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.







 

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Montra Electric M&HCV, part of the Murugappa Group, has announced a major milestone for its Rhino 5538EV heavy-duty electric trucks, which it claims has collectively travelled over 12 million kilometres on Indian roads in just two years. The fleet of 350 trucks has been primarily deployed in critical sectors like steel, cement and port logistics.

This achievement highlights the growing viability of electric heavy-duty transport in India. According to Montra Electric, the fleet has helped companies reduce an estimated 3.79 million tons of CO2 emissions since its launch.

Jalaj Gupta, MD, Montra Electric, said, "This milestone is a powerful validation of India's transition to clean mobility. With the Rhino 5538EV, we are proving that electric heavy transport isn’t a distant future, it’s already a reality on Indian roads."

The Rhino 5538EV trucks have maintained an uptime of over 98 percent, demonstrating their reliability in demanding industrial environments. The company shared that customers have reportedly placed repeat orders for the trucks, citing significant savings on fuel and maintenance costs. Montra Electric is providing 24x7 on-site service on its fleets to ensure maximum productivity.

The Rhino EV is powered by a 282 kWh LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) battery and a PMSM (Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor), delivering 380 horsepower and 2000 Nm of torque. The trucks support fast charging, which can bring the battery from 20 percent to 100 percent in just one hour. The company plans to expand its Rhino lineup to include a 4x2 tractor-trailer and a 6x4 tipper configuration.

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Pune-headquartered alternative fuel commercial vehicle manufacturer Blue Energy Motors has appointed Anand Mimani as CEO of its EV & New Energy Business.

Mimani will be responsible for the company’s focused vertical on integrated clean freight ecosystem. The automaker is working on accelerating expansion across electric heavy-duty vehicles, energy-as-a-service platforms and green corridor infrastructure.

He comes with over 26-years of experience in mobility, energy and clean tech. Till recently, he was the CEO of GreenLine Mobility Solutions, where he led the deployment of India’s largest fleet of LNG-pwoered trucks.

In his new role, Mimani will lead the EV & New Energy division’s business strategy, operations, product rollout and partner ecosystem — with a sharp focus on scaling zero-emission trucking solutions. He will report directly to Anirudh Bhuwalka, Founder & Managing Director, Blue Energy Motors, who continues to steer the company’s overall mission, strategic direction and group-level leadership.

Bhuwalka, said, “As we scale rapidly, it’s critical to bring in focused leadership for each of our high-growth verticals. Anand’s appointment as CEO of our EV and New Energy Business significantly strengthens our execution capacity in the electric mobility and infrastructure space, while advancing our broader vision for a zero-emission freight future.”

The Pune-based automaker is working on clean freight platform combining battery-electric, LNG and energy-as-a-service solutions under one integrated ecosystem. With EV and energy infrastructure representing a critical pillar of its scale-up, it is now strengthening leadership in this vertical to:

- Ramp up deployment of electric truck platforms

- Scale battery swap and charging hubs across key freight corridors

- Deepen partnerships with energy providers, logistics firms, and OEMs

Anand Mimani, said, “I’m excited to join Blue Energy at such a pivotal time. The opportunity to lead the EV & New Energy vertical – while working closely with Anirudh and the leadership team – is incredibly energising. Together, we aim to build a freight ecosystem that is clean, efficient, and future-proof.”

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David Hanna has been named Director of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles UK, effective 1 October 2025. He brings extensive two-decade automotive industry experience from both manufacturer and retail perspectives.

Hanna originally joined Volkswagen Group UK in 2014 and has since cultivated deep brand knowledge through significant roles within the Audi, Volkswagen Passenger Cars and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles divisions, including Head of Network Sales at Volkswagen Passenger Cars UK. This strategic appointment marks a return to the light commercial vehicles sector for Hanna, where his proven leadership and historical involvement are expected to drive the brand's future growth and strengthen its market position.

Damien O’Sullivan, Managing Director, Volkswagen Group UK, said, “I am delighted to welcome David to the Board of Management of Volkswagen Group UK in his new role as Director of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.  I’m sure he will bring strong leadership and considerable experience to this important role.”

Hanna said, “Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is a fantastic brand with class-leading products and an incredible history. It also has one of the best team of retailers in the UK through its Van Centre Network. I’m excited to be able to lead the team in the UK, and am very much looking forward to working with them and the network again in order to continue the success of the brand.”

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Tata Motors, one of India’s largest commercial vehicle manufacturers, has launched the all-new Tata LPT 812, its latest offering in the Intermediate, Light and Medium Commercial Vehicles (ILMCV) segment.

The LPT 812 builds upon the company’s capabilities and is claimed to be India’s first 4-tyre truck with a 5-tonne rated payload. It is built on the company’s LPT platform, which is claimed to provide the ruggedness of a 6-tyre vehicle, while offering the efficiency, agility and lower maintenance of a 4-tyre truck. It is available in multi-load body options for customers operating across industrial goods, market load, F&V and courier applications, among others.

Rajesh Kaul, Vice-President & Business Head – Trucks, Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles, said, “The launch of the Tata LPT 812 sets a new benchmark in customer profitability in the segment. This category-defining truck addresses the growing need for improved productivity, while delivering superior fuel efficiency, ease of operations and maximum uptime. It reflects our commitment to understanding evolving market requirements and developing advanced solutions that drive long-term business growth for our customers.”

In terms of performance, the LPT 812 comes with 4SPCR diesel engine, producing 125hp and 360Nm of torque, paired with a 5-speed gearbox and a booster-assisted clutch for smooth gearshifts. The truck comes with parabolic front suspension with an anti-roll bar, full S-Cam air brakes and tilt & telescopic power steering.

Tata Motors is providing a 3-year/300,000 km warranty as part of its aftersales assurance.

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