambition - modern, forward-moving, built to stand out. This is our promise: to go the distance with every customer, making the transition to electric simpler, more reliable, and more rewarding."

Sumit Mittal, CEO, JSW Greentech, said, "AMPSTAR is our vision for electric commercial mobility, and today marks its beginning. We are designing, engineering and building these vehicles in India, from the ground up - our own drivetrain, our own software, using the best of technologies available, and built for Indian roads and operating conditions. Our range is built to cover the full spectrum. On the bus side, our portfolio will span 7 meter to 18 metre buses, serving diverse applications including staff transportation, city, intercity and school mobility. On the truck side, we are starting with the 55-tonne tractor-trailer — one of the most demanding vehicle architectures with plans to expand into tippers and fixed-body dumpers in the months ahead. India deserves world-class buses and trucks on its own roads, and AMPSTAR is how we deliver that."

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Ashok Leyland, the Hinduja Group’s Indian flagship and a leading commercial vehicle manufacturer, has entered a strategic vehicle financing partnership with Kerala Grameena Bank through a signed Memorandum of Understanding. The agreement is designed to provide customers purchasing Ashok Leyland vehicles with customised and convenient financing solutions.

The MoU was formalised by Viplav Shah, Head of LCV Business at Ashok Leyland, and Gundekar Harish Gangadhar Rao, General Manager of Kerala Grameena Bank. Vimala Vijayabhaskar, Chairperson of Kerala Grameena Bank, was present during the signing.

Under the partnership, Kerala Grameena Bank will deliver end-to-end financial solutions to Ashok Leyland customers. The collaboration seeks to improve customer convenience through vehicle loans featuring flexible and easy-to-manage repayment options tailored to individual needs and preferences.

Shah said, “Ashok Leyland is delighted to partner with Kerala Grameena Bank to provide our customers with attractive, accessible and customised financing solutions. This strategic partnership will further enhance the accessibility of our innovative range of commercial vehicles, enabling businesses and fleet operators to invest with greater confidence and financial flexibility. Powered by cutting-edge technology and engineered to deliver industry-leading total cost of ownership, our vehicles are designed to enhance customer productivity and profitability. Together with Kerala Grameena Bank, we look forward to creating greater value for our customers and supporting their growth journeys.”

Vijayabhaskar said, “Kerala Grameena Bank is pleased to partner with Ashok Leyland to offer seamless vehicle financing solutions. This association reflects our dedication to serving the diverse financial needs of commercial vehicle customers. We are confident that this collaboration will enable us to extend our reach and provide tailored financing options to support the growth of businesses in the commercial vehicle segment in the state of Kerala.”

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Scania Commercial Vehicles India unveiled the new G 560 Super 10x4 Mining Tipper at Bauma Conexpo India 2026. It marks the expansion of the Swedish truck maker's Super range of heavy-duty trucks. Combining power, robustness and reliability to perform in challenging environments such as mining and other off-highway applications, the G 560 Super is powered by a 560 hp 13-litre engine that produces 2,800 Nm of peak torque to support superior fuel efficiency and lower CO₂ emissions. Paired with the engine is the Scania’s G33 Opticruise gearbox. 
The 10x4 axle configuration features three steerable axles and heavy-duty rear axles, providing the strength and capability required for challenging operations. With a 32.5 cu. m SAE heap volume and a technical gross vehicle weight of 71 tonnes, the G 560 Super is designed to support high-volume material movement and has a robust chassis at its core. The durable Hardox 450 steel rock body is capable of withstanding the rigours of demanding mining operations. The spacious G Series cab, smart displays and real-time vehicle monitoring enhance driver comfort, safety and ease of operation.
“The Super is already an important part of our offering in India, and with the reveal of the G 560 Super 10x4, we are taking the next step by bringing more products with Super power to our customers. Our focus is on bringing the right technology for the right application and, importantly, providing our customers with a complete solution that delivers value beyond the vehicle itself," said Silvio Munhoz, Managing Director, Scania Commercial Vehicles India Pvt. Ltd.
The G 560 Super 10x4 is already at some customers of Scania in India undergoing 'seeding' Once that is complete and the customers get an experience of its capabilities in real-world mining operations, it will be made commercially available.

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Sany India showcased 31 machines at Bauma Conexpo India 2026. Among these were 13 new product launches across its business units under the theme, 'Forging the Future Together'. Highlighting a diverse portfolio that consists of excavation, deep foundation, road construction, mining, port machinery, aerial work platforms, material handling and heavy-duty transportation, the company drew attention to its focus on technology development; on electrification in the heavy machinery space; sustainability and application-led engineering. 
A good number of exhibits pointed at the shift towards electric powertrains. The electric excavators, for example. The wheel loaders to electric mining trucks, mining tippers, reach stackers, aerial platforms and heavy-duty vehicles, for example. 
Interesting were the SY215C-9LC Quarry, SY210C-9 Quarry and SY215E electric excavators that will be launched soon in the Indian market. The others were the SW936E and SW956E electric wheel loaders; the STR90C-10 PRO and SSR110C-10 PRO soil compactors; the SRSC45E3 electric reach stacker; the SCP350C2 diesel heavy-duty forklift, the SPT42 42-metre telescopic boom lift, SPS1414HA electric Scissor lift and SPT26AC electric telescopic boom lift; the SCP30 3-ton forklift, and the 5565E electric tractor as well as the 3555E electric tipper with a 462-kWh battery configuration.
“India’s journey towards Viksit Bharat is creating tremendous opportunities for the construction and infrastructure equipment industry. At SANY, we see ourselves as a catalyst in this journey by bringing together technology, local capabilities and solutions that respond to the evolving needs of our customers. Our 31-machine showcase, including 13 new launches, reflects this commitment." "The growing presence of electric equipment across our portfolio demonstrates our belief that productivity and sustainability must move forward together," said Deepak Garg, Vice Chairman & Managing Director, Sany India
With a comprehensive manufacturing facility at Chakan (Pune), the company has invested in local capabilities for a 'made in India for the world' approach. Developing solutions that address Indian operating conditions while contributing to global requirements, Sany India is working on a localisation-led approach. 
 

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