Ashok Leyland Limited showcased 10 to 12 M&HCVs at the CIDCO Exhibition Grounds in Vashi, Navi Mumbai, recently. Terming the event as a two-day ‘Mini Expo’, the commercial vehicle major organised the event as part of its strategy to hold such events across 11 locations in India to demonstrate its commitment to innovation and customer engagement. 

Featuring two simultaneous circuits, the events – aimed at taking the cutting-edge technologies closer to customers and enthusiasts – include an interesting 15 m front-engine multi-axle bus chassis and a range of tippers (almost all of them being air-conditioned to meet the regulation regarding the same that will come into force by mid-2025) used in the infrastructure and real estate construction activities that are particularly dense in the region in Navi Mumbai, Mumbai and their surroundings.  

To progress to Ahmedabad and Indore as part of the second circuit, the ‘Mini Expo’ – held at Bengaluru prior to this – also saw the showcasing of an electric truck on the Boss platform and an LNG truck on the AVTR modular platform. 

While the AVTR 8x2 LNG truck is called as AVTR 3522 LNG (for long-haul transportation), the BOSS EV truck is a 14-tonne 4x2 offering with a power output of 120 kW (rated) and 240 kW (peak). It has a high voltage Lithium-ion battery pack of 201.5 kWh and a low voltage battery of 24 volt and 110 Ah. The price is INR 11 million ex-showroom approximately, according to sources close to the company. 

The other trucks that the commercial vehicle major displayed at the exhibition were the AVTR 5525AN 4X2 (tractor) with air-conditioning as standard; AVTR 4825HN 10x2 with double tyre lift axle (with air-con as standards) and 30 ft cargo deck length; AVTR 4825TN HD 10×4 48-tonne tipper with air-conditioning as standard; AVTR 3532TN 8X4 35-tonne tipper; Boss 1915 4x2 truck with a 22 ft deck length; Ecomet 1615 8.5 CuM Tupper with 4x2 configuration and 8.5 cubic meter superstructure;  Oyster Vi School (53 seater) bus, and Oyster Vi Staff (40 seater) bus. 

Sanjeev Kumar, President – M&HCV, Ashok Leyland, said, "The Mini Expo in Mumbai marks a significant milestone as we continue to lead the way in the commercial vehicle segment. It is an opportunity for customers to experience our capabilities in driving the future of mobility. We are confident that our vehicles, coupled with our extensive aftermarket solutions, will demonstrate our dedication to providing comprehensive transportation solutions to our customers. We look forward to engaging with our customers and stakeholders at Mumbai."

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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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