Scania Commercial Vehicle India (SCVI) has inaugurated its new corporate office in Bengaluru, marking a significant milestone in strengthening its footprint in the country in the presence of Jan Thesleff, Ambassador of Sweden to India. Also present were Silvio Munhoz, Managing Director, Scania Commercial Vehicles India Pvt Ltd; Martin Stahlberg, Senior Vice President Asia and Oceania at Scania CV AB; senior Scania leaders; key customers; dealer partners, and senior members from Business Sweden and finance partners.
Reinforcing its long-term commitment to India, the new office in Bengaluru follows the launch of Scani Super and the announcement of the White label financing programme in partnership with Axis Bank, which is aimed at providing customers with accessible and competitive financing solutions for purchasing Scania trucks in India.
Confirming that its Regional Product Centre (RPC) in Narasapura will remain fully operational with end-to-end capabilities and support customers with tailored solutions across key segments, SCVI officials mentioned that the recently developments leading up to the inauguration of the office in downtown Bengaluru reflect the Swedish commercial vehicle manufacturer’s continued focus on expanding its presence in India, strengthening its ecosystem and building a more locally anchored and responsive business to meet evolving customer needs.
With uptime, efficiency and business resilience impetus rising, Scania is aiming for greater agility and shorter response times. It is strengthening its market presence and the support ecosystem around customers. The Bengaluru office will play a key role there, enabling stronger collaboration, faster decision-making and superior customer engagement. It will also play a vital role in dealer engagement, engagement with financial institutions and other stakeholders. 
The Bengaluru office will also serve a hub to attract and nurture a strong talent pool, bring together skilled professionals who will drive innovation, operational excellence and long-term growth for the company in India.
Ambassador Thesleff expressed that it is a pleasure to witness this important milestone for Scania in India. “The inauguration of the new Bengaluru office reflects not only Scania’s continued commitment to the market but also a strong vote of confidence in India’s growth and long-term potential,” he added.
Reflecting on Sweden and India sharing a deep and expanding partnership, building a collaborative atmosphere across trades and in innovation and sustainability, Thesleff said, “The new Scania office in Bengaluru underscores the Swedish manufacturer’s focus on future-ready mobility solutions and sustainable development as well.” 
Munhoz stated that India is a strategically important market for Scania and the focus is on building a business that is closer to customers, is faster in response and stronger in execution. 
“The new Bengaluru office not only enhances our ability to collaborate more closely with customers and partners but also strengthens our access to a highly skilled talent pool, enabling us to build a future-ready organisation,” he added. 
Martin Stahlberg, Senior Vice President Asia and Oceania at Scania CV AB, articulated, “From a global perspective, India represents a key market for Scania’s long-term growth and capability development. The inauguration of our Bengaluru office reflects our commitment to strengthening our local presence while enhancing how we support customers and partners in the region.” “This milestone reinforces our focus on building sustainable capabilities and delivering long-term value in markets that are central to Scania’s global growth journey,” he stressed. 
Located in the heart of Bengaluru, the Scania office in Bengaluru will serve as a hub for key functions, supporting closer coordination across teams and enabling greater agility and responsiveness in a market that continues to be central to Scania’s regional ambitions.
The new office was inaugurated in the presence of senior Scania leadership, key customers, dealer partners, senior members from Business Sweden and finance partners. Designed in line with the Scania Way and Swedish open work culture, the office features collaborative layouts, functional design, and sustainability-focused elements such as energy-efficient lighting, climate control systems, and the use of sustainable and recyclable materials where feasible.
 

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The Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), a leading automotive R&D organisation set up by the automotive industry with the Government of India, has launched a series of administrative and technical initiatives to support bus body builders navigating the national certification framework.

The updates are structured to lower compliance expenses, minimise paperwork and reduce the processing timeline for vehicle type approval.

Under the updated framework, ARAI has established a Support Cell to assist manufacturers with documentation and pre-application design verification. The association has also introduced a website containing regulatory guidelines and simplified data templates, such as standardised variant lists and checklists, to address Worst-Case Selection Criteria.

Applicants must follow a three-level compliance architecture that incorporates physical safety verifications and mandatory video inspections.

The system enforces the Bus Body Code, implemented under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, and the Central Motor Vehicles Rules (CMVR), to standardise vehicle construction and safety metrics across the manufacturing sector. The rules require compliance with distinct Automotive Industry Standards (AIS):

• AIS 052 (Rev.1): Governs structural requirements and design safety for all buses with a seating capacity of 13 passengers plus the driver (13+D) and above, as mandated by GSR 159 (E).
• AIS 153: Sets safety criteria, fire protection rules, emergency exit locations, and passenger comfort standards for buses exceeding a 22-passenger capacity, excluding the driver (22+D).
• Specialised Standards: Includes AIS-119 (Rev.1) for sleeper coaches and AIS-063 for school buses.

The operational updates follow a regulatory directive issued by the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH). Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) are restricted from registering new inter-city and sleeper buses until completed safety checklists are uploaded directly to the government’s VAHAN portal by manufacturers, body builders and inspecting officers.

Dr Reji Mathai, Director, ARAI, said, “ARAI has always been committed to empowering ecosystem stakeholders be it legacy corporations, start-ups or MSMEs. We want to assist the bus body builders in their certification process at all stages including development and testing before they apply for certification. This will ensure that safety remains our utmost priority and consequently a reliable transport system for the public is built in our country. To encourage widespread adoption of these services, we have also introduced substantially optimised pricing structures. We aim to make it easier, faster and cost-effective for all stakeholders to uphold the best standards of passenger safety. The type approval cost had been drastically reduced to INR 1.4 million + GST, which is about 50 percent reduction from a normal case. Additionally, time for type approval process can be fast forwarded to anywhere between 60 days – 90 days, depending upon the readiness of the applicant.”

The revision limits the baseline type approval fee to INR 1.4 million plus GST for applications containing up to 100 vehicle variants, while the processing window has been adjusted to run between 60 and 90 days depending on initial applicant documentation.

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German automotive major MAN Truck & Bus recently unveiled the MAN eTGM at the Transpotec Logitec trade fair in Milan, expanding its battery-electric vehicle line-up into the mid-range distribution segment.

The introduction of the 16-tonne truck establishes a uniform electric commercial vehicle portfolio ranging from 12 to 50 tonnes, bridging the gap between the lightweight eTGL and the heavy-duty eTGX and eTGS series.

The e-truck features a permissible gross weight of 16.01 tonnes (with a 16.5-tonne option) and a chassis payload capacity of approximately 10.6 tonnes. It is designed for urban and regional distribution, municipal use and construction transport, the e-truck also supports trailer operations up to a gross combination weight of 33 tonnes. Operating in the over 16-tonne category provides transport companies with road toll reductions in several European markets while assisting fleets in meeting EU CO2 emissions targets.

The eTGM utilises a modular battery-electric system derived from MAN’s heavy-duty truck platforms. It is powered by the MAN eCD210 electric drive, which produces 210 kW (285 hp) and a maximum torque of 800 Nm, paired with a MAN TipMatic 2 transmission. Operators can configure the vehicle with two to four battery packs, providing a total usable capacity of up to 320 kWh and a maximum operating range of 480 kilometres.

Friedrich Baumann, Member of the Executive Board for Sales & Customer Solutions at MAN Truck & Bus, said, "With the MAN eTGM, we are putting the ideal electric solution for inner-city and regional distribution transport on the road right now. It is the logical conclusion to our eTruck portfolio and makes MAN a true full-range supplier of battery-electric commercial vehicles."

For body assembly, the chassis includes optimised wheelbases, standardised interfaces and a mechanical power take-off shaft (mPTO) to allow the integration of conventional body designs without extensive modification. Alongside the eTGM premiere, MAN showcased its broader decarbonisation ecosystem at the trade fair, including the heavy-duty eTGX equipped with Megawatt Charging System (MCS) technology, charging consultancy services and digital fleet connectivity tools.

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Sikhar Fleet, a mobility solutions company offering Vehicle-as-a-Service (VaaS), has announced a strategic partnership with Moto Business Service India (MBSI), a subsidiary of Yamaha Motor, to establish a structured vehicle leasing ecosystem.

The collaboration combines Sikhar Fleet’s operational management with MBSI’s experience in asset management and financial services to target the shared mobility and gig economy sectors.

As part of the initial deployment, the partnership will introduce Tata Express-T CNG vehicles into the fleet to support cleaner transport technology and reduce operational costs for drivers.

Dharampal Jadoun, Co-Founder, Sikhar Fleet, said, “This partnership is focused on helping drivers earn more with clarity and stability. By offering vehicles on transparent leasing terms, low upfront cost, and fixed payment structures, drivers will know exactly what they earn and what they pay. Our aim is to improve driver take-home income by reducing hidden costs and ensuring better vehicle uptime and support. With this model, a driver can start earning quickly and grow with confidence, instead of dealing with uncertain and informal rental systems.”

Kobayashi Masaharu, CEO and Managing Director, MBSI, added, “At MBSI, we believe that sustainability is the only path to a successful future for transportation. Our partnership with Sikhar Fleet and the deployment of Tata Express-T CNG vehicles marks a significant step in this journey. This initiative isn't just about cleaner technology; it’s about improving the quality of life of people across India by providing easy access to mobility solutions and supporting meaningful employment opportunities in the communities we serve.”

The rollout intends to support the requirements of ride-hailing platforms and mobility aggregators while improving the income stability of drivers through fixed payment structures and OEM-backed support.

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In an appeal to smooth the movement of trucks and goods transportation, Bal Malkit Singh, Advisor and Former President of the All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC), has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to abolish state border check posts nationwide. The appeal cites the current geopolitical climate and global fuel uncertainties as primary reasons for removing physical barriers to logistics.

The representation notes that despite the implementation of GST and digital enforcement, states including Maharashtra, West Bengal, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu continue to operate physical check posts. Singh argues these systems cause fuel wastage, congestion and economic losses that impact industrial competitiveness and foreign exchange reserves.

The letter mentioned that in Maharashtra alone, approximately 90,000 commercial vehicles enter and exit the state daily. The report claims nearly 270,000 litres of diesel are wasted each day due to idling and queues, resulting in an estimated economic loss of INR 270 million per day. Singh suggests that nationwide losses would be significantly higher.

The appeal urges the Union Government to encourage states to move toward technology-driven enforcement systems in alignment with the National Logistics Policy.

Bal Malkit Singh, said, “Every truck standing idle at a border check post burns the nation’s fuel, weakens productivity, increases logistics costs and drains valuable foreign exchange reserves. In today’s geo-political environment, abolishing outdated border check posts is no longer merely a transport reform — it is a national economic necessity and a patriotic responsibility.”

The representation includes previous communications sent to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis regarding the removal of state-specific posts. The transport sector is seeking a reform initiative to ensure the seamless movement of goods across the country.

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