Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV) has achieved record sales and revenue performance in CY 2023. 

In 2023 the manufacturer’s domestic truck and bus sales grew by 39 percent and revenue grew by 21 percent over 2022. DICV’s bus volumes doubled in 2023, growing 107 percent over 2022. Its cumulative sales (including domestic and export) from January to December in 2023 grew by 13 percent whereas its parts business grew by more than 21 percent over 2022. 

In January 2023, DICV transitioned its entire BharatBenz truck and bus portfolio to comply with OBD-II regulations with a focus on reducing total cost of ownership, increasing the productivity of its trucks and offering industry-leading service intervals in India.

The record performance in 2023 was driven by multiple initiatives that DICV undertook. Last year, the company met its annual target by establishing 350 sales and service locations across India. Manufacturing operations were streamlined and made cost effective by introducing many digitalization initiatives such as automated workforce planning and predictive maintenance using data, and many other initiatives that are in the phase of completion. On the sustainability front, nearly 85 percent of DICV’s manufacturing operations are run on renewable energy and nearly 90 percent of its plant functions on upcycled water, reducing over 27,000 tonnes of carbon footprint. 

The proposition that BharatBenz customers benefit from are industry-leading longer service intervals, best-in-industry manufacturer’s warranty, 48-hour service / repair uptime through its ‘Rakshana’ initiative and fuel efficiency improvements. These and many more factors contribute to the excellent total cost of ownership that BharatBenz commercial vehicles deliver cumulatively.

DICV is also ready to launch all its MY24 BharatBenz heavy-duty trucks in the coming months. The first to be launched will be the all-new BharatBenz Rigid range, followed by trucks with the newly-introduced Automated Manual Transmission (AMT) and the all-new Construction and Mining truck heavy-duty range.

Rigid Heavy-duty range- Scheduled for market launch in April 2024, the Rigid heavy-duty range will be available in the following configurations: 2826R (6x2), 3526R (8x2), 3832R (8x2), 4232R (10x2) and 4832R (10x2). These trucks will be powered by an all-new 6.7-litre, common-rail BS6 Stage two BharatBenz engine designed to deliver better acceleration, class-leading peak torque, better durability and drivability than before resulting in fewer gear changes. It will also prove to have unmatched reliability in Indian conditions. The new rigid range of trucks will also offer bitumen, bulker, Petroleum Oil & Lubricants (POL) payload applications, widening the range of its customer base with its improved layout and ‘cigar type’ After Treatment System (ATS). 

Construction and Mining heavy-duty range- The BharatBenz construction and mining heavy-duty trucks have been completely re-engineered for superior functionality and comes with many segment-first features. Offered in 2828C and 3532C configurations, they are optimized to suit surface transport construction applications and terrains, have a high-power engine, class-leading torque, a higher yield strength chassis, new service-free wheel hubs, new axles, all-new suspension with higher ground clearance, rear shock absorbers and hill-hold assist as standard fitment. 

12-speed Automated Manual Transmission (AMT) introduced- BharatBenz trucks will be offered with the proven and world’s best 12-speed Automated Manual Transmission (AMT) variants for the first time in its tractor trailer and mining MY24 models. To be offered in 4032TT, 5532TT, 3532CM and 2832CM for long haul and mining applications, the new AMT, which has served over 500,000 trucks globally, ensures a jerk-free transmission of power to the wheels with reduced shifting time, improves reliability, reduces the need for overhaul and can be operated with a convenient steering column shift stick, thereby enhancing driver comfort.

The high value proposition that BharatBenz customers benefit from are industry-leading longer service intervals, best-in-industry manufacturer’s warranty, 48-hour service / repair uptime through its ‘Rakshana’ initiative and fuel efficiency improvements. These and many more factors contribute to the excellent total cost of ownership that BharatBenz commercial vehicles deliver cumulatively.

 “Having set new benchmarks in the industry, gained a large customer base in the construction and mining space and with a progressive tractor trailer portfolio in the last decade, we felt that we should go back to the drawing board to revamp everything that our heavy-duty trucks had under their skin and offer customers something new in 2024. So, the MY24 BharatBenz range is more superior than ever with respect to total cost of ownership, technology, reliability, safety, comfort and serviceability. With our new trucks we are ready to intensify our presence in the construction and mining space with tippers that are far superior to their predecessors. We are soon launching an all-new Rigid heavy-duty range that will offer best-in-class fuel efficiency, power, torque, safety, reliability and service benefits. We are introducing the world’s best 12-speed Automated Manual Transmission in our portfolio will deliver an effortless driving experience and class-leading fuel efficiency like it has done in approximately 500,000 of our trucks around the world,” said Sreeram Venkateswaran, President and Chief Business Officer (domestic sales and customer service), DICV

“Our best-ever sales and financial growth, since inception, was spearheaded by excellent demand for our tipper and tractor trailer product lines which grew 53 percent and 79 percent respectively compared to CY2022. A slew of strategic initiatives that we undertook in 2023 also helped us take informed decisions on costs, tackle headwinds effectively and sharpen our focus on key areas of our business. We have started CY2024 with great confidence and with an ever-stronger product portfolio, engineered and packaged to drive business growth to new heights in 2024. Our aim was to challenge ourselves and up the game on total cost of ownership, uptime and reliability, all of which our customers will benefit from with our new MY24 heavy-duty truck portfolio. These trucks reflect our highly evolved product development capabilities, which are being put to good use for creation of new products to help answer future mobility requirements,” commented Satyakam Arya – Managing Director and CEO, DICV.

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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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Volvo Trucks India has introduced the Volvo FMX Edge, an off-road dump truck configured for heavy-duty mining operations. The vehicle was unveiled at the company’s manufacturing facility in Hoskote, Bengaluru.

The development of the truck follows the deployment of the company's FMX500 8x4 platform, which has more than 3,000 units operating across Indian mine sites. The FMX Edge has been designed to align with changing structural trends in the domestic mining market, such as the deployment of higher-capacity excavators and the demand for predictable material handling cycle times.

The FMX Edge features a 31.2 cubic metre SAE heap body capacity and a 2.8-metre-wide body configuration. This design is engineered to support material loading compatibility with high-volume industrial shovels and to manage overburden movement. The vehicle incorporates electronic stability control and vehicle tracking mechanisms intended to minimise operational downtime and maintain fuel efficiency during full-load duty cycles.

The truck rollout was followed by an application-led demonstration session at the Volvo CE Customer Centre Ground. The presentation was conducted jointly by Volvo Trucks and Volvo Construction Equipment to showcase integrated machinery solutions for bulk material handling and extraction processes.

Per-Erik Lindström, Executive Vice-President, Volvo Trucks International, said, “India is a cornerstone for Volvo Group’s future and an increasingly important market for Volvo Trucks. The launch of Volvo FMX Edge reflects our commitment to Indian customers and to solutions designed around real operating needs. Built on Volvo’s global expertise and shaped by Indian mining requirements, the Volvo FMX Edge is a strong example of our focus on customer success, sustainable progress and long-term growth.”

B Srinivas, Managing Director and CEO, VE Commercial Vehicles, said, “Volvo Trucks has earned the trust of Indian mining customers over nearly three decades by delivering solutions that perform in real operating conditions. The Volvo FMX Edge is a natural evolution of this journey. It is engineered around customer outcomes like productivity, safety, uptime, efficiency and lifecycle value. With FMX Edge, we reaffirm our commitment to supporting India’s mining sector with solutions built for confidence and long-term partnership.”

B Dinakar, Business Head of Volvo Trucks India, added, “The Volvo FMX Edge has been developed with a clear purpose – to help mining customers achieve better outcomes every day. It is not just about capacity; it is about confidence, predictability, safety and lifecycle value. Shaped by inputs from mine sites, project teams, maintenance teams, operators and drivers, the Volvo FMX Edge represents Volvo Trucks’ response to the needs of modern mining operations.”

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