The second annual edition of Toyota Kirloskar Motor's (TKM) flagship Toyota Safety Education Programme (TSEP) has finished successfully in Bangalore. Titled ‘Road Safety – My Right, My Responsibility’, the campaign keeps educating and enforcing the obligation of future road users in order to create safer roads throughout India.

Chief Guest Dr Anil Kumar, Bangalore Traffic Police Department, along with Sudeep Dalvi, Chief Communication Officer, Senior Vice President & Head State Affairs, TKM, highlighted the importance of fostering road safety awareness at the grassroots level. TSEP, which was created to include schoolchildren as important road safety ambassadors, has shown itself to be a transformative programme that fosters responsible driving behaviour and has a cascading effect on families and communities. Measurable results show that TSEP is successful; assessments show that participants' understanding of road safety has significantly increased, underscoring the programme's ability to instil a culture of road safety in young students.

With more than 150,000 fatalities annually, India has the greatest number of road collision deaths worldwide. For those aged 5 to 29, road accidents continue to be the primary cause of mortality. TKM introduced TSEP in 2007 to address this challenge by including road safety into the curriculum of schools. Over 800,000 pupils countrywide have benefited from TSEP's ‘Child to Community’ programme, which has turned schoolchildren into road safety champions. Building on its achievements, TKM commemorated the completion of programme batches in Delhi and Bangalore this year. Mumbai will host the next phase of the programme as it grows, with an annual event scheduled for 11 February 2025. The initiative seeks to strengthen its commitment to attaining zero road fatalities by involving nearly 70,000 children and 600 instructors in 140 schools.

Students demonstrated their knowledge of road safety through activities including poster-making, skits, songs, Mad Ads and fact-based video presentations at the Bangalore event. These interactive formats inspired creative ideas for safer roadways while making learning interesting and effective. An awards ceremony celebrating the outstanding work of students, instructors and schools that were instrumental in enhancing the programme's effect marked the event's conclusion.

Dr Kumar said, “Programmes like the Toyota Safety Education Programme demonstrate the powerful impact of early education and community engagement in fostering responsible road behaviour. By focusing on schoolchildren, TKM is successfully empowering a generation to lead the change within their families and communities. The creativity and enthusiasm shown by students highlight the effectiveness of this initiative in inspiring a long-term commitment to road safety. Toyota’s dedication to reducing road accidents and ensuring citizen safety sets a commendable benchmark for corporate contributions towards national safety goals.”

Dalvi said, “At Toyota, our commitment to road safety extends beyond the manufacturing of safe cars; we strive to grow in tandem with society and enrich the lives of the communities we serve. By promoting road safety and instilling behavioural change, we aim to create a safer future for all. Since 2007, through initiatives like the Toyota Safety Education Programme, we have reached over 800,000 students, empowering them to become 'road safety ambassadors' who inspire positive change within their families and communities. This holistic approach is a reflection of our core philosophy of giving back to society and addressing critical challenges like road safety. Together with our partners, we remain dedicated to achieving our vision of zero road fatalities and fostering a culture of responsible road behaviour across the nation.”

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Larsen & Toubro’s Construction & Mining Machinery business has entered into a partnership with FAYAT Road Equipment Division India to market BOMAG road milling machines, soil stabilisers and cement spreaders in India. The agreement encompasses marketing, sales, aftersales support and the supply of spare parts.

FAYAT is a France-based construction group and road equipment supplier, while Germany-headquartered BOMAG operates within FAYAT’s Road Equipment Division. The equipment range will join L&T’s current road machinery portfolio, expanding the company’s coverage across road construction, maintenance and infrastructure development applications.

Anil V Parab, Senior Executive Vice-President and Whole-time Director - Manufacturing, Larsen & Toubro, said, “Our Construction & Mining Machinery business has a long history of introducing advanced equipment technologies in India. In fact, we are the pioneers to introduce hydraulic excavators in India. The addition of BOMAG’s specialised road construction equipment further strengthens this legacy.”

“L&T’s nationwide service network, supported by its central warehouse in Nagpur, will help ensure prompt technical support and dependable after-sales service throughout the equipment lifecycle. Together, L&T and FAYAT aim to enhance customer productivity, improve project efficiency and build a strong platform for long-term growth in the Indian market,” added Parab.

Abhijit Som, MD, FRED India, said, “India is a key strategic growth market for the FAYAT Group. As the country advances towards realising its vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047, continued investment in infrastructure will drive demand for advanced, efficient and sustainable road construction solutions. With a legacy spanning several decades and a presence in more than 170 countries, FAYAT is well-positioned to bring its global expertise and technologies to support this growth. The introduction of BOMAG’s specialised road construction technologies in India, combined with L&T’s extensive market reach, deep customer relationships and service infrastructure, creates a compelling synergy. The partnership will enable customers to access advanced and reliable equipment solutions backed by strong local support.”

L&T will manage nationwide product support through its distribution network and central parts warehouse located in Nagpur.

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Bombay Logistics has flagged off a fleet of liquefied natural gas heavy-duty trucks manufactured by Blue Energy Motors for commercial operations in Karnataka. The vehicles will operate in the Toranagallu region to support industrial freight transport for JSW Steel.

The LNG trucks are said to offer up to 20 percent higher fuel efficiency compared to conventional fuel equivalents, reducing carbon intensity across long-haul freight operations.

Thimmaraj Kakarla, Managing Partner, Bombay Logistics, said, “For us, the move to LNG is about finding a practical solution that works on the road and makes commercial sense. The performance and fuel efficiency of the Blue Energy Motors trucks were important considerations, while the Blue Energy Motors team’s support throughout the deployment, from vehicle handover and route planning to on-ground assistance, made the transition seamless. As these trucks begin operations for JSW Steel, we see this as a meaningful step towards improving operating efficiency while reducing the carbon footprint of our freight movement.”

Anand Mimani, CEO of EV and New Energy, Blue Energy Motors, said, “We are pleased to support Bombay Logistics in deploying our LNG trucks for demanding industrial operations. For us, the priority is simple: deliver the performance and reliability the customer needs while making the shift to cleaner freight practical.”

At present, Blue Energy Motors maintains an operational fleet of over 1,400 alternative-fuel trucks across Indian freight corridors. The company says these vehicles have recorded over 100 million kilometres and reduced carbon dioxide emissions by more than 30,000 tonnes.

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Ashok Leyland’s battery pack manufacturing plans are designed to boost vehicle integration and open new revenue streams, not just cut costs or meet local-sourcing rules, said Chief Executive Officer Shenu Agarwal during the company’s Q1 FY27 financial results announcement.

The Hinduja Group-controlled truckmaker is building a battery pack plant in Tamil Nadu, with production slated to start in 2027. The facility, located in the SIPCOT Pillaipakkam Industrial Park near Chennai, forms the first phase of a broader INR 75 billion commitment by the group.

Speaking to Motoring Trends on the same, Agarwal's said, “Don't look at the battery pack business just from a cost perspective or localisation perspective. The company will meet local-content requirements to the extent that we can make it more efficient.”

He added that the company is designing its own battery packs and battery management systems in-house, which will let the company integrate it better into its vehicles and create a total cost of ownership advantage for the customer.

The strategy also extends beyond Ashok Leyland's own line-up. “We are also evaluating how to supply the solutions to other automotive players,” Agarwal said, while pointing to rising demand for battery energy storage systems as a separate growth avenue.

“This battery pack business has multiple dimensions,” he noted, adding that the initiative is meant to enhance value for truck and bus customers rather than serve as a narrow cost play.

Earnings call

Ashok Leyland posted a record first quarter with strong domestic commercial-vehicle demand helping the automaker withstand disruptions in international markets and broader geo-political uncertainty.

The company achieved its highest-ever first-quarter revenue, profit before tax and net profit, while its cash position improved by INR 14.31 billion from a year earlier, net of dividend, capital expenditure and investments in group companies, Executive Chairman Dheeraj Hinduja said.

“The business environment tested the robustness of our processes and resilience of our teams and partners. Ashok Leyland has come out stronger, achieving new peaks,” Hinduja said.

Domestic commercial-vehicle industry volumes grew in double digits during the quarter with Ashok Leyland's medium and heavy commercial vehicle truck volumes rising 15 percent from a year earlier.

Domestic light commercial vehicle volumes reached a record 18,874 units, while the company’s overall commercial-vehicle volumes increased 10 percent year-on-year, Hinduja said.

The company also maintained its 14th consecutive quarter of double-digit EBITDA margin underscoring its focus on profitable growth, he said.

Non-commercial vehicle businesses including aftermarket, engines and defence also reported healthy performance, Hinduja said. The company continued to invest in products and manufacturing capabilities including the launch of multi-axle trucks equipped with air suspension, which offers higher payload and lower TCO.

Ashok Leyland also launched a 12-meter fuel-cell bus, which Hinduja described as an industry first.

Its electric mobility subsidiary Switch India recently secured an order for 650 electric buses, while the group’s financing businesses, Hinduja Leyland Finance and Hinduja Finance, reported assets-under-management growth of 20 percent and 13 percent, respectively.

The company remains cautious about global uncertainties but is confident of navigating them on the back of the stronger foundation built in recent years, Hinduja said.

“It was satisfying to see the company deliver in the face of challenges presented by global uncertainties. Our performance demonstrated that the business model we have developed can absorb shocks,” he said.

“We remain cautious of global uncertainties but we are confident of navigating these based on the strong foundation we have built over the last few years,” Hinduja added.

The comments come as Ashok Leyland's international commercial-vehicle volumes fell to 2,461 units in the first quarter from 3,011 a year earlier, primarily because of the crisis in West Asia. Growth in South Asia and Africa partly offset the decline with the company seeing stronger momentum from June.

Hinduja said the company’s domestic performance demonstrates the strength of India's commercial-vehicle market and gives it confidence in its ability to sustain growth despite external volatility.

Ashok Leyland’s battery strategy comes as the company strengthens its portfolio amid robust domestic demand and global uncertainty. By developing battery packs and management systems in-house, the automaker aims to capture more value across the electric-vehicle ecosystem, while exploring external customers and energy-storage applications as additional growth opportunities beyond its core vehicle business.

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Mahindra Truck and Bus, a division of the Mahindra Group, has introduced the Mahindra Blazo i-TRK heavy commercial vehicle range in India.

The vehicle range features Mahindra's 320hp mPOWER engine and the iMAXX 2.0 fleet telematics platform.

The company says the new Blazo i-TRK delivers up to 10 percent higher fuel efficiency compared to previous models. Mahindra has also introduced a 48-hour uptime guarantee for the vehicle range, offering a compensation scheme of INR 10,000 per day in cases where service timelines are not met.

The telematics platform connects vehicle systems to provide fleet operators with operational data, remote monitoring capabilities and maintenance management tools. The integration of connected vehicle technology is intended to support freight movement and fleet productivity across Indian transport routes.

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