Ashok Leyland registered an export volume of 4,151 units in Q3 FY25 against 3,128 units in the same period last year, achieving a year-over-year growth of 33 percent, informed Chairman Dheeraj Hinduja during the company’s quarterly results announcement. 
Commenting on factors that influenced such growth, Hinduja told Motoring Trends, “Our traditional markets remain strong, particularly the GCC—UAE and Saudi Arabia continue to show solid momentum. We’ve also made steady gains in Africa, while the SAARC region presents emerging opportunities. That said, the bulk of our export growth is coming from the GCC.”
He added, “Expanding our export footprint has been a long-term strategy. Years ago, we ensured all new models included LHD variants, moving beyond our initial focus on buses. Today, our exports feature a balanced mix of buses and trucks.”
The commercial vehicle manufacturer delivered another record-breaking Q3, reaffirming its focus on profitable growth. The company reported an all-time high net profit of INR 7.62 billion, marking a 31 percent increase year-over-year. EBITDA also reached a record INR 12.11 billion with margins expanding to 12.8 percent from 12.0 percent in Q3 FY24, maintaining double-digit EBITDA for the eighth consecutive quarter. Revenue climbed to a new high of INR 94.79 billion, up from INR 92.73 billion in the same period last year.
Ashok Leyland also turned cash positive at the end of the quarter, reporting a net cash position of INR 9.58 billion, a sharp turnaround from a net debt of INR 17.47 billion in the previous year.
Beyond core operations, Ashok Leyland’s defence, power solutions and aftermarket businesses continue to perform well, further strengthening the company’s diversified growth strategy.
Commenting on the performance, Hinduja noted, “The steady progress we are making in profitability is backed by products that deliver superior performance coupled with robust customer engagement. Sales in international markets are showing strong growth, and we expect this momentum to accelerate with the launch of new products. I compliment the management and all our team for delivering a record breaking Q3 for the second year in a row. We are also continuing to invest in battery electric and alternate fuel products to maintain our technology leadership position. Switch has a healthy order book and has plans to come out with a series of products in the next 12 months.”
Speaking on the same lines, Managing Director Shenu Agarwal said, “Relative to Q2, the MHCV market has revived significantly in Q3, and is expected to improve further as we enter the last quarter. Our focus remains on profitable growth through product premiumization, cost leadership, better service reach and enhanced value-added services. Non-CV businesses have done well and offer more headroom for growth. We remain optimistic about the growth of the CV industry in the medium and long term as macroeconomic factors continue to be favourable.”

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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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