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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Switch Mobility, the electric bus and light commercial vehicle brand of the Hinduja Group, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Adhiyamaan College of Engineering to establish a Skill Development Centre for Electric Vehicle Technology in Hosur, Tamil Nadu.

The facility will function as a dedicated training site to upskill students and industry personnel in electric commercial vehicle technology. The curriculum will focus on practical applications, including battery technology, power electronics, charging infrastructure, real-world vehicle systems and electric mobility operations.

The initiative marks the establishment of a specialised electric vehicle skilling hub in the Hosur industrial belt, aiming to supply trained technical workforce to the region's expanding commercial electric vehicle manufacturing sector.

R G Venkataraman, Chief Commercial Officer, Switch Mobility, said, "As part of the MoU, Switch Mobility will extend its technical expertise and support towards this initiative. This program will entail practical industrial exposure, learning and skill development."

Radhakrishnan, Principal of Adhiyamaan College of Engineering, said, "We are proud to be associated with an industry leader like Switch Mobility. We believe that this collaboration will provide our students with valuable hands-on exposure to EV technologies and strengthen the industry–academia partnership in the field of electric mobility. With this Centre, our vision is to offer a practical learning environment to enhance their employability and prepare them to meet the evolving demands of the electric mobility industry."

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Toyota Kirloskar Motor, one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers in the country, has announced five of its employees were awarded the Medallion for Excellence at the 48th WorldSkills Competition 2026, held in Shanghai, China, from 22 to 27 September 2026.

Competing across three skill categories – mechatronics, additive manufacturing and robot systems integration – the company's employees secured five of the total 20 Medallions for Excellence won by the Indian contingent.

The WorldSkills Competition featured over 1,400 participants from 68 countries competing across 64 technical trade categories. The Medallion for Excellence is awarded to competitors who meet international standards by achieving performance benchmark scores below the gold, silver and bronze medal positions.

In the Mechatronics category, Deepu Mudigerepalya Srinivasa and Jayanth Kariyappa received the recognition. Pavan Bhadravati Suresha was awarded in Additive Manufacturing, while Abhishek Somanna Shignalli and Vinay Muttayya Hiremath received medallions in Robot Systems Integration. Additionally, TKM employees Tejas B.S. and Praveen Yankappa Hunakunti represented India in the Auto Body Repair and Welding categories respectively.

G Shankara, Chief Strategy Officer, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said, "The achievements of our employees at the WorldSkills Competition 2026 exemplify the spirit of excellence, innovation and continuous learning. Five of our employees winning Medallions for Excellence in 3 categories on a global stage is a proud moment for Toyota Kirloskar Motor and for the nation. Their success reinforces our commitment to nurturing world-class talent and supporting India's journey towards becoming the global skill capital. We hope their journey inspires the next generation of young professionals to pursue excellence in technical and vocational careers."

Toyota Kirloskar Motor conducts technical training through the Toyota Technical Training Institute (TTTI), established in 2007 to provide a three-year residential programme for students from rural Karnataka. The automaker has trained over 140,000 individuals through vocational initiatives, including partnerships with over 120 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), 30 Government Tool Room & Training Centres (GTTCs), the Toyota Technical Education Program and Toyota Kaushalya.

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Japanese tier 1 supplier Denso Corporation and Niterra Co., have agreed to terminate their business transfer agreement concerning Denso's Spark Plug and Exhaust Gas Sensor business, which was originally executed on 1 September 2025.

The initial agreement followed a memorandum of understanding signed in July 2023, under which both companies explored transferring Denso's spark plug and exhaust gas sensor operations – including oxygen sensors and air-fuel ratio sensors – to Niterra to streamline internal combustion engine (ICE) component manufacturing amidst global vehicle electrification.

The revision in the original plan is said to be due to changes in the market environment, which led Denso to reassess its strategy under its ‘CORE 2030’ Mid-Term Management Plan.

While vehicle electrification has progressed, global market conditions, regional energy supplies and regulatory environments have sustained demand for internal combustion and hybrid powertrains longer than projected. Following strategic reviews, Denso concluded that maintaining its spark plug and sensor business in-house remains optimal for supporting multi-powertrain vehicle systems, prompting the mutual agreement with Niterra to dissolve the transfer deal.

Denso stated that it will continue operating the business independently to meet powertrain requirements and supply chain demands across global markets.

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In what comes as good news for the Indian automotive industry, competitors trained by the Automotive Skills Development Council (ASDC) secured five Medals for Excellence at the 48th WorldSkills Competition held in Shanghai, China, from 22 to 27 September 2026.

The event featured more than 1,400 participants from 70 countries, with India fielding a contingent of 70 competitors across 63 skill categories. Team India recorded a Top 10 global finish with six Silver Medals and 20 Medals for Excellence overall. The ASDC prepared candidates through training programmes, hands-on practice, exposure visits and competitions organised in collaboration with industry and academic partners.

The ASDC-supported participants awarded Medals for Excellence were Pavan Bhadravati Suresha in Additive Manufacturing, Kaif Khan in Car Painting, Md Seraj in Automobile Technology, Mallinath and Suhan Mascarenhas in Industry 4.0 and Abhishek Somanna Shignalli alongside Vinay Muttayya Hiremath in Robot Systems Integration.

Vinkesh Gulati, Chairperson, ASDC, said, "This stellar performance at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 is a proud moment for ASDC and a testament to the immense talent of India’s youth. Winning Medals for Excellence across advanced automotive domains reflects our relentless commitment to aligning skill training with global standards. Our young champions have proved that Indian automotive talent is second to none."

Prasanna Pahade, CEO, ASDC, said, "Securing five Medallions across critical futuristic skills like Industry 4.0, Robotics, and Additive Manufacturing reaffirms the impact of ASDC's industry-aligned curriculum and intensive mentorship. The benchmark perfection demanded at WorldSkills validates our mission to build a future-ready workforce for the global mobility sector."

Training support for the participants was provided by industry organisations and institutes including Maruti Suzuki India, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, Mahindra & Mahindra, FANUC India, Axalta Coating Systems India, Festo India, SHINING 3D, Autodesk, NAMTECH, International Automobile Centre of Excellence, NTTF and Synoptic Skills Studio.

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