Recording a 353 percent increase in the revenue for the first quarter of FY2021-22 at INR 29,510 million in comparison to the revenue generation of INR 6,510 million in the corresponding quarter of FY2020-21, Ashok Leyland is confident of a strong demand emerging post the second Covid-19 wave. Clocking export volumes of 1,437 units in the first quarter of FY2021-22, up 254 percent when compared to the export of 405 units in the first quarter of FY2020-21, the commercial vehicle manufacturer is concentrating on vaccination and the adherence of safety protocols to try and ensure that all its stakeholders stay protected from a potential third wave. Experiencing a 1,041 percent growth in domestic M&HCV volume in the first quarter of FY2021-22, which is almost twice than that of the industry growth volume at 562 percent during the same period, the company has reported a net loss of INR 28,20 million in the first quarter of FY2021-22 as against a net loss of INR 38.90 million in the corresponding quarter of FY2020-21. Selling 8,690 LCVs in the domestic market in the first quarter of FY2021-22, up 224 percent as compared to the sale of 2,686 LCVs in the corresponding quarter last fiscal, Ashok Leyland is closely observing the way the freight rates are shaping up. It is confident that freight rates will improve with higher availability of commercial vehicles once the Covid-19 subsidies and uncertainty fades. “We are hoping for the volumes to grow higher as the market gets better,” mentioned Mahadevan. “July (2021) has been a growth month,” he added. Stressing that they have had eight months of degrowth, Mahadevan said, “Economic growth will induce growth in CVs.”

CV trends
Working on a strategy for a robust domestic and exports growth, the commercial vehicle major is appointing dealers in Africa. Looking at gaining good traction in South East Asia, Ashok Leyland will launch new products in the LCV segment even though not in the immediate quarter. Buoyed by the international markets opening up and experiencing export thrust, the company is said to be testing an electric version of its LCV platform on which the Bada Dost is based in the UK. This vehicle is expected to be launched at the end of this fiscal or in the first half of the next fiscal. Of the opinion that electric vehicles are catching up, especially at the local point of use, on the encouragement of the governments, Mahadevan averred, “It is more to do with buses, but trucks will catch up.” Seeing a trend of petrol commercial vehicles in the low-tonnage segment of sub-1 tonne to 1.5 tonne, Mahadevan drew attention to the push on CNG. “We are ready in the LCV and ICV (segment),” he added. Of the firm belief that diesel vehicles will continue and the IC engine will coexist and not die overnight, Mahadevan said, “We are ready to cater to higher demand.” 
 

Watching closely how freight operators are able to pass on the fuel price hike to their end customers, Ashok Leyland is hoping that bus commute will pick up. A 40,000 units per annum market, according to Mahadevan, buses have been severely affected due to the Covid-19-led disruption. Delivering 40 electric buses to the city of Chandigarh recently (from where it has bagged an order to build and maintain e-buses with quick charging technology), Ashok Leyland is expecting pent-up demand to show up once normalcy returns. Also expecting demand to show up because of the need to ferry people without sacrificing social distancing norms, Mahadevan drew attention to their work towards further strengthening their position in the bus and LCV market segments. With the talk of schools reopening in regions where the Covid-19 infections are down, and the relaxation in Covid-19 norms in some region allowing more employees to return to their offices, bus demand is expected to improve post witnessing a sudden downfall mid-last year. Through the establishment of Switch Mobility, Ashok Leyland is keen to experience a speedier ride in the ‘cleaner and greener’ bus space. 
 

Managing costs and productivity 
Eyeing international markets like the US, Europe and Japan, the company, through the Switch Mobility subsidiary, has worked with a few consultants to make sure that its data points and numbers are on par with the current situation. Under Switch Mobility, it is developing new products to present an advantage of unique position in terms of value and premium positioning. For its Switch Mobility subsidiary that includes the erstwhile Optare of UK, Ashok Leyland has managed to get USD 18 million worth of investment from Dana Incorporated (Dana), a US-based manufacturer of drivetrain and e-propulsion systems. To do de-bottlenecking once enough demand is evident, Ashok Leyland, investing sufficiently in terms of capex, is confident of seeing early growth sprouts in LCVs. Therefore, if it were to do immediate capex investment, it would be in LCVs. Discussing with scrappage centres post the announcement of the scrappage policy, Ashok Leyland, the second-largest CV maker in the country, is witnessing good traction from its other business verticals like defence, power solutions and aftermarket. They are contributing to its top line. 
 

With the pace of vaccination picking up and positively setting in, Ashok Leyland is expecting a demand spike in commercial vehicles after the fear of a third Covid-19 wave is over. This, according to Mahadevan, could happen in the second half of this fiscal. Focusing on costs, productivity and middle level management, the commercial vehicle major is also concentrating on reducing its carbon footprint. Apart from announcing strategic steps to move towards net zero carbon mobility through Switch Mobility, Ashok Leyland, said Mahadevan, has formed an ESG committee of the Board. The committee will guide and propel the commercial vehicle manufacturer to achieve its sustainability agenda.
 

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ZF Commercial Vehicle Control Systems India Limited (ZF CVCS India) has finalised multi-year supply agreements with three major Indian truck manufacturers for its ESCsmart Electronic Stability Control (ESC) solution. The deals cover 12-volt and 24-volt architectures and are tied to new model launches developed to align with upcoming safety legislation. Local assembly will occur at ZF CVCS India's domestic production hubs, with series manufacturing scheduled to start in the third quarter of 2027.

The regulatory landscape is the primary driver, as Indian authorities have set an October 2027 deadline for mandatory ESC installation on all trucks. With that compliance date approaching, OEMs are securing proven technology partners well in advance, and the nominations reflect a broader industry shift towards active safety adoption ahead of the mandate.

Electronic stability control is globally regarded as a critical tool for preventing rollovers and loss-of-control incidents, with many developed markets already enforcing similar requirements. India's forthcoming regulations represent a meaningful convergence with international norms, and observers anticipate measurable improvements in commercial vehicle accident statistics once the technology becomes standard.

The ESCsmart system is tailored for heavy commercial use, automatically modulating braking and engine torque when sensors detect instability. Its effectiveness in Indian conditions has been validated through deployments on over 60,000 vehicles, while ZF's pedigree includes 20 years of innovation and more than three million global deliveries. The company is providing validation and pre-certification support, positioning the solution as fully compliant with both current and stricter 2027 rules.

Paramjit Singh Chadha, Managing Director, ZF Commercial Vehicle Control Systems India Ltd, said, “As the Indian commercial vehicle industry prepares for the next phase of safety regulations, vehicle stability technologies are evolving from being a differentiator to becoming a fundamental requirement. These business nominations reflect the growing momentum towards advanced active safety systems across the market. With a proven ESC platform, dedicated validation capabilities at our ESC test track and strong local engineering and manufacturing expertise, ZF CVCS India is ready to support OEMs in meeting the upcoming safety requirements with scalable, India-ready solutions.”

Akash Passey, Non-Executive Chairman, ZF Commercial Vehicle Control Systems India Ltd and President – ZF Group in India, said, “We are proud of the confidence our customers have placed in ZF CVCS India and the partnerships we have built. As India enters a defining phase in commercial vehicle safety, OEMs are increasingly prioritising proven technologies that enhance vehicle stability and deliver meaningful safety outcomes at scale. These nominations reinforce ZF CVCS India's leadership in active safety and our readiness to support the industry's transition through proven technology, local manufacturing, advanced validation capabilities and ZF's global expertise in electronic stability control.”

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Delhi-NCR-headquartered alternative energy vehicle company Omega Seiki Mobility has successfully secured strategic funding from Securocorp Securities, Sangeeta Pareekh, Saket Aggarwal Family Office and Vanshika Sharma in New Delhi.

The funds will be deployed to expand manufacturing capacity at production facilities in Faridabad and Pune, strengthen research and development, enhance the dealer network and accelerate electric mobility solutions following Delhi's EV Policy 2026.

Dr. Uday Narang, Founder & Chairman, Omega Seiki Mobility, said, "This investment reflects the confidence investors have in our vision, execution, and long-term strategy. Over the last eight years, we have built a company grounded in manufacturing excellence, innovation, and financial discipline. As India's EV market enters its next phase of growth, we remain committed to delivering sustainable mobility solutions while creating long-term value for our customers, partners, and investors."

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European automaker Stellantis has appointed Tianshu Xin to lead its China and Asia-Pacific region, effective 3 August 2026. He will report to Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa and join the Stellantis Leadership Team, while continuing to serve as CEO of Leapmotor International.

On the other hand, Gregoire Olivier has been appointed strategic advisor, reporting to Xin.

Furthermore, Pablo Di Si has been named Chief Performance Officer, effective 3 August 2026. Reporting directly to Antonio Filosa, Di Si will lead execution of Stellantis’ ‘Value Creation Program’ to deliver business targets.

Antonio Filosa, CEO, Stellantis, said, “Tianshu Xin and Pablo Di Si bring deep global leadership experience, operational discipline and proven records of building strong teams and driving performance in highly competitive markets. Their appointments strengthen our leadership team as we sharpen execution, accelerate value creation, and continue positioning Stellantis for long-term success across regions and functions. I also want to thank Gregoire for his leadership and look forward to working together as he takes on his new role.”

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  - Rishi pandey July 25, 2026 15:23 PM

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Sona BLW Precision Forgings has signed definitive agreements with DENSO Corporation to establish two joint ventures aimed at developing, manufacturing and marketing electric and hybrid powertrain systems.

The partnership involves two strategic joint ventures tailored to different vehicle segments. The first joint venture focuses on high-voltage liquid-cooled traction inverters, traction motors and generators for passenger vehicles and commercial vehicles, with DENSO holding a 51 percent equity stake and management control and Sona Comstar holding 49 percent.

The second joint venture targets air-cooled traction inverters, traction motors, generators and e-axles for two-wheelers and three-wheelers, where Sona Comstar retains a 51 percent stake and management control and DENSO acquires 49 percent through a subsidiary structure.

Vivek Vikram Singh, MD and Group CEO, Sona Comstar, said, “We have always believed that the future of mobility will be defined by companies that continuously invest in innovation, product development and industrialization of advanced technologies. This partnership marks an historic milestone in Sona Comstar’s journey as a mobility technology company and reflects the capabilities we have built across advanced electric powertrain systems over the years. DENSO is a company we have immense respect for, as they have been at the forefront of automotive innovation globally for decades with deep expertise in electrification technologies. We are honored and delighted to partner with DENSO to bring together the complementary strengths of both companies and build advanced electric and hybrid powertrain solutions for four-wheelers and larger vehicle applications. This partnership will also accelerate the growth of our existing electric powertrain business for two and three-wheelers by strengthening our capabilities across the powertrain value chain and enabling us to serve a broader set of customers.”

Tsuneo Maebara, Head of Powertrain Systems Business Group, DENSO Corporation, said, “The electrification of mobility represents a major transformation that will continue to evolve in response to the diverse needs of customers and society across the world. India, in particular, is an important region where diverse forms of mobility coexist and electrification is advancing at significant scale. Sona Comstar is a mobility technology company with a global business presence, serving a broad range of customers, and having boldly transformed itself alongside the rapid evolution of the mobility market – from conventional vehicle technologies to solutions for both two- and three-wheelers and passenger electric vehicles. Through this partnership, we will bring together the respective strengths that both companies have built over the years to provide electrification solutions that address the diverse needs of customers in India. By harnessing new competitive strengths created through synergies across the two companies’ products, technologies and business foundations, DENSO will further advance and accelerate its electrification business. We will also build on the outcomes achieved in India to deliver value that meets a broader range of customer needs in the future.”

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