Daimler Truck has officially opened its new, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, Daimler Commercial Vehicles Manufacturing Indonesia (DCVMI), in the Cikarang Industrial Area. This significant IDR 500 billion (approximately USD 30 million) investment marks a major step in Daimler Truck’s regional expansion strategy, solidifying its long-term commitment to meeting the evolving mobility needs of Southeast Asia.

The expansive 15-hectare greenfield facility boasts an annual production capacity of 5,000 Mercedes-Benz trucks and buses. It's poised to become a central hub for vehicle assembly and distribution across key Southeast Asian markets, underpinning Daimler Truck's regional growth ambitions and strengthening Indonesia's commercial vehicle industry.

What makes this initiative particularly noteworthy is its collaborative foundation, blending the precision of German engineering, the manufacturing prowess of India and the crucial market insights from Indonesia.

Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV), located in Chennai, will play a pivotal role by supplying high-quality Completely Knocked Down (CKD) kits to the new Indonesian facility.

Satyakam Arya, Managing Director and CEO, DICV, said, "India remains a cornerstone of our global export strategy. Leveraging Indonesia for the ASEAN region is about expanding our reach, not shifting our focus. As DICV becomes further integrated into Daimler Trucks’ global manufacturing network, we will play a key role in building capabilities in Indonesia—transferring knowledge, developing talent, and strengthening the regional ecosystem. The integration of India’s advanced manufacturing capabilities into our Southeast Asian operations highlights our unified global approach. By combining German engineering excellence with India’s production strength and deep Indonesian market understanding, we are creating a robust platform for long-term success in the region."

Sankaranarayanan Ramamurthi, President Director, DCVMI, said, “This plant is not merely an addition to our infrastructure—it is a manifestation of our vision to make a tangible contribution to Indonesia’s economy, empower local communities and build a stronger industrial ecosystem. Each unit produced here reflects not only engineering excellence but also the spirit of collaboration and our confidence in Indonesia’s future. We are committed to continually creating job opportunities, innovating and contributing to growth in and for Indonesia.”

The opening of the DCVMI factory is a tangible realisation of Daimler Truck's ‘Bigger and Better’ vision. Beyond just expanding facilities, this move is set to enhance agility, streamline workflows, and improve the resilience of solutions offered to Indonesian customers. The company is committed to providing commercial vehicles that precisely meet local market demands, focusing on production efficiency, service reliability, and continuous innovation.

The DCVMI plant in Cikarang features an integrated manufacturing system for efficient production. It's equipped with a test track to simulate diverse road conditions and an advanced paint booth, both adhering to Mercedes-Benz's rigorous global manufacturing standards.

The facility will continue to produce popular Mercedes-Benz Axor Trucks models, including the 2528 CH, 4928 T, 4028 T, 4023 T, 2528 RMC, 2528 CX and 2528 C, as well as Mercedes-Benz bus chassis like the OH 1626 L and OH 1626 S, all specifically designed for the Indonesian market.

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DAF Trucks N.V., a wholly-owned subsidiary of PACCAR Inc, a leading technology, design and manufacturing company focussing on light, medium and heavy-duty commercial vehicles, has promoted Jim Walenczak to the position of President.

Effective on 1 July 2026, he succeeds Harald Seidel, who is scheduled to retire on 17 July 2026.

Walenczak joins DAF Trucks following a 15-year tenure with PACCAR, during which he held several leadership roles most recently the Vice-President of PACCAR and General Manager of Kenworth Truck Company.

Previously, he was Assistant General Manager of Sales & Marketing at Kenworth and has served as Assistant General Manager – Operations at PACCAR Parts.

He holds an MBA from the University of Washington, is a Stanford Graduated and has completed his Bachelor's in Marketing.

On the other hand, Seidel retires after a 25-year career with PACCAR. Since 2022, he has served as PACCAR Vice-President and DAF President. His previous roles within the company included DAF Finance Director, Group Controller, and various controller positions within marketing, sales, and PACCAR Parts Europe.

Preston Feight, Chief Executive Officer, PACCAR, said, “We sincerely thank Harald for his friendship, leadership, and significant contributions to the success of PACCAR and its customers”.

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Tata Motors, India’s largest commercial vehicle manufacturer, has marked the 21st anniversary of its iconic Tata Ace by launching the all‑new Ace Gold+ XL. This milestone in last‑mile mobility introduces a thoughtfully evolved variant designed for higher payloads and longer body applications. The Ace Gold+ XL extends the legacy that originally reshaped small cargo movement in India while continuing to support a growing and diverse base of entrepreneurs.

To celebrate 21 years of the Chhota Haathi, Tata Motors has also rolled out a nationwide campaign titled Ikkis Saal Bemisaal. This initiative focuses on entrepreneurs who have built their livelihoods around the Ace. Customer‑centric measures include additional benefits of up to INR 21,000 for women entrepreneurs, reinforcing the company’s longstanding commitment to inclusive growth.

Engineered with an eight‑foot load body and a one‑tonne payload capacity, the Ace Gold+ XL enables higher cargo volume per trip to improve owner profitability. The vehicle uses advanced Lean NOx Trap technology, eliminating the need for Diesel Exhaust Fluid and thereby reducing operating complexity and maintenance effort. A 700-cc turbocharged diesel engine delivers 22 PS of power and 55 Nm of torque, offering a lower total cost of ownership, improved uptime, and dependable performance for demanding last‑mile logistics.

Supported by Tata Motors’ comprehensive small commercial vehicle ecosystem, the Ace Gold+ XL joins a portfolio that spans diesel, petrol, CNG, bi‑fuel and electric powertrains for payloads from 750 kilogrammes to two tonnes. The company’s Sampoorna Seva 2.0 lifecycle support programme, along with over 2,500 service and spares outlets and the Star Guru network of trained technicians, ensures assistance at every stage of ownership. Through this latest variant, Tata Motors continues to power entrepreneurial growth and strengthen last‑mile logistics across the country.

Pinaki Haldar, Vice President & Business Head – SCVPU, Tata Motors Ltd., said, “With the launch of the all‑new Ace Gold+ XL, Tata Motors advances the next chapter of India’s most transformative commercial vehicle – one that continues to evolve to meet the needs of modern intra‑city and last‑mile logistics. Extending the Ace’s relevance into higher‑load applications, the Ace Gold+ XL is designed to deliver greater efficiency, reliability, and pride of ownership for today’s entrepreneurs. Launched in 2005, the Tata Ace pioneered India’s four‑wheel small commercial vehicle category and redefined last‑mile logistics by enabling entrepreneurship at scale. The Ace’s enduring relevance is reflected in an industry‑first milestone: for 21 years, one Ace has been sold every 4.25 minutes – earning the trust, respect, and loyalty of over 2,600,000 owners across the country.”

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Delhi-NCR-based electric commercial vehicle manufacturer Euler Motors has announced its revenue from operations reached INR 4.02 billion, up from INR 1.91 billion in FY2025, supported by a significant acceleration in sales volumes.

The company sold 7,576 electric vehicles in FY2026, up 181 percent YoY, albeit a low-year ago base. The Turbo EV 1000 gained substantial traction with 2,084 units sold, allowing the company to capture a 25.9 percent market share in this category.

In terms of segment-wise performance, the company sold 3,088 units of 3W cargo, 2,728 units of 4W cargo and 1,760 units of 3W passenger vehicles.

Growth was primarily driven by logistics and e-commerce operators focused on vehicle uptime and earnings potential.

For FY2026, total income reached INR 4.33 billion, which includes INR 310 million in non-operating income following a Series D fundraise. EBITDA margin improved from 119 percent in FY2025 to -62.9 percent in FY2026. Net loss for the period was INR 3.08 billion, which marks 61 percentage points reduction in losses as a percentage of revenue. Expenses was reduced to INR 1.84 per rupee of revenue, compared to INR 2.42 in the previous financial year.

During the fiscal, the total costs rose to INR 7.41 billion as the company invested in manufacturing and infrastructure: Material costs came at INR 3.56 billion, tracking the increase in sales volumes. Employee benefits rose by 40 percent to INR 1.04 billion to support headcount additions for aftersales and manufacturing.

Going forward, the company plans to expand its distribution and service network to over 200 touchpoints in FY2027. Euler Motors projects that volumes across its portfolio will grow by at least 40 percent YoY, with an increasing contribution from the 4W cargo EV segment.

Saurav Kumar, Founder & CEO, Euler Motors, said, “FY26 marks our transition from early adoption to early scale, with revenue more than doubling and EBITDA margins improving meaningfully as unit economics strengthen. While absolute losses have increased in line with our investments in scale, the underlying efficiency of the business has improved significantly. In 3W Cargo EV, we have built a strong foundation, with over 10,000 HiLoad EVs sold cumulatively. We are also expanding thoughtfully into the 3W passenger EV segment — focusing on understanding customer needs while shaping a differentiated value proposition. In the 4W cargo EV market, despite being a relatively late entrant, we are now seeing clear product-market fit. The Turbo EV1000 has validated that demand in this segment is real, scalable, and repeatable. Our focus now is to deepen this advantage — by expanding distribution, strengthening service infrastructure, and scaling manufacturing — to build a durable leadership position in India’s emerging electric commercial vehicle market.”

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Pune-headquartered automotive company Force Motors has introduced the new Force Traveller N Range, which includes specific applications for ambulances, school buses and delivery vans. This new series is designed to replace the current-generation Traveller entirely, with all future production transitioning to the new range. The Traveller currently maintains a segment share of over 70 percent in India.

The Force Traveller N Range features several upgrades intended to provide a more contemporary experience for drivers and passengers.

The commercial vehicle introduces a car-like cockpit featuring a digital instrument cluster and a 9-inch infotainment screen.

In terms of passenger comfort, it gets ergonomically designed seats, an updated HVAC system for improved cooling, and reduced noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) levels for a quieter cabin.

The exterior features a new front fascia with Daytime Running Lights (DRL) and LED turn indicators, as well as a redesigned rear. The company says the sheet metal structure has been re-engineered to reduce the number of body joints, improving structural integrity and build consistency.

In terms of performance, the Force Traveller N range is powered by the FM 2.6 CR engine, which complies with BS-VI Stage 2 emission norms. To assist fleet operators, the vehicles are equipped with two support systems:

• Force Care: This service package offers extended and parts warranties, roadside assistance and accidental repair support.
• iPulse: An integrated system that provides real-time vehicle tracking and diagnostic capabilities.

Force Motors says it has applied manufacturing processes and quality systems learned from its Urbania model to the new Traveller N Range, utilising advanced technologies such as robotics and automated door hemming. Bookings for the new range will open at dealerships across India starting in mid-May 2026.

Prasan Firodia, Managing Director, Force Motors, said, “The new Force Traveller N Range builds on the strong trust the Force Traveller has earned over the years, while making it more refined, capable, and better suited to today’s customer expectations”.

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