Chennai-based commercial vehicle major Ashok Leyland has secured an order for supplying 1,937 buses to the Tamil Nadu State Transport Undertakings (TNSTU). The order further reinforces Ashok Leyland's partnership with the TNSTU, which currently operates over 21,000 of the company's buses.

The new buses will feature the advanced iGen6 BS VI technology and are designed for passenger comfort. The order includes a mix of fully built and chassis configurations for town, mofussil and SETC (State Express Transport Corporation) applications. Each vehicle is built on the AIS 153-compliant chassis platform, which meets the latest Indian safety and performance regulations.

The order for a mix of the new Viking and SETC models offer features to meet the needs of public transport:

• Power Needs: All Town / Mofussil and SETC buses have an upgraded Battery and Alternator to meet the power needs of Advanced ITMS (Intelligent Transport Management Systems).
• Safety: High-speed Mofussil and SETC buses are equipped with Electronic Stability Control for improved stability.
• Comfort: Urban Low Entry and Semi Low Floor buses (650mm) include automatic transmission and air suspension, and are equipped with a wheelchair ramp for passengers with special needs.

Madhavi Deshmukh, National Sales Head – MHCV, Ashok Leyland, said, “We are proud to strengthen our long-standing partnership with the Tamil Nadu State Transport Undertakings through this significant order. Tamil Nadu has always been an important market for us, and this order is a testament to the trust and confidence our customers place in Ashok Leyland’s technology and performance. This order win reinforces our dedication to creating efficient and technologically advanced products that exceed our customers' expectations and contribute to the growth of public transportation. Our focus continues to be on developing advanced, safe and efficient mobility solutions that meet the evolving needs of public transportation in India.”

Mohan K, Head Bus - MHCV, Ashok Leyland, said, “We are thrilled to have received this order from the Tamil Nadu State Transport Undertakings for 1937 buses. Tamil Nadu has always been one of our most valued markets, and we take great pride in being a key partner in strengthening the state’s public transport system. These advanced buses, equipped with the latest safety, technology and comfort features, underscore our commitment to delivering reliable, efficient, and safe mobility solutions. We remain dedicated to supporting the government’s vision of providing modern and sustainable transportation for the people of Tamil Nadu.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Sonalika Tractors is celebrating its 30th anniversary, marking its transition from a local business in Hoshiarpur, Punjab, to a USD 1.1 billion global entity. The company is currently ranked as the third-largest tractor manufacturer in India and the fifth-largest globally.

Founded in 1996 by LD Mittal and his sons, Dr A. S. Mittal and Dr Deepak Mittal, the company began by manufacturing agricultural threshers before entering the tractor market. Sonalika adopted a strategy of customising machinery for specific soil and regional conditions rather than following industry standardisation. Since 2011, the company has utilised vertical integration, manufacturing its own engines, transmissions and sheet metal aggregates in-house.

Technical milestones of the brand include:

• Production Capacity: The Hoshiarpur facility was expanded in 2017 to become a fully integrated plant capable of producing one tractor every two minutes.
• Product Range: The company develops over 2,000 models ranging from 20 HP to 120 HP.
• Export Leadership: Sonalika has been India's leading tractor export brand for seven consecutive years, holding a 30 percent market share in exports. Every third tractor exported from India is manufactured at its Hoshiarpur facility.
• Global Presence: The brand operates in over 150 countries and owns six assembly plants internationally.

In 2022, Sonalika became the first Indian tractor manufacturer to publish vehicle prices on its website, followed by the publication of service costs in 2025.

Going forward, the company intends to increase its production capacity to 300,000 tractors per year. Future plans include the integration of digital platforms and connected diagnostics to manage farmer engagement and vehicle maintenance.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Caterpillar has announced an expanded collaboration with Nvidia to develop AI-enhanced solutions for machines, manufacturing facilities and supply chains. The partnership focuses on applying physical AI to heavy equipment to assist with autonomy and site management.

The automaker is utilising the Nvidia Jetson Thor platform to enable real-time AI inference on its construction, mining and power equipment. This technology provides a foundation for autonomous operations and in-cab assistance. Machines will process sensor data via edge computing to provide safety alerts, productivity tips and real-time coaching to operators. In mining and construction environments, these systems are designed to process data points in milliseconds to navigate changing jobsite conditions.

At CES 2026, the company debuted the Cat AI Assistant, a tool embedded in digital and onboard products. Built using Nvidia Riva speech models, the assistant uses voice activation to help users manage equipment settings, perform troubleshooting and access maintenance information. The system draws from Caterpillar’s Helios unified data platform to provide context-specific recommendations to dealers and customers.

Caterpillar is also implementing an Nvidia AI Factory to automate manufacturing processes, including forecasting and production scheduling. The company is developing digital twins of its factories using Nvidia Omniverse and OpenUSD. These virtual models allow engineers to simulate and optimise factory layouts and production flows before physical implementation.

Joe Creed, CEO of Caterpillar, said, “As AI moves beyond data to reshape the physical world, it is unlocking new opportunities for innovation – from job sites and factory floors to offices. Caterpillar is committed to solving our customers’ toughest challenges by leading with advanced technology in our machines and every aspect of business. Our collaboration with Nvidia is accelerating that progress like never before.”

Jensen Huang, Founder and CEO, Nvidia, said, “For a century, Caterpillar has built the industrial machines that shaped the world. In the age of AI, Nvidia and Caterpillar are partnering across the full spectrum – from autonomous construction fleets to the AI data centres powering the next industrial revolution.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Pune-headquartered automotive major Force Motors has reported domestic wholesale growth of 49 percent in December 2025, reaching 2,952 units compared to 1,985 units in December 2024.

The automaker stated that for YTD FY2026 it sold 24,920 units, marking a 25 percent growth over the same period last year.

Quarterly performance showed momentum with Q3 domestic wholesales rising 47 percent to 8,427 units, up from 5,723 units in the corresponding quarter. The company attributed these figures to demand across its vehicle platforms, specifically the Traveller and Urbania ranges. According to the company, the tour and travel segment is showing signs of revival through fleet expansion and intercity movement, while school mobility remained steady.

Prasan Firodia, Managing Director, Force Motors, said, “December has been another strong month for us, and it is encouraging to see positive momentum across our core platforms. We are beginning to witness clear signs of revival in the tour and travel segment, supported by rising intercity movement and renewed fleet expansion. School mobility has also remained steady through the holiday period, reflecting growing institutional confidence as we head into the new year. The continued traction for Urbania across urban and emerging markets, along with the commanding market leadership of the Traveller range, underscores the trust customers place in Force Motors. Together, these trends point to a broad-based strengthening of demand and give us a solid foundation as we step into 2026”.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Mumbai-headquartered Tata Motors has reported its domestic commercial vehicle (CV) sales of 107,918 units for Q3 FY2026, which marks an 18 percent YoY growth, as compared to 91,260 units sold last year.

For December 2025, domestic CV sales stood at 40,057 units, up 24 percent YoY, over 32,369 units sold a year ago.

On the other hand, the company sold 2,451 units in the international market, up 63 percent YoY.

Girish Wagh, MD & CEO, Tata Motors, said, “The sales momentum ignited by GST 2.0 and the festive surge in Q2FY26 continued into Q3FY26, driving growth and lifting overall sentiment of the commercial vehicles industry. Tata Motors registered double-digit sales growth in Q3FY26, powered by a strong rebound in construction and mining activity post the extended monsoon, along with sustained demand from core sectors and auto logistics. Continued strength in SCVs and Pickups further amplified performance, resulting in wholesales of 115,577 units, with 21 percent YoY  growth over Q3FY25 and 22 percent sequential growth over Q2FY26. Going forward, we expect demand to strengthen in Q4FY26 across most commercial vehicle segments. Key drivers in 2026 will include the government’s sustained infrastructure push and expansion in end-use sectors, both of which are expected to fuel positive momentum for the industry. With an optimised portfolio ensuring superior product availability, a decisive pricing strategy, and deeper customer engagement through intensified market activations, Tata Motors is well-poised to unlock demand across segments, paving the way for continued success.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!