Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV), a subsidiary of Daimler Truck, has attained a new feat by becoming the first manufacturing facility in India to receive the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) Platinum certification under the latest stringent Version 2 standards. 

The OEM said that its Oragadam plant was the only facility to get the recognition for its excellence in green manufacturing and sustainability of the 31 factories reviewed.

The IGBC Platinum certification recognises sustainable building practices. DICV’s Oragadam facility has incorporated various measures to attain energy efficiency, water conservation, renewable energy, waste management, and biodiversity enhancement. A key element of DICV business strategy uses a strategic approach to sustainability, guided by the SPUR principle – Source, Produce, Use, Regenerate.

Satyakam Arya, MD & CEO, Daimler India Commercial Vehicles, said, “The IGBC Platinum certification is more than just an accolade; it represents DICV’s unwavering commitment to sustainability and innovation. This achievement goes beyond setting a benchmark for green manufacturing - it underscores our responsibility to make a lasting, positive impact on both the environment and our community. At our manufacturing facility in Oragadam, we prioritise advanced green practices and the well-being of our stakeholders, proving that industrial facilities can not only thrive but also contribute meaningfully to the global sustainability movement. This milestone positions DICV as a leader in sustainable development, and we hope it inspires others in the industry to embrace forward-thinking and responsible sustainability practices.”

Mumbai-based automotive major Mahindra & Mahindra has announced a bold move to strengthen its position in the commercial vehicle (CV) market with an agreement to acquire a 58.96 percent stake in SML Isuzu (SML) at INR 650 per share, representing an investment of INR 5.55 billion.

Following the acquisition, Mahindra will also launch a mandatory open offer to acquire up to an additional 26 percent stake from public shareholders, in compliance with SEBI's Takeover Regulations.

This strategic acquisition marks a major step forward in Mahindra’s ambition to expand its footprint in the >3.5-tonne CV segment. At present, Mahindra holds a modest 3 percent market share in this space, compared to its dominant 52 percent share in the <3.5-tonne light commercial vehicle (LCV) market. With the addition of SML’s capabilities and brand strength, Mahindra expects to immediately double its market share to 6 percent, and is aiming for 10–12 percent by FY2031 and over 20 percent by FY2036.

Founded in 1983, SML Isuzu is a listed company with a all-India presence and a strong legacy in the trucks and buses segment. It holds a leading 16 percent market share in the Intermediate Light Commercial Vehicle (ILCV) buses category. For FY2024, SML reported operating revenue of INR 21.96 billion and an EBITDA of INR 1.79 billion, showcasing profitable operations, frugal manufacturing and strong engineering capabilities.

Mahindra sees the acquisition as an opportunity to unlock significant value through synergies across cost optimisation, network expansion, brand integration, manufacturing efficiency, talent pool strengthening and complementary product portfolios. Mahindra states that its Trucks and Buses Division has already made notable advances in technology, design and innovation by leveraging its broader automotive capabilities – strengths that will be further enhanced through this deal.

The transaction structure involves Mahindra acquiring the entire 43.96 percent stake held by Sumitomo Corporation, the current promoter of SML, as well as a 15 percent stake from Isuzu Motors.

Dr Anish Shah, Group CEO & MD, Mahindra Group, said: “The acquisition of SML Isuzu marks a significant milestone in Mahindra Group’s vision of delivering 5x growth in our emerging businesses. This acquisition is aligned with our capital allocation strategy for investing in high-potential growth areas that have a strong right to win and have demonstrated operational excellence.”

Rajesh Jejurikar, Executive Director and CEO, Auto and Farm Sector, Mahindra & Mahindra, added, “SML brings a strong legacy, a loyal customer base and a credible product portfolio that complements Mahindra’s existing offerings in the trucks and buses segment. This acquisition is a pivotal step toward our ambition to become a full-range, formidable player in commercial vehicles by enhancing market coverage, unlocking operating leverage through platform consolidation, a unified supplier and network base, and better plant utilisation. Together, we are well-positioned to scale rapidly and drive profitable growth.”

In what may come as a welcome push for road safety in India, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) plans to launch a new safety assessment rating for trucks and commercial vehicles on the lines of the Bharat New Car Assessment Program (BNCAP).

The announcement was made by Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways, while inaugurating a two-day workshop of Vehicle and Fleet safety jointly organised by the Global New Car Assessment Program (GNCAP) and the Institute of Road Traffic Education (IRTE).

“The idea is to encourage manufacturers to improve the production quality, making vehicles safer. Similarly, the government is already working on standards and a safety assessment system for battery-operated e-rikshaws in the country, as they suffer from safety issues. The safety improvement in e-rickshaws will improve their quality and generate more employment. India accounts for the highest number of fatal road accidents with 4.8 lakh road crashes each year resulting in 1.8 lakh deaths. The government’s top priority is on road safety, expansion of safe highways and vehicle safety and bolstering electric vehicles. The ministry is also working on reducing logistics cost to 9 percent in the next couple of years from the present 14-16 percent, as the automobile industry plays a key role in India’s economic growth.”

He further added that MoRTH was now also working on a law to determine the working hours for truck drivers. At present, many truckers continue to drive vehicles for 13-14 hours a day, as the country is facing a shortage of truck drivers.

The government also plans to set up 32 state-of-the-art driving institutes across the country. Air conditioning of driver compartments has already been made mandatory by the ministry. Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) to assist drivers has also been made mandatory”, the minister added.

It was just a few days back government introduced road safety as part of the school curriculum for students of classes 1-12, the modules are expected to be introduced in the current academic year.

David Ward, President Emeritus, Global NCAP, said, “Consumers in India with most vehicles having GNCAP and BNCAP assessment ratings have a better choice of safer vehicles. It is a good moment towards the UN objective of road safety by 2030.”

Dr Rohit Baluja, President, IRTE, added, “The two-day workshop will review progress in vehicle safety worldwide and in India since 2000 and the priority actions needed to achieve further improvements by 2030 and beyond. In particular, the meeting will examine efforts to improve automobile safety worldwide by reviewing the progress made by the G20 major economies, including India, to implement the Global Plan vehicle safety recommendations and feature special sessions on fleet and motorcycle safety.”

Montra Electric’s e-SCV (small commercial vehicles) division, Tivolt Electric Vehicles has inaugurated its first e-SCV dealership in Jaipur, Rajasthan, which also is its first in the region.

The new channel partner Ensol Infratech has a state-of-the-art 3S (sales, service, spares and charging) facility to provide a comprehensive buying and aftersales support.

The dealership was inaugurated by Jalaj Gupta, Managing Director, TI Clean Mobility (Montra Electric) and Arun Sharma, Managing Director, Ensol Infratech, in presence of Saju Nair, CEO, Tivolt Electric vehicles, Sunil Kataria, Director, Ensol Infratech and key stakeholders, including dealers, customers, suppliers and other guests.

With this Montra Electric’s Eviator e-SCV will be available in Jaipur. It comes with a claimed certified range of 245 km and a real-world range of 170 km, 80 kW motor and an 300 Nm torque. The company currently offers an extended warranty of up to 7 years or 2.5 lakh km.

Jalaj Gupta, said, “Montra Electric has been at the forefront of India’s EV transformation, and we are excited to inaugurate our first dealership in the state of Rajasthan. Eviator is India’s first TRU-EV, setting a new benchmark in mid-mile and last-mile mobility with its advanced design, powerful performance, and exceptional durability. The launch of this dealership facility is a testament to our vision of delivering cutting-edge, high-performance e-SCV in the region.”

Saju Nair, added, “Rajasthan is an important market for us, and we are thrilled to mark our entry into the state with our first dealership in Jaipur. At Montra Electric, we are driven by a strong commitment to innovation and sustainability in clean mobility. This launch is a significant milestone in our journey, enabling us to get closer to our customers and deliver high-performance electric small commercial vehicles (e-SCVs) that meet their evolving needs. Our partnership with Ensol Infratech further strengthens our ability to provide customised solutions and outstanding service across the region.”

Arun Sharma, shared, “We are delighted to join hands with Montra Electric in setting up this new dealership. This collaboration marks a significant step in strengthening Montra Electric’s footprint as a leading EV brand in the region, while improving customer access to dependable, high-performance electric small commercial vehicles. Together, we look forward to expanding our reach and delivering tailored mobility solutions that cater to the evolving transportation needs of our customers.”

Japanese pick-up truck specialists Isuzu Motors India has topped the list for exporting the highest number of made-in-India commercial vehicles for FY2025 as per the latest data released by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM).

The company currently manufactures LHD (Left Hand Drive) and RHD (Right Hand Drive) models at its Sri City facility and exported 20,312 units in FY2025, up 24 percent YoY, as against 16,329 units for the same period last year. At present, Isuzu Motors India's made-in-India pick-up trucks are sold in the Middle East and Asia markets.

On the other hand, Tata Motors slipped to the second position with exports of 18,164 units, registering a flat growth, as compared to 17,677 units shipped last year.

Mahindra & Mahindra clocked a 38 percent YoY growth with export of 17,959 units, as against 13,011 units last year.

It is also important to note that FY2025 also marked a record milestone year for Isuzu Motors India, when it rolled out its 100,000^th unit from its Sri City facility.

Interestingly, a closer look at the top five commercial vehicles exporter reveals that cumulatively they sold 76,871 units, up 22.81 percent YoY, as against 62,591 units last year. This translates to an average yearly growth of 26 percent amongst them.