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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Pune-headquartered alternative energy vehicle manufacturer EKA Mobility has appointed Sanjay Kumar Bohra as its new Chief Commercial Officer (CCO).

In his new role, he will lead the Financial & Commercial strategy for EKA Mobility and the group, driving growth, efficiency and value creation across the organisation. Bohra comes with around four decades of experience across finance, banking and Business Process Services (BPS).

Prior to joining EKA Mobility, he served as the Group CFO at Force Motors, having spent over a decade at the company, leading finance function across domestic and international operations. He has also worked with the likes of Citigroup and Tata Consultancy Services in his professional career.

Dr. Sudhir Mehta, Founder & Chairman, EKA Mobility & Pinnacle Industries, said, "We are glad to welcome Sanjay to the EKA family. His deep understanding of finance, coupled with a strong track record in business transformation and strategic leadership, will be instrumental in propelling EKA’s next phase of growth. He will play a key leadership role not just at EKA Mobility, but across our group, as we scale our operations and expand our global footprint."

Sanjay Kumar Bohra, said, "I am excited to join EKA Mobility at such a transformative time for the automotive and clean mobility industry. EKA’s bold vision, innovation-led approach, and strong commitment to sustainability are aligned with my professional ethos, and I look forward to contributing to the EKA and the group’s continued success and global expansion."

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The Indian commercial vehicle (CV) industry is likely to see wholesale growth of 3-5 percent in FY2026, backed by the resumption of construction and infrastructure activities. The report states that while domestic CV wholesale volumes saw a marginal 0.1 percent YoY increase in May 2025, retail volumes witnessed a 3.7 percent YoY contraction.

For the initial two months of the fiscal year 2026 (April-May 2025), CV wholesale volumes declined by 0.7 percent on a YoY basis. The decline in retail volumes, which also saw an 11.3 percent sequential drop in May 2025, suggests elevated inventory levels at dealerships.

Breaking down the performance by segment, the medium and heavy commercial vehicle (M&HCV) segment saw its retail sales volumes decline by 4.4 percent YoY in May 2025, with a significant sequential decline of 18.9 percent. ICRA noted that regional disruptions and the geopolitical situation had some impact on demand for the month. M&HCV (trucks) wholesale volumes are anticipated to register a modest 0-3 percent YoY growth in FY2026, following a 4 percent decline in FY2025.

Similarly, retail volumes in the light commercial vehicle (LCV) segment in May 2025 declined by 3.2 percent YoY and 4.9 percent sequentially, reflecting muted demand. LCV (trucks) wholesale volumes are expected to register a limited 3-5 percent YoY growth in FY2026. The increasing preference for pre-owned vehicles over new ones in this segment has also impacted demand recently.

Despite the subdued performance in May, ICRA forecasts a modest YoY growth of 3-5 percent in wholesale volumes for the domestic CV industry in FY2026, after a marginal 1.2 percent year-on-year decline in FY2025. While M&HCV (trucks) and LCV (trucks) segments are expected to see modest volume growth, the buses segment is projected to experience a relatively higher growth of 8-10 percent for the fiscal year.

The anticipated pick-up in construction and mining activities, coupled with a steady economic environment, is expected to support demand prospects for the LCV (trucks) and M&HCV (trucks) segments. Meanwhile, replacement demand is likely to be a key driver for volume growth in the buses segment.

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Chennai-based commercial vehicle major Ashok Leyland has bagged an order to deliver 200 trucks to Instant Transport Solution, a key express logistics player in India.

Instant & XP India, is a leading express logistics player in e-commerce, FCL, LCL and 3PL space, is one of the fastest-growing integrated logistics businesses in India.

It currently operates a fleet of around 2,100 trucks and has placed a substantial order of 200 units of Ashok Leyland’s trucks. The first batch of 100 units of 1916 single axle and 2820 multi-axle haulage trucks were delivered, marking the beginning of this extensive fleet expansion.

Sanjeev Kumar, President – MHCV, Ashok Leyland, handed over the keys to the first batch of 100 trucks to Rajbir Singh Chaudhary, Chairman, Instant Transport Solution, in the presence of senior executives from both organisations.

Sanjeev Kumar, said, “We are delighted to deliver the first batch of 1916 single axle and 2820 multi-axle haulage trucks to Instant Transport Solution. This order underscores the confidence customers place in our robust, innovative and reliable vehicles. As we continue to push the boundaries of technology and customer experience, collaborations like these will help shape a more efficient, future-ready logistics sector.”

Rajbir Singh, said, “We have complete trust in the quality and performance of Ashok Leyland trucks. Their outstanding after-sales support ensures seamless operations for us, while their growing service network further enhances our capabilities. This delivery represents more than just new trucks – it signifies a deepening partnership aimed at advancing logistics efficiency. With Ashok Leyland’s dedication to innovation and our forward-thinking approach to transportation, we look forward to continued success on the road.”

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Mumbai-headquartered automotive major Mahindra & Mahindra has launched its all-new Bolero MaXX Pik-Up HD 1.9 CNG small commercial vehicle (SCV) at INR 1.11 million (ex-showroom). The new model expands the company’s popular Bolero Pik-Up brand.

The Bolero MaXX Pik-Up HD 1.9 CNG comes with a 2.5-litre turbocharged CNG engine, delivering 61 kW power, 220 Nm of torque @ 1,200-2,200 rpm and a payload capacity of 1.86-tonne. The SCV is specifically designed for long-distance operations and offers a claimed range of up to 400 km on a single CNG fill, supported by its 180-litre tank capacity. The SCV comes with a 5-speed manual gearbox and power steering.

In terms of connectivity, the Bolero MaXX Pik-Up HD 1.9 CNG is the company’s first CNG pickup offering with iMAXX telematics solution tech, providing fleet operators complete overview of the vehicle performance.

The SCV comes with air conditioning and heating systems for all weather driving, as well as a height-adjustable driver seat for ergonomic support.

The cargo bed designed to support diverse customer needs measures 3050 mm in length. Complementing the vehicle are the 16-inch tyres and durable leaf spring suspension on both front and rear axles.

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