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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The India-Japan Fund (IJF), managed by the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund Limited (NIIF), has announced an investment of INR 5 billion (USD 57 million) in Pune-headquartered electric commercial vehicle manufacturer EKA Mobility.

The capital infusion aligns with IJF's objective to invest in the climate segment and accelerate investments within the India-Japan corridor. EKA Mobility, a subsidiary of Pinnacle Industries, focuses on electric commercial vehicles developed with in-house R&D and technology.

The funding will support EKA Mobility’s plans to increase its manufacturing capacity, advance research and development, improve its supply chain infrastructure and enhance marketing efforts for domestic and international markets. EKA Mobility's existing shareholders include VDL Groep (Netherlands), Mitsui & Co, (Japan) and ENAM Holdings (India).

Krishna Kumar, Partner & Fund Head, IJF, said, “Our investment in EKA Mobility continues to reflect our confidence in India’s electric mobility potential and the capability of homegrown OEMs to drive meaningful change in the market. IJF is supporting enterprises that are shaping India’s journey to a low-carbon economy, and also committed to promoting India-Japan business partnerships. We are glad to support Eka Mobility's growth in the sustainable commercial transportation segment, wherein it combines its technical, design capabilities and manufacturing infrastructure to take advantage of India's transition in the mobility segment.”

Dr. Sudhir Mehta, Founder & Chairman of EKA Mobility, added: “We are proud to have NIIF as a strategic partner in our growth journey. This investment comes at a crucial time as we expand operations, strengthen our R&D, and accelerate the adoption of electric mobility across India. NIIF’s support reinforces our shared vision of creating sustainable, inclusive, and future-ready transportation solutions.”

The company's zero-emission vehicle portfolio spans electric buses, intercity coaches, three-wheeler passenger and cargo vehicles, heavy-duty trucks and small commercial vehicles.

EKA Mobility has confirmed orders for over 3,300 electric buses from state government procurements, municipal corporation contracts, and private commercial fleets. The collaboration supports the Indian government’s objectives on electrification of public transport and domestic manufacturing under the Make-in-India and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives.

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Chennai-based commercial vehicle major Ashok Leyland has secured an order for supplying 1,937 buses to the Tamil Nadu State Transport Undertakings (TNSTU). The order further reinforces Ashok Leyland's partnership with the TNSTU, which currently operates over 21,000 of the company's buses.

The new buses will feature the advanced iGen6 BS VI technology and are designed for passenger comfort. The order includes a mix of fully built and chassis configurations for town, mofussil and SETC (State Express Transport Corporation) applications. Each vehicle is built on the AIS 153-compliant chassis platform, which meets the latest Indian safety and performance regulations.

The order for a mix of the new Viking and SETC models offer features to meet the needs of public transport:

• Power Needs: All Town / Mofussil and SETC buses have an upgraded Battery and Alternator to meet the power needs of Advanced ITMS (Intelligent Transport Management Systems).
• Safety: High-speed Mofussil and SETC buses are equipped with Electronic Stability Control for improved stability.
• Comfort: Urban Low Entry and Semi Low Floor buses (650mm) include automatic transmission and air suspension, and are equipped with a wheelchair ramp for passengers with special needs.

Madhavi Deshmukh, National Sales Head – MHCV, Ashok Leyland, said, “We are proud to strengthen our long-standing partnership with the Tamil Nadu State Transport Undertakings through this significant order. Tamil Nadu has always been an important market for us, and this order is a testament to the trust and confidence our customers place in Ashok Leyland’s technology and performance. This order win reinforces our dedication to creating efficient and technologically advanced products that exceed our customers' expectations and contribute to the growth of public transportation. Our focus continues to be on developing advanced, safe and efficient mobility solutions that meet the evolving needs of public transportation in India.”

Mohan K, Head Bus - MHCV, Ashok Leyland, said, “We are thrilled to have received this order from the Tamil Nadu State Transport Undertakings for 1937 buses. Tamil Nadu has always been one of our most valued markets, and we take great pride in being a key partner in strengthening the state’s public transport system. These advanced buses, equipped with the latest safety, technology and comfort features, underscore our commitment to delivering reliable, efficient, and safe mobility solutions. We remain dedicated to supporting the government’s vision of providing modern and sustainable transportation for the people of Tamil Nadu.”

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Chennai-based commercial vehicle major Ashok Leyland has commenced deliveries of the 24 units of AVTR 55T Electric trucks to ASAT Logistics, which is the strategic logistics partner for Shree Cement.

The keys to the first batch of four trucks were handed over by Sanjeev Kumar, President - MHCV, Ashok Leyland, to Arvind Sarda, CEO, ASAT Logistics.

The trucks use lithium-ion battery technology with dual-gun charging and are compatible with industry-standard trailers and superstructures. The vehicles include a cabin, automatic transmission, telematics and a suite of Advanced Driver Assist Systems (ADAS) and safety features.

Sanjeev Kumar, said, “We are thrilled to deliver the first batch of 4 units of our AVTR 55T Electric trucks to ASAT Logistics. These trucks highlight our commitment to innovation, sustainability, and performance in the commercial vehicle sector. This partnership reflects the growing confidence in our electric mobility solutions and reinforces our position as a technology leader in the logistics ecosystem. As we continue to push the boundaries of clean transportation, we remain focused on delivering reliable, efficient, and future-ready mobility solutions.”

Arvind Sarda, said, “We have complete trust in the quality and performance of Ashok Leyland trucks. Together with Shree Cement, we embark on a journey toward a cleaner, more efficient, and sustainable future. We thank Ashok Leyland for delivering the technologically advanced AVTR 55T Electric trucks, enabling us to take further our commitment to building a sustainable and eco-friendly transportation ecosystem. With Ashok Leyland’s dedication to innovation and our forward-thinking approach to logistics for Shree Cement, we look forward to continued success on the road.”

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Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles, one of India’s leading players in the commercial vehicle segment, has unveiled what it claims is its most advanced intercity platform yet – the all-new Tata LPO 1822 bus chassis.

The Tata LPO 1822 is said to provide a superior ride experience through its full-air suspension and low NVH (Noise, Vibration and Harshness) attributes – ensuring a fatigue-free journey for passengers and drivers alike. It is available in flexible configurations ranging from 36-seaters to 50-seaters and sleeper layouts.

Anand S, Vice-President and Head – Commercial Passenger Vehicle Business, Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles, said, “India’s intercity transport ecosystem is undergoing a transformation, driven by rising connectivity and growing passenger expectations. The Tata LPO 1822 is an advanced product – combining superior ride quality, robust engineering and intelligent features to deliver unmatched value. It is a win-win for passengers, drivers and fleet owners – elevating comfort, enhancing safety and improving profitability.”

The LPO 1822 is powered by a 5.6-litre Cummins diesel engine, which delivers 220hp and 925Nm of torque. The chassis also serves as the underpinning for the fully built Tata Magna Coach.

As part of aftersales peace-of-mind, the LPO 1822 comes with a complimentary four-year subscription to Fleet Edge, Tata Motors’ next generation connected vehicle platform, which provides real-time diagnostics, predictive maintenance and data-driven fleet optimisation.

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