Ashok Leyland, the Indian flagship of the Hinduja Group and the country’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturer, unveiled its premium entry-level light commercial vehicle (LCV) offering ‘SAATHI’ at the ongoing Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025. Ashok Leyland is displaying its products at Stand Number H6 - 10, Hall No 06 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.

Built on cutting-edge LNT technology, SAATHI is designed to be a market disruptor and boasts best-in-class power (45 HP), torque (110 Nm) and a 24 percent greater loading area than its competitors. Its higher mileage, bigger tyres and unrivalled payload capacity of 1,120 kg guarantee outstanding performance and economy. AdBlue is no longer necessary thanks to the ground-breaking LNT technology, which also lessens operating difficulties. SAATHI is positioned as the greatest last-mile urban mobility vehicle in its class because of its exceptional riding comfort and 5-year/200,000-kilometre guarantee. SAATHI's FSD variant is priced at INR 649,999.

Dheeraj Hinduja, Executive Chairman, Ashok Leyland, said, “Ashok Leyland has always been a pioneer in the introduction of new technologies in commercial vehicles.  Introduction of SAATHI reinforces our readiness to lead the transformation in road transport. We remain committed to sustainability, and SAATHI as well as other next-gen vehicles being showcased today are set to raise the bar on customer value proposition in the commercial vehicle business. I am confident that with progressive introduction of new products, we would address growing opportunities in overseas markets competitively, which is a thrust area for us.”

Shenu Agarwal, MD & CEO, Ashok Leyland, said, “With SAATHI, we are trying to shatter a long-held belief that entry-level commercial vehicle customers need to compromise on power, loading capacity, features, comfort and safety. SAATHI brings a ‘no-compromise attitude’ in the entry level SCV segment, bringing pride for operators and additional earnings for the owners. SAATHI solidifies Ashok Leyland's position as a full range commercial vehicle leader in the country.”

The first multi-axle, front-engine, 15-metre completely constructed premium bus in India, the GARUD 15, was also unveiled by Ashok Leyland at the Expo, establishing a new benchmark for the sector. This cutting-edge platform, which was created especially for long-distance intercity travel in India's varied road conditions, maximises bus operators' per-trip revenue by providing the largest saloon space capacity in the industry – 42 sleeper berths – a roomy luggage compartment, and the highest GVW in its class – 22,500 kg. Long trips are made safe and fatigue-free for drivers and passengers thanks to the ergonomically built 3-way adjustable driver seat and a number of other cutting-edge technologies like ADAS and DMS.

Another cutting-edge Ashok Leyland product on exhibit is the nation's first Electric Port Terminal Tractor. This market has been waiting for an electric powertrain solution that offers port freight operators an outstanding TCO and the possibility for port owners to transition to sustainable solutions. They are expected to be among the first to deploy electric trucks. The new eTIRAN Terminal Tractor from Ashok Leyland is set to revolutionise port operations in the nation. It has a 360-degree view and an easy-to-enter/exit air-conditioned cabin, features a customisable battery range of 180-350 kilometres and is outfitted with cutting-edge safety features like hill start assist and ADAS for safety alerts.

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Eicher Trucks and Buses, a business unit of VE Commercial Vehicles (VECV), has partnered Pickkup, a leading tech-enabled logistics provider, for the phased deployment of 100 Eicher Pro X EV small trucks across India.

The EVs are deployed across the operations of Pickkup serving retail distributors, e-commerce, FMCG and perishable deliveries. This partnership marks a significant step toward advancing clean logistics and sustainable urban mobility, enabling faster adoption of zero-emission solutions in high-demand applications.

Pickkup, operates 100 percent electric four-wheeler fleet under an asset-light model. The Eicher Pro X EV, designed and manufactured in India at VECV’s Industry 4.0-enabled Bhopal plant, combines best-in-class range, larger cargo capacity, and CCS2 fast-charging compatibility. It is supported by Eicher’s Uptime Centre and the My Eicher connected platform to provide predictive diagnostics, real-time support and maximum vehicle availability.

Abhishek Chaudhary, SVP, Small Commercial Vehicles, Eicher Trucks and Buses, said, “This partnership with Pickkup is a significant step in our journey to support customers with future-ready mobility solutions. The phased deployment of Eicher small electric trucks demonstrates not only the confidence in Eicher’s pedigree but also the growing readiness of logistics operators to integrate EVs into their fleet. The Eicher Pro X has been co-created with customers to address real operational needs of delivering environmental and economic sustainability—making them an ideal solution for modern logistics.”

Ankush Sharma, Founder & CEO, Pickkup, added, “Pickkup’s vision is to decarbonize logistics while ensuring operational efficiency at scale. The Eicher Pro X EV, with its offering and connected ecosystem, fits perfectly into our growth strategy. With Eicher’s partnership, we can expand faster, serve more customers. With this momentum, Pickkup is taking a leadership role in shaping future-ready, and sustainable logistics solutions for India.”

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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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