Tata Motors has delivered first-of-its-kind Hydrogen Fuel Cell powered (FCEV) buses to Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL), the country’s largest petroleum company. Two hydrogen fuel-cell buses were flagged off by Hardeep Singh Puri, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, and Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India, recently in the presence of S M Vaidya, Chairman, IOCL, and senior executives of Tata Motors. 
It was in June 2021 that Tata Motors had won a tender from IOCL to provide 15 FCEV buses to evaluate the potential of hydrogen-based PEM fuel-cell technology in India. These buses are to be assessed as potential mass transport solution for inter and intra-city commute.  

Built at a dedicated lab in Tata Motors’ R&D centre in Pune, the 12-metre long hydrogen fuel-cell buses are designed for easy ingress and egress. They have a low-floor design and can seat 35 passengers. Subjected to strenuous road tests and validations, Tata Motors employed a collaborative approach to develop these buses. It collaborated with renowned industry partners and research institutions to adopt advanced hydrogen-based proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell technology to Indian conditions.  

Girish Wagh, Executive Director, Tata Motors, mentioned, “This is an outcome of the progressive policies of the Government, IOCL’s focus on future readiness and Tata Motors’ R&D prowess, all collaborating to fulfil the common vision of clean mobility in India. The delivery of the FCEV buses to IOCL marks a significant step forward in this journey and we are grateful for the trust and support of our partners. At Tata Motors, we always prioritise nation building and are leading the global megatrend of sustainable, connected, and safer mobility in the country. The delivery of these buses today heralds a new era in inter-city mass public transport and marks another step forward towards fulfilling the aspiration of sustainable mobility. With proactive actions to develop and adapt new age technologies, we are creating future-ready transport solutions for both cargo and people to address the mobility needs of tomorrow’s India, today.”  

Rajendra Petkar, President & Chief Technology Officer, Tata Motors said “Tata Motors is proud to deliver the state-of-the-art, new-generation, technologically-advanced, zero-emission fuel cell powered buses to IOCL. This is an important milestone for green mobility in India, harnessing the strong potential of hydrogen as an energy carrier, ushering in hydrogen economy in the transport sector. This bus features 350-bar hydrogen storage system, 70 Kw fuel cell stack, electronic braking system & stability control for higher safety, intelligent transport system, new-generation telematics for efficient, user-friendly vehicle maintenance and tracking along with roomy interiors. This development is a testimony to Tata Motors’ continued commitment and leadership towards carbon neutrality. As a part of the MoU, Tata Motors and IOCL will continue to make further advances in the core technology related to PEM fuel cells in the times to come.”

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Pune-headquartered alternative commercial vehicle maker Blue Energy Motors has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) under the PARIVARTAN Scheme. The partnership aims to facilitate the replacement of commercial vehicles with electric trucks within the Delhi-National Capital Region.

The initiative supports the transition to freight mobility options by incentivising the replacement of transport units. Blue Energy Motors deploys electric and liquefied natural gas truck platforms across freight routes, accumulating operational distance and reducing emissions.

Anirudh Bhuwalka, Founder & Managing Director, Blue Energy Motors, said, "The PARIVARTAN Scheme is an important step towards accelerating the transition to cleaner freight mobility in India. Our participation reflects Blue Energy Motors’ commitment to supporting the Government’s vision for sustainable transportation and enabling wider adoption of electric heavy-duty trucks. We believe that the right policy support, coupled with advanced technology and a strong domestic manufacturing ecosystem, can play a pivotal role in accelerating India’s transition towards zero-emission freight transportation."

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SWITCH Mobility Ltd, a global leader in electric buses and light commercial vehicles and part of the Hinduja Group, has joined forces with intercity operator PURPLE BUS to roll out the region's first electric bus service linking Nagpur and Chandrapur, widening the operator's Vidarbha footprint. Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari oversaw the ceremonial dispatch of the inaugural six units, drawn from a 50-bus EiV12m intercity electric order placed by Purple Bus for deployments across Vidarbha.

Organisers chose Dussehra, a festival traditionally viewed as favourable for fresh ventures, as the launch date, a nod to the manufacturer's continuing push for safe, dependable and sustainable public transport in the region. Travellers between the two cities stand to gain better connectivity along with a safe, comfortable and eco-friendly way to travel.

The Nagpur–Chandrapur service is the third intercity project this year between SWITCH Mobility and Prasanna Purple Mobility Solutions, building on electric coach launches along the Mumbai–Pune and Dombivli–Pune corridors in April 2026 and October 2026, respectively. The recurring tie-up points to rising operator confidence in electric buses for high-frequency intercity routes and to SWITCH Mobility's growing part in India's shift towards sustainable intercity travel.

The new route strengthens the partnership with Prasanna Purple Mobility Solutions and furthers the company's wider aim of making zero-emission public transport accessible in Indian cities and towns. Linking key Vidarbha centres, the service is expected to ease daily commutes, boost local economic activity and speed the move towards cleaner intercity mobility. The EiV12m coach, engineered for long-distance journeys, pairs 45 pushback seats and a 350 km per-charge range with fast-charging capability, advanced safety systems, a quiet ride and SWITCH iON connected technology for real-time monitoring.

Ganesh Mani, Chief Executive Officer, SWITCH Mobility, said, “Nagpur and Chandrapur share a close economic and cultural relationship, and strengthening this corridor with our partner Prasanna Purple Mobility Solutions is an important step in our mission to build future-ready public transport across India. Following our deployment on the Mumbai–Pune route earlier this year, we are glad to extend this partnership to Vidarbha and to contribute to the region’s growth by supporting the everyday movement of the people who depend on it. This launch reaffirms our commitment to sustainable, people-first mobility solutions in Maharashtra and beyond.”

Saurabh Patwadhan, Director, PURPLE BUS, said, “At PURPLE BUS, our goal is to make electric the default way people travel between cities, not the exception. We are building that future route by route, from Mumbai–Pune, one of India’s busiest corridors, to Nagpur–Chandrapur, where we now bring Vidarbha its first electric bus service. Our fleet has already covered more than one million kilometres (1,000,000 km) in electric intercity operations, and the data shows what many operators doubted: electric coaches deliver a lower total cost of ownership and a lower cost per passenger-kilometre than diesel. Our partnership with SWITCH Mobility has been central to proving that, and it gives us the confidence to scale sustainable intercity mobility across Maharashtra.”

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European commercial vehicle major Scania has inaugurated its research and development proving ground in Södertälje, representing an investment of SEK 975 million. The 85-hectare site includes 13 kilometres of paved road and 4 kilometres of gravel road to support testing across electrification, autonomous driving, safety systems and vehicle dynamics.

The facility incorporates three irrigated braking tracks constructed from asphalt, concrete and basalt tiles, enabling testing across varied friction surfaces and cornering conditions. The site also features specialised environments for evaluating driver assistance technology, including automatic emergency braking, lane support and blind-spot warning systems, alongside scenarios for autonomous vehicle development. The construction project integrated environmental measures, including ECO asphalt and renewable HVO100 fuel for logistics, avoiding approximately 30,900 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions.

Christian Levin, President and CEO, TRATON GROUP and Scania, said, "The transformation of transport requires us to continuously strengthen the way we develop and validate new technologies. This investment is about building the capabilities we need for the future while ensuring that the solutions we bring to our customers have the safety, quality and performance they expect."

Sara Forsberg, CTO and Head of Brand Identity Development at Scania, said, "New technology only creates value when it performs in the real world. The R&D proving ground gives our engineers greater possibilities to test, learn and validate solutions under demanding conditions. It strengthens our ability to turn innovation into solutions that deliver real value for our customers."

Niklas Klingenberg, Head of Group R&D, TRATON GROUP, said, "Advanced testing and validation capabilities become increasingly necessary as we develop the next generation of transport solutions. The R&D Proving Ground is an important addition to our landscape and strengthens our ability to turn new technologies into proven solutions."

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Eicher Trucks & Buses, a division of VE Commercial Vehicles, has inaugurated a 3S dealership facility in Noida for its Eicher Pro X small truck range. Operated by Punjab Mobility, the 7,000-square-foot facility is located on NH-34 at Dadri in Gautam Buddh Nagar, providing integrated sales, service and spare parts support.

The showroom will sell the 3-tonne and 3.5-tonne Gross Vehicle Weight range of small commercial vehicles across electric, diesel and compressed natural gas powertrain options.

The location provides access to industrial and logistics hubs across Noida, Greater Noida and the Dadri region, including the Multi-Modal Logistics Hub and the Dadri-Noida-Ghaziabad Industrial Region, with transport connectivity via the Eastern Peripheral Expressway, the Delhi-Meerut Expressway and the Yamuna Expressway.

Abhishek Chaudhary, Senior Vice-President of SCV Sales & Marketing, VE Commercial Vehicles, said, "The Eicher Pro X range is designed for the evolving needs of last-mile logistics, with a strong focus on efficiency, connectivity, driver comfort and uptime. With three energy-efficient powertrains, 100% connected technology and multiple configuration options, it is engineered for applications including e-commerce, parcel courier, FMCG and industrial goods movement. Punjab Mobility Private Limited’s presence strengthens our presence in Noida and brings the Pro X range and enhanced ownership support closer to customers across the Delhi-NCR region. Born electric-first, the Eicher Pro X offers customers in the NCR the opportunity to switch to electric trucks that are approved under the PARIVARTAN scheme."

The dealership infrastructure features digital vehicle configurators, dedicated workshop bays, electric vehicle charging infrastructure and EV-trained service personnel. To support vehicle uptime across the National Capital Region, the facility operates mobile service vans and breakdown assistance units alongside power backup systems.

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