Huge changes are finding their way into the commercial vehicles market. It is not just the CVs that are changing but even the drivers driving them, who are being inclined to learn recent technologies associated with CVs. We see this transformation happening at a rapid pace. Paritosh Gupta, Sr Analyst, Medium and Heavy Commercial Vehicle Forecasting, S&P Global Mobility (formerly IHS Markit Automotive), throws light on the electric impact on CVs, making commercial vehicle drivers more tech-savvy and how collaboration can help the industry turn around.

The commercial vehicles (CVs) market has incredible potential still unexplored. In fact, industry experts cite that the demand for CVs will go up and is heading for immense growth. And why not, especially when the industry has great opportunities for modernisation, and connectivity and data being a substantial focus. And, of course, we cannot forget the biggest trend, not just in CVs but the overall automotive industry, that is electric vehicles (EVs). 

Focusing on medium and heavy commercial vehicles (that are about six tonnes in weight), which usually includes all the trucks and buses, Paritosh Gupta, Sr Analyst, Medium and Heavy Commercial Vehicle Forecasting, S&P Global Mobility, too, explains that in terms of MHCVs, the biggest trend right now is the great amount of electrification going on in the bus sector, which is primarily led by the demand from the government side. “There are a lot of tenders by CESL and EESL, who have announced that they are planning to onboard around 50,000 electric buses in the next five to six years, something we are looking forward to,” he informs and goes on, “Besides, there is a lot of demand for tipper trucks due to the increased construction activities going on across the country – especially the highway and infrastructure projects that the government has undertaken.”

Gupta further mentions that there is a lot of pent-up demand in the market, which the industry really sees driving the market forward – that is expecting anywhere between 18-22 percent of growth.

E-pickup trucks
Speaking of electrification, it is well known that most major truck manufacturers have planned electric pickup trucks. We even find industrial giants like Tesla and Toyota venturing into e-pickup trucks. In such a case, the most popular pickup truck – when it comes to electric pickup trucks – is the Rivian, Gupta tells us. “India, however, does not have electric pickup trucks as of now, and many of them are in the US. Moreover, these pickup trucks are not pickup trucks in the commercial vehicle sense. Plus, these trucks happen to be expensive in comparison to conventional pickup trucks, especially the ones used in the commercial space,” he says.

Gupta further opines that there might be a few launches of electric pickup trucks here and there, but it will take a while for them to become common.

Last-mile deliveries
We also see that last-mile deliveries have been transitioning to EVs from internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles lately in India. Sharing more on this, Gupta tells us, “In terms of last-mile deliveries transitioning to EVs, it is still a small percentage of vehicles. Even metro cities like Mumbai or Delhi will not have a sudden surge of vehicles transitioning to EVs, because EVs have many restrictions even today. Yes, it is happening but at a gradual pace, and it will not happen overnight.”

However, this transition is bound to happen in any case, especially with the targets the government is making; for example, the CAFE norms, he adds. “So, every major manufacturer will have to have some sort of EV in their portfolio to adhere to those norms. And if they need to continue to sell vehicles that are diesel- or gasoline-powered, in higher numbers, then they need to have something to offset those emissions,” says Gupta.

“Small commercial vehicles – which operate in last-mile connectivity – are the low-hanging fruits here, because they do not need that big a range; these vehicles ply 10 to 12 to 14 hours a day and have an extremely limited range requirement. They do not travel 600 or 700 kilometers a day and can go into their hubs at night and get charged,” Gupta further shares.

Delhi government's move to curb pollution
The whole EV scenario, whether private vehicles or CVs, comes with the objective to head towards a better environment and to control pollution. The Delhi government, too, has restricted the entry of heavy and medium commercial vehicles from October 2022 to February 2023 to limit pollution – a move that has been opposed by truckers and traders.

“This move has come about in the past as well, on immediate notice. Only this time, it has come earlier,” Gupta points out and goes on, “While the truckers and related associations are opposing this move, they also need to consider the fact that CNG-powered vehicles have not been stopped and are allowed to enter the city. Furthermore, the transport hubs, which are already present at the Delhi border areas, will come in handy. And lastly, last-mile connectivity in Delhi is already CNG-powered; therefore, that should not be a
problem."

“Hence, the only factor that we need to look after is the movement of heavy trucks within the city, which is not much and already takes place through CNG-powered trucks,” Gupta puts across and adds, “So while it won’t affect the overall movement of the cargo, it certainly will raise logistics-related costs.”

The logistics
That being so, the growing logistics demand of businesses in India needs to be addressed efficiently, particularly with last-mile logistics growing tremendously. But how?

“In terms of long-term hauling, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) definitely have a role to play here,” Gupta asserts and continues, “Secondly, the improvement of roads, infrastructure and driver assistance systems will play a significant role as well. In fact, digitalisation and connected tech will play a particularly good role in improving this sector’s efficiency and the TCO for the fleet owners. If we look at the upcoming transport operators, we will see that they are now using AI and ML to route maps for a particular truck. Therefore, one thing that is for sure is that technology is going to play a significant role here.”

Making drivers more tech-savvy
Turning his attention further to another element – the drivers – Gupta elucidates, “The drivers in India lack the understanding of the modern systems that are present in the vehicle. In fact, when I was recently at a conference, I was discussing the uptake of connected tech in terms of trucks and buses. So, a gentleman over there shared that we can put whatever we want in a truck (and it’s not like the fleet owners are not willing to pay for it; they will pay for it because they know the benefit of these technologies). However, the problem is that the driver is not going to use the technology to benefit the fleet owner.”

“Therefore, we need to educate the drivers towards these technologies and how they can be beneficial, not just to the fleet owners but to the drivers themselves,” Gupta explains.

Autonomous trucks – what is it going to take?
While educating the drivers about innovative technologies is important, we dream of driverless vehicles, aka autonomous vehicles, too. Sharing his views on this, Gupta cites, “I do not see autonomous trucks in India at least in this decade or till early next decade. There are a few reasons behind this. Firstly, autonomous trucks need the infrastructure and roads to be adherent to standards so that the right calculations are being referenced, and they can ply on the road.”

“Secondly, it’s the legal landscape,” he goes on, “Even today in the US, where several autonomous trucks are being evaluated, the legal framework has still not been set up. So, in case of an accident, who should be held responsible? A human driving the car? The autonomous truck? Or the software providers? Hence, there is a lot of ambiguity around the legal landscape, which is the biggest problem we have right now when it comes to autonomous trucks making a place in the market."

“But what’s certain is that autonomous trucks will change the face of logistics, but only once they become a mass market reality,” Gupta further adds, “So while we have technologies that are being worked upon in order to make this a reality (with a legal framework in place), what needs to be seen is if having the autonomous truck on the roads is going to be viable and a mass market solution. Because in CVs, it’s not the customer preference that drives the buying decision – it’s the total cost of ownership and the profitability of that particular vehicle that drives that decision at the end of the day.”

Collaboration in the CV space
Another factor that can drive the future of CVs and autonomous logistics is collaboration. And collaboration is already happening in the space of CVs.

“In fact, conventional OEMs are either acquiring or investing in new-age start-ups to improve their efficiencies and expertise in the modern technologies in the market,” Gupta shares and goes on, “Therefore, collaborations are definitely the key to solving the problems of the future.”

“In addition, we also see that collaborations are going to happen between OEMs and software providers, OEMs and the government and trade bodies and so on," he further tells us and says, “Thus, all these collaborations are needed to produce actual and viable solutions that are sustainable over the long term. The most prominent collaboration, according to me, will be OEMs investing in start-ups on the line of EVs. Under this, we could also count infotainment, driver systems etc.”

The role of OEMs in CVs
In truth, OEMs, too, can play a significant part in transforming the CV sector. Gupta highlights that the biggest way in which OEMs can contribute to the CV sector right now is by improving the connectivity of their vehicles and including a lot of connected tech. “This way, fleet owners have access to their vehicles all the time,” he states and adds, “Plus, there is also the data analytics part – we see a lot of data coming from the trucks and logistics space, which we can analyse. This will help to work on improving the efficiency and finding the bottlenecks where the truck and logistics space is facing problems.”

A turning point
The Indian CV sector, in spite of all the hurdles it has faced – from the Covid waves to the chip shortage – has performed very well. Identifying problems and removing them needs a lot of data, for which we need connected tech for our CVs. EVs are the biggest automotive trend right now, and we are glad to see CVs inclined towards that trend.

Therefore, bringing in not just the latest technologies but everything we can think of that can help India’s CV sector flourish, truly will. That means collaboration, digitalisation, the OEMs doing their bit and even the legal aspects of it. With agility and the right innovation, the Indian CV industry is certainly heading towards a turning point.

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Mumbai-headquartered commercial vehicle major Tata Motors has secured orders for more than 3,400 electric commercial vehicles (eCVs), covering freight, logistics and passenger mobility sectors. The orders include approximately 2,000 small commercial vehicles (SCVs) & pick-ups, 900 trucks and 500 buses.

The eCVs will be deployed across industries, including e-commerce, logistics, FMCG, FMCD distribution, intra-city transport, mining and inter-city passenger travel.

The company stated that electric mobility in commercial vehicles is shifting from early adoption to large-scale deployment in India, with usage expanding across segments and real-world applications.

Tata Motors stated that it is leading this transition with the widest portfolio of electric commercial vehicles, supported by an enabling ecosystem that ensures electrification is both practical and profitable. Beyond vehicles, the company is partnering closely with fleet owners and customers to optimise performance, uptime, charging and financing across the entire lifecycle. As adoption of electric commercial vehicles deepens, Tata Motors remains focused on delivering customised, end-to-end solutions that enable customers to transition confidently and seamlessly to zero-emission mobility.

Portfolio Expansion

Over the past 12 months, Tata Motors has expanded its eCV portfolio to include Ace Pro EV, Ace EV, and Intra EV for distribution in the Small Commercial Vehicles segment.

Ultra EV range (7-12T), Prima EV 55T tractor and Prima EV 28T tipper in the Intermediate and Heavy-Duty segment. For passenger mobility, it has introduced the Starbus EV and Ultra EV buses.

Till date, Tata Motors has over 3,800 electric buses in operation, which have covered a cumulative distance of more than 550 million kilometres. Additionally, there are over 17,000 Tata eSCVs on the road.

To support the adoption of these vehicles, the company has established a charging network through partnerships with over 14 charge point operators, alongside financing solutions, fleet management tools via Fleet Edge and uptime assurance programmes.

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Prawaas 5.0, India’s premier multimodal passenger mobility event, is scheduled to take place from 9–11 July 2026 at the Helipad Exhibition Centre (HEC) in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.

Guided by the central theme, ‘Towards Safe, Smart & Sustainable Public Transport,’ the flagship event will gather government authorities, fleet operators, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), technology developers and investors to accelerate the adoption of integrated, efficient and environmentally responsible public transit systems.

The 5^th edition of the event is organised by the Bus and Car Operators Confederation of India (BOCI) and is hosted by the Akhil Gujarat Pravasi Vahan Sanchalak Mahamandal and co-hosted by both the Gujarat Luxury Cab Owners Association and the Gujarat Tourist Vehicles Operators Association. MM Activ Sci-Tech Communications serves as the event curator.

As India's transit sector undergoes a structural transformation driven by electrification, regulatory safety updates, and digital network integration, Prawaas 5.0 aims to serve as a catalyst for fostering dialogue between state transport undertakings, central policymakers and private fleet operators.

The event will also showcase intelligent transport systems (ITS), digital ticketing frameworks, AI-driven fleet telematics and clean-energy mobility solutions.

It provides an on-ground platform for new vehicle product launches, strategic business matchmaking and infrastructure investment.

Building upon its previous editions, the three-day convention is projected to secure comprehensive representation from all 36 Indian States and Union Territories. The last edition attracted over 15,000 industry professionals, more than 10,000 bus & car operators and featured over 300 leading mobility companies.  The event was attended by more than 1,500 delegates, supported by over 60 expert speakers across technical panels and industry conferences.

The large-scale exhibition will serve as an interactive arena for stakeholders across the commercial mobility value chain to address current operating challenges, such as unit economics and infrastructure constraints, while establishing partnerships to modernise India's passenger transport network.

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Tata Motors, one of India’s largest commercial vehicle manufacturers, has launched the all-new Intra V40 small commercial vehicle (SCV).

Engineered for high-load last-mile applications, the Intra V40 integrates a CNG and petrol bi-fuel powertrain designed to reduce operating costs and provide fuel flexibility across diverse transport routes.

The Intra V40 is built upon a hydroformed chassis to maximise structural strength, stability and vehicle refinement under heavy loading conditions. It features a best-in-class payload capacity of 1,525 kg alongside a 2,960 mm (9.7 ft) long load body to maximise volumetric cargo capacity.

It is powered by a 1.2-litre engine that generates 58 bhp of maximum power and 106 Nm of maximum torque. The SCV comes with a 110-litre CNG tank for extended operational range, paired with a bi-fuel architecture to ensure continuous operation across varying fuel availability zones.

The Intra V40 features a modern walk-through cabin, car-like driving dynamics and front disc brakes to enhance driver comfort and vehicle control during extended operating shifts.

The addition of the Intra V40 establishes a comprehensive bi-fuel and electric product matrix for Tata Motors in the SCV and pickup categories. The company’s alternate fuel options now span multiple payload points across both bi-fuel/CNG range – Ace Pro Bi-fuel, Ace CNG 2.0, Intra V20 Gold and all-new Intra V40. And the electric vehicle range consists of Ace Pro EV, Ace EV 1000 and Intra EV Pickup.

To support fleet operators, the Intra V40 comes integrated with Tata Motors’ standard digital and service ecosystem. This includes Sampoorna Seva 2.0 for end-to-end vehicle lifecycle support and the Fleet Edge telematics platform, which provides real-time operational insights, predictive maintenance tracking, and fleet uptime optimisation.

Pinaki Haldar, Vice-President & Business Head – SCVPU, Tata Motors, said, “The shift towards alternate fuels in last-mile cargo transport is accelerating, driven by the need for lower operating costs and greater flexibility. Tata Motors is at the forefront of this transition, with a clear focus on building the strongest and most comprehensive alternate fuel portfolio in the small CV and pickup segment. With the all-new Intra V40, we further strengthen our bi-fuel range and consolidate our leadership in alternate fuel mobility, while our expanding electric portfolio supports a calibrated transition towards greener last-mile transportation.”

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Piaggio Vehicles (PVPL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Italy's Piaggio Group, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the State Bank of India (SBI) Lucknow circle. The strategic partnership is designed to leverage the Uttar Pradesh Government’s CM Yuva Yojna, a flagship initiative targeting employment and self-reliance for 150,000 youth across the state through small business ownership.

The agreement was signed by Amit Sagar, Executive Vice-President for CV Domestic Business and Retail Finance at PVPL and Vibhash Kumar, Deputy General Manager at SBI.

Under the collaboration, SBI’s network of over 1,600 branches across central and eastern Uttar Pradesh will provide retail financing solutions for Piaggio’s entire three-wheeler portfolio, encompassing both Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) and Electric Vehicle (EV) platforms.

The credit structure, operating under the combined guidelines of the state-level CM Yuva Yojna and federal Mudra schemes, targets eligible youth entrepreneurs aged 25–40 years. The partnership introduces financial terms to lower the total cost of ownership:

• Interest Structure: zero percent interest loans enabled by a 100 percent government interest subsidy.
• Loan-to-Value Ratio: Funding coverage spanning 85 percent to 90 percent of the total vehicle cost.
• Repayment Profile: A fixed four-year repayment tenure with no external guarantor requirements.
• Capital Incentives: Full refund of the initial margin money upon successful completion of the loan repayment cycle.

To streamline the onboarding process, Piaggio India will set up dedicated CM Yuva Help Centres across its authorised dealership network in Uttar Pradesh. These walk-in centres are designed to offer application guidance, documentation verification, and direct financing coordination within the showrooms.

Amit Sagar, said, “India’s mobility landscape is evolving rapidly. From small entrepreneurs to fleet operators, a new class of owners is emerging, and they need financing that understands their realities. Through this partnership, Piaggio India and State Bank of India are bringing together the strength, trust, and reach of two respected institutions to make vehicle ownership simpler, faster, and more accessible. By leveraging the Uttar Pradesh Government’s CM Yuva Yojna which offers eligible young entrepreneurs 0% interest free financing, government-backed subsidies, and simplified access to business ownership; we are creating meaningful opportunities for self-employment and enterprise development at scale. This initiative goes beyond vehicle financing; it is about enabling aspirations, fostering entrepreneurship, and contributing directly to employment generation for the youth of Uttar Pradesh. Piaggio India remains committed to supporting inclusive economic progress through practical, sustainable, and accessible mobility solutions.”

Vibhash Kumar, added, “This collaboration combines SBI’s trusted financial capabilities and extensive network with Piaggio’s established leadership in the three-wheeler segment to create meaningful livelihood opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs across Uttar Pradesh. Through CM Yuva Yojna, we are committed to supporting youth-led enterprise by making affordable financing widely accessible, thereby strengthening self-employment, last-mile connectivity and long-term economic development.”

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