Agri-solutions provider Coromandel International Limited and Mahindra & Mahindra Limited’s Farm Equipment Sector (FES) business vertical, Krish-e, have signed a memorandum of association (MoU) to extend Coromandel’s Gromor Drive drone spraying services to Indian farmers.

Pilots with RPTO training assist Gromor Drive in its operations, which are now carried out in seven important states, including Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. With the help of its subsidiary, Dhaksha Unmanned Systems, which guarantees dependable drone supply, pilot training and service support, Coromandel's drone services are positioned uniquely in the industry. Coromandel has a clear competitive advantage in this developing market thanks to this backward integration. Through the Krish-e Kheti Ke Liye App and other technology-driven farm solutions provided by Mahindra's FES, the cooperation further improves accessibility to these services with the goal of sustainably maximising farmers' revenue and enhancing the overall agricultural value chain.

Amir Alvi, Chief Operating Officer – Fertiliser Business, Coromandel, said: “Coromandel’s Gromor Drive offers significant advancements in efficiency, scalability and convenience for agricultural practices to farmers. This (non-binding) MoU signing between Coromandel’s Gromor Drive and Mahindra Krish-e represents a pivotal moment in our journey towards transforming the agricultural landscape of India by making drone spraying accessible to farmers. We aim to reduce their input costs, increase productivity, and improve farm profitability through this collaboration. Coromandel’s Gromor Drive, backed by the company’s subsidiary Dhaksha Unmanned Systems, brings in the added advantage of in-house developed cutting-edge agricultural drones, in addition to its fleet of certified drone pilots. We are confident that this collaboration will unlock new opportunities for innovation, create value for our stakeholders, and most importantly, make a positive and lasting impact on the lives of farmers.”

Hemant Sikka, President – Farm Equipment Sector, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd, said, “With Krish-e’s well-established presence across the country and Coromandel’s experienced Gromor Drive fleet, we are pleased to take the benefits of drones to many more Indian farmers. A significant step towards enhancing productivity and lowering a farmer’s exposure to powerful chemicals, drone technology can enable selective spraying of fertiliser and chemicals on crops while also ensuring improved yield. The partnership will ensure accessibility of drone spraying for Krish-e customers through the Krish-e Kheti ke Liye App, on a pay-per-acre basis.”

Mumbai-headquartered electric mass mobility company GreenCell Mobility has got the Letter of Award (LoA) for supplying and deploying 472 Eicher e-buses in Madhya Pradesh under the PM E-Bus Sewa Scheme.

The company has partnered VE Commercial Vehicles (VECV) for deploying these e-buses across 6 cities in Madhya Pradesh.

GreenCell Mobility is backed by Eversource Capital, has been actively setting up charging infrastructure to support the e-bus fleet in operations in Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra. These new contracts will see GreenCell Mobility expand its electric bus operations across Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh.

Devndra Chawla, MD & CEO, GreenCell Mobility, said, "GreenCell Mobility is honoured to collaborate with the governments of Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh to support the state’s transition to sustainable public transport. These projects are a major milestone in our mission to transform mass mobility through zero-emission electric buses. Backed by strategic partnerships with leading OEMs and a robust financing model, we are committed to making clean, efficient public transportation accessible throughout India's growing cities- while delivering a safe, reliable, and superior guest experience."

Vinod Aggarwal, MD & CEO, VE Commercial Vehicles, added, “We are delighted to take the next step with GreenCell Mobility by introducing Eicher electric buses in their operations under the PM E-Bus Seva Scheme. These buses are built on reliable technology and have already clocked 1.4 crore kms across India. It is a matter of pride for us that these buses will operate in the state of Madhya Pradesh which has been home to Eicher Trucks and Buses for over four decades. We thank the Government of Madhya Pradesh and GreenCell Mobility for partnering with us to introduce eco-friendly public transportation.”

The PM E-Bus Sewa Scheme is part of the Central Government's initiative to deploy 10,000 e-buses across the country and support the Government of India’s mission to electrify public transport. In FY 2024-25, CESL (Convergence Energy Services) introduced a tender for 4,588 e-buses under the PM E-Bus Sewa scheme.

Also read: EKA Mobility to deploy 750 e-buses across Andhra Pradesh

CNH Industrial has revealed a comprehensive Strategic Business Plan (SBP) during its 2025 Investor Day, aiming to cement its leadership in agriculture and construction machinery, significantly improve margins, and return more value to shareholders.

The company’s new roadmap includes ambitious targets such as achieving a 16–17 percent mid-cycle adjusted EBIT margin in agriculture by 2030 and delivering over USD 550 million in operational and quality cost improvements. It also seeks a 25 percent increase in through-cycle industrial cash generation. It also aims to consolidate its position as the No.1 or No. 2 player in all major markets.

Gerrit Marx, CEO, CNH Industrial, said, “The strategy that we presented today shows that we have a clear path to achieve our goals. We are committed to delivering strong growth, in tandem with our cost efficiency targets. We have demonstrated our capability to deliver steady margin improvements in the past, and we will take that to the next level in this new phase of our journey.”

Key initiatives include enhancing integration between hardware and Precision Tech systems, a full refresh of the tractor lineup, an expanded combine harvester range and doubling Precision Tech’s share of agriculture net sales. CNH will also revamp its go-to-market approach with a new dual-brand dealer strategy and greater focus on customer service.

On construction, CNH targets a 7–8 percent EBIT margin by 2030 through new product launches, sourcing efficiencies, and aftermarket growth.

The plan prioritises organic growth, but leaves room for strategic M&A.

German component company JOST Werke, a leading supplier of safety-critical systems for commercial vehicles, has further strengthened its foothold in the industry with the acquisition of Hyva for USD 398 million.

The strategic move enhances JOST’s capacity to serve India’s rapidly growing commercial vehicle market while reinforcing its position as a leading supplier for on-highway (transport) and off-highway (agriculture, construction) applications worldwide.

Hyva’s portfolio includes front-end tipping cylinders and supplies a full range of double-acting cylinders, container lifting systems (hookloaders and skiploaders), waste handling solutions (refuse collection bodies and compactors), and truck-mounted crane, whichs will further complement JOST’s comprehensive range of products for on-highway applications in the transport industry as well as off-highway applications in the agriculture and construction industries.

With this, JOST will strengthen its regional presence, particularly in Asia and the Americas, along with entering new market segments.

Pradeep Gorur Sheshagiri, Managing Director, JOST India, said, “As India’s automotive component sector evolves into a pivotal growth driver, this acquisition aligns perfectly with the nation’s focus on infrastructure modernization and sustainable mobility. Hyva’s hydraulic expertise empowers us to accelerate ‘Make in India’ ambitions, deliver tailored solutions for rugged Indian operating conditions, and strengthen collaborations with domestic OEMs. This partnership reinforces our commitment to advancing India’s commercial vehicle ecosystem with globally benchmarked technologies.”

Jeffrey Zuidgeest, Regional Director India, BU Components, Hyva, added, “The integration of JOST and Hyva’s product portfolios creates a significantly broader range of solutions, enabling us to better serve our customers and end users. Leveraging our existing sales and after-sales network, we are well-positioned to drive further growth and enhance service excellence. This strategic synergy represents a win-win situation for all stakeholders.”

The partners will also pool together R&D to further provide customer-centric solutions. In the last 70 years, JOST has grown from a small forge into a global company with over 25 locations through strategic acquisitions such as Rockinger (2001), Tridec (2008), Mercedes-Benz TrailerAxleSystems (2014), Alö (2020), Crenlo do Brasil (2023) and LH Lift (2023).

A new nationwide initiative in the United Kingdom is set to standardise and elevate maintenance standards in the commercial vehicle sector, which has completed its pilot phase and is set for wider rollout. The Maintenance Provision Rating Scheme (MPRS), unveiled at the Commercial Vehicle Show, introduces a tiered rating system for HGV workshops across the UK, aiming to improve safety, reduce MOT failures, and boost compliance.

The scheme offers five levels – Entry, Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum – providing commercial vehicle operators with a clear and independent assessment of a workshop’s competency and facilities. By offering greater transparency, the MPRS allows fleet operators to make better-informed decisions on where to service and maintain their vehicles.

The MPRS was jointly developed by a coalition of key industry bodies: Logistics UK, the Road Haulage Association (RHA), Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT), Institute of Road Transport Engineers (IRTE), Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) and the National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA). It is also backed by government authorities, including the Office of the Traffic Commissioner, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) and the Department for Transport (DfT).

A key component of the scheme’s development was an 18-month pilot programme, with Daimler Truck workshops used as a benchmark to define scoring criteria for competency and facility standards. Daimler Truck played a close advisory and operational role throughout the process.

“As an OEM, Daimler Truck UK has welcomed being involved in the development of the MPRS as we believe it is important for the commercial vehicle industry to be setting new standards,” said Amy Carter, Head of Product, Daimler Truck UK. “It has needed a consistent, nationwide rating scheme for a long time.”

Carter added that Daimler Truck sees the MPRS as a crucial step forward in aftersales service. “In the longer term, we hope customers start asking workshops for their MPRS ratings and that dealers start promoting their own scores,” she said. “The MPRS now provides a useful independent benchmark to prove that when a customer sends their fleet into our workshops, they’re being looked after to the highest standards.”

Daimler Truck UK has committed to having MPRS ratings for every dealer in its network by the end of 2025.

Workshops that participate in the MPRS will not only demonstrate their commitment to excellence but also gain a competitive advantage through enhanced reputation. The scheme is expected to drive further investment in staff training and workshop facilities across the commercial vehicle maintenance sector.