Tata Motors, one of India's largest commercial vehicle manufacturer, has received order from the Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) to supply 1,000 units of the Tata LPO 1618 diesel bus chassis.

The order was won by Tata Motors following a competitive e-bidding process conducted through the Government tendering process. The bus chassis will be supplied in a phased manner as per mutually agreed terms.

This latest order follows the successful fulfilment of a similar, larger order of 1,350 bus chassis received last year. The Tata LPO 1618 diesel bus chassis is designed to meet intercity and long-distance travel.

Anand S, Vice-President and Head – Commercial Passenger Vehicle Business, Tata Motors, said, "We are delighted to continue to partner UPSRTC in their efforts towards expanding and improving public transport. The Tata LPO 1618 bus chassis is engineered to deliver robust and reliable mobility with high uptime and low maintenance and operating costs. We look forward to commencing supplies as per the guidance of UPSRTC.”

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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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