Ashok Leyland, a commercial vehicle manufacturer and the flagship company of the Hinduja group, launched BADA DOST i1 and BADA DOST i2, adding to its BADA DOST range. Plus, it has also launched BADA DOST Limited Edition, with industry first features in a commercial vehicle.

Dheeraj Hinduja, Executive Chairman, Ashok Leyland, said, “Today marks a special day for us, as we celebrate our second anniversary of BADA DOST. On this occasion, we are excited to deliver on our promise of expanding our BADA DOST range and launch the BADA DOST i1 and BADA DOST i2. LCV is a key growth area for Ashok Leyland, and the Bada Dost Range would play a pivotal role in expanding our domestic as well as international sales, and propel us in our journey to achieve our vision of being a global top 10 commercial vehicle manufacturer.”

Rajat Gupta, Head – Light Commercial Vehicle, Ashok Leyland, mentioned, “Our DOST and BADA DOST range have been some of the most successful vehicles in the segment. BADA DOST is a consumer-centric product and has earned the confidence and trust in the customer. We have 35,000 vehicles successfully running today. These new products will expand our offerings and cover a wider range of payload capacity and applications, thereby strengthening our LCV portfolio. Our aim is to continue to aggressively gain market share in the LCV segment.”

BADA DOST i1 and BADA DOST i2 – What do they come with?
The BADA DOST i1 and i2 offer a payload of 1,250 kg and 1,425 kg, respectively. They are designed to offer a wide deck of 1,750 mm and long deck of 2,596 mm – (8.5 ft) for i1 and (9 ft) for i2. The power, mileage, payload, load body length and loading space help customers earn more profit per trip. Both i1 and i2 are designed to have a low turning radius for better suitability for inter and intra-city applications and ease of adaptability to different terrains.

BADA DOST Limited Edition
The BADA DOST Limited Edition provides a central locking feature and keyless entry into the vehicle, along with anti-theft features. The focus is to provide features to enhance customer experience.

What’s more
These two products also feature an ARAI certified three-seater walkthrough cabin, offering comfort and space. The wide seat design can be converted into a bed that the customer can use to rest comfortably in between trips. The ergonomically positioned dash mounted gear shift lever, dual tone dashboard and digital instrument cluster offer a premium car-like experience. The vehicle is also equipped with ACs.

BADA DOST i1 and i2 – key features
· ARAI certified D+2 seating configuration
· Widest cabin in the category – offering comfort for the driver
· Lowest turning radius in its category – 10.6m on i1 and 11.3 m on i2
· A warranty of three years/one lakh km

BADA DOST Limited Edition – key features
· Segment first central locking feature - keyless entry into the vehicle, with anti-theft feature
· Seven-inch touch screen infotainment system, with mobile connectivity and bluetooth calling.
· Reverse camera.

Ashok Leyland, with its network of more than 1700 outlets, ensures that there is an authorised service centre every 75 km on major highways. An additional 53,000 touch points for aftermarket support, along with digital tools of Leykart, ALCare & iALERT, enables it to keep its ‘Ashok Leyland Quick Response’ promise of reaching customers within four hours and getting them back on the road in 48 hours.







 

Japanese pick-up truck specialists Isuzu Motors India has topped the list for exporting the highest number of made-in-India commercial vehicles for FY2025 as per the latest data released by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM).

The company currently manufactures LHD (Left Hand Drive) and RHD (Right Hand Drive) models at its Sri City facility and exported 20,312 units in FY2025, up 24 percent YoY, as against 16,329 units for the same period last year. At present, Isuzu Motors India's made-in-India pick-up trucks are sold in the Middle East and Asia markets.

On the other hand, Tata Motors slipped to the second position with exports of 18,164 units, registering a flat growth, as compared to 17,677 units shipped last year.

Mahindra & Mahindra clocked a 38 percent YoY growth with export of 17,959 units, as against 13,011 units last year.

It is also important to note that FY2025 also marked a record milestone year for Isuzu Motors India, when it rolled out its 100,000^th unit from its Sri City facility.

Interestingly, a closer look at the top five commercial vehicles exporter reveals that cumulatively they sold 76,871 units, up 22.81 percent YoY, as against 62,591 units last year. This translates to an average yearly growth of 26 percent amongst them.

NueGo, a leading intercity electric bus brand by GreenCell Mobility in the country, has announced that it has integrated Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) technology across its entire electric bus fleet consisting of over 275 e-buses.

The company began its operations in 2022 and focusses on providing clean mobility solutions along with integrating various industry-first technology in its fleet.  

The strategic move will see NueGo e-buses come with Automated Emergency Braking (AEB), Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and Driver Drowsiness Detection.

In addition, the company has already mandated driver breath analyser test, reserved ‘PINK’ seats for women, real-time GPS tracking, AI-powered driver monitoring system, rigorous safety & service training, 24x7 dedicated women’s helpline, high-definition CCTV surveillance, clean & hygienic mid-point stops and 24x7 command control centre to ensure a safer experience for its users.  

Devndra Chawla, MD & CEO, GreenCell Mobility, said, “At NueGo, guest safety is deeply embedded in our DNA. We were among the first in the industry to integrate Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) across our entire fleet –setting a new benchmark for intercity travel. Our unwavering commitment is to deliver a journey that is comfortable, sustainable, and above all, exceptionally safe”

Ashok Leyland, the Indian flagship of Hinduja Group and the country’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturer, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Indian Bank to provide finance facilities for its M&HCV dealers.

Through the cooperation, Ashok Leyland's M&HCV dealers will have easier access to finance solutions, enabling them to improve company operations and effectively manage their working capital. Dealers may grow their operations with ease thanks to Indian Bank's customised financing alternatives, which offer better liquidity, quicker loan approvals and competitive interest rates. This partnership underscores Ashok Leyland's dedication to empowering its dealer network and promoting sustainable growth in the commercial vehicle sector by guaranteeing increased financial flexibility.

C Neelakantan, Head of Treasury and Direct Taxation at Ashok Leyland, and Saurabh Dalmia, Head of Cash Management at Indian Bank, signed the MoU in the presence of Madhavi Deshmukh, National Sales Head of MHCV at Ashok Leyland, Ashutosh Choudhury, Executive Director, Roopali Singh, DGM-CMS Vertical, and Munash Dalal, AGM-CMS Vertical, who were representatives from Indian Bank.

Balaji K M, CFO, Ashok Leyland, said, “Ashok Leyland is delighted to partner with Indian Bank to offer customised finance solutions to our valued M&HCV dealers. With Indian Bank’s expansive network of 5,880 branches across India, we can cater to our dealers in every region. This strategic partnership will strengthen Ashok Leyland's market position. We remain committed to delivering exceptional experiences to our customers.”

Madhavi Deshmukh, National Sales Head – MHCV, Ashok Leyland, said, “The strategic collaboration with Indian Bank will deliver exceptional financing solutions to our valued dealers, extending our market reach and reinforcing our commitment to innovation and partner success. This partnership will provide tailored financing solutions designed to meet the unique requirements of our dealers. We remain dedicated to fostering long-lasting relationship with our dealer network.”

Ashutosh Choudhury, Executive Director, Indian Bank, said, “Indian Bank is pleased to partner with Ashok Leyland to provide their dealers seamless and tailored financing solutions. This collaboration reaffirms our commitment to supporting the diverse financial requirements of businesses in the commercial vehicle sector. With Indian Bank’s best-in-class processes, we are confident that more dealers will benefit from this partnership, enabling them to scale their operations and drive business growth.”

Ashok Leyland, a leading commercial vehicle manufacturer, has inaugurated its 22nd Light Commercial Vehicles (LCV) dealership in Uttar Pradesh. The new 3S facility located in Chunar, Mirzapur will further strengthen the company’s presence in North India.

The company’s LCV portfolio includes Saathi, Dost, Bada Dost, Partner and MiTR targeted for a wide range of customers and applications.

Viplav Shah, Head – LCV Business, Ashok Leyland, said, “Recognising immense potential of Uttar Pradesh as a key market for us, we are thrilled to strengthen our presence in the region. Our new dealership in Chunar (Mirzapur) would go a long way in reinforcing our presence in the state. The phenomenal success of our ‘Dost’, ‘Bada Dost,’ and the new ‘Saathi’ range underscores the robustness of our products - thanks to their best-in-class mileage, superior performance, and higher payloads. We take immense pride in our exceptional service retention levels, with nearly 70% of our customers returning to our dealer workshops even beyond the warranty period. This new dealership marks yet another milestone in our journey to provide the best possible experience to our valued customers.”