Eicher Trucks and Buses, a division of VE Commercial Vehicles, unveiled its electric-first range of small commercial vehicles (SCVs), the Eicher Pro X range, at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025. This launch marks Eicher’s strategic entry into the burgeoning 2-3.5T segment and underscores its commitment to reshaping last-mile logistics in India.

The Eicher Pro X Range boasts several industry-leading features. It offers the largest cargo loading space in its segment within the 2-3.5T Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) category. The vehicles are designed for best-in-class energy efficiency, maximising trips per charging cycle. Driver-centric features include ergonomically designed, air-conditioned cabins, lie-flat seats, and advanced safety systems such as Driver State Monitoring. Additionally, the vehicles are tailored for city and near-city distribution with an industry-leading turning radius and superior visibility.

The Pro X Range is built for maximum uptime, supported by Eicher’s industry-first Uptime Centre and FOTA-enabled telematics for seamless remote updates. This ensures enhanced productivity and 24/7/365 monitoring and support. Manufactured at Eicher’s Industry 4.0-enabled plant in Bhopal, the Pro X Series exemplifies the ‘Make in India’ initiative. The state-of-the-art facility spans 147.8 acres, integrates sustainable practices, and features an all-women assembly line, highlighting the company’s commitment to diversity and inclusion in manufacturing.

The Pro X Range is further supported by a born-digital dealership network, connected to the Uptime Centre to ensure maximum vehicle availability and operational efficiency. This omni-channel retail experience combines advanced digital tools with personalised service, providing customers with both convenience and accessibility. Eicher’s strategic collaborations with Charging Point Operators (CPOs) and Charger OEMs also contribute to India’s evolving charging infrastructure.

Speaking at the launch, VE Commercial Vehicles Limited Managing Director Vinod Aggarwal said, "We have leveraged our legacy of market leadership in Light and Medium Duty Trucks and our track record of innovation to create this best-in-class range of vehicles. Co-developed with customers to meet their specific needs, the Eicher Pro X charts a new path into the Small Commercial Vehicle segment. It is an embodiment of Eicher’s brand philosophy, 'Nayi Soch, Naye Raaste.' As India progresses on its ‘Viksit Bharat’ journey, the SCV segment will play a vital role and the Eicher Pro X will drive transformation in last-mile logistics.”

Chief Commercial Officer at VE Commercial Vehicles SS Gill concluded, “The Eicher Pro X Range has been co-created with leading logistics players and drivers, and is meticulously engineered to meet the dynamic demands of applications such as e-commerce, FMCG, parcel & courier and cold chain logistics.  It has given us the opportunity to combine cutting-edge technology with customer-centric solutions such as largest cargo loading space, best-in-class range and energy efficiency, longest service intervals, and host of safety and comfort features for the drivers. This Eicher Pro X series of small trucks is tailored for segment-specific requirements, come fully connected with real-time fleet management & uptime support solutions, for addressing unmet needs of the category as well as maximising profitability for our customers.”

Maruti Suzuki India, one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, has upgraded its popular offering the Super Carry with Electronic Stability Program (ESP) function.

The Super Carry now has seven advanced safety features such as Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) to prevent wheel lock-up, Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) to optimise braking across varying loads, Engine Drag Control (EDC) prevents wheel slip during sudden deceleration, Traction Control System (TCS) to provide grip on slippery surfaces, Rollover Prevention steps, Hydraulic Brake Assist (HBA) and ESP that provides stability around sharp turns.

Partho Banerjee, Senior Executive Officer, Marketing and Sales, Maruti Suzuki India, said, “At Maruti Suzuki, we are committed to deliver vehicles that empower businesses with power, efficiency, safety, and reliability. The introduction of the Electronic Stability Program (ESP) in the Super Carry underscores our commitment to innovation and customer safety. Trusted for its power, comfort, low maintenance, and profitability, the Super Carry continues to be the ideal partner for our commercial customers. We thank them for their trust and look forward to driving their success together.”

The Super Carry SCV comes with Maruti Suzuki’s 1.2L K-Series Dual Jet, Dual VVT engine and five-speed manual transmission.

The commercial vehicle industry witnessed a decline of 1 percent in overall sales for February 2025.

A total of 79,883 units were sold last month across segments as compared to 80,954 units for the same period last year.

The country’s largest CV maker Tata Motors reported a 8 percent decline in overall sales, with SCV Cargo and Pickup segment witnessing the sharpest drop (-20 percent YoY). The ILMCV Trucks segment, however, showed growth at 11 percent.

Mahindra & Mahindra reported a 4 percent increase in total sales, driven by a 9 percent rise in LCV (2T-3.5T) and a 23 percent jump in LCV >3.5T & M&HCV. However, the LCV < 2T segment dropped 21 percent.

Ashok Leyland experienced modest growth (2 percent overall), with M&HCV Trucks (+1 percent) and LCV (+5 percent) offsetting the M&HCV Bus decline (-5 percent).

Volvo Eicher Commercial Vehicles grew 6 percent YoY, indicating steady demand.

The slight market decline was led by weaker small commercial vehicle (SCV) and passenger carrier demand, affecting Tata Motors significantly. However, medium & heavy commercial vehicle (M&HCV) trucks and LCVs in the 2T-3.5T range showed resilience, benefiting Mahindra & Mahindra and Ashok Leyland.

While challenges remain in certain segments, sustained growth in the LCV and HCV categories suggests stable demand in core logistics and transportation sectors.

Representational image: IEA

JCBL, a leading bus bodybuilder, has delivered 106 custom-designed staff buses to Mahindra & Mahindra in a record time of three months.

The buses feature 17-inch-wide seats, driver’s cabin partition, digital LED route displays, USB charging points and fans on each seat row. A TV and a six-speaker music system are also incorporated to provide entertainment on the go.

In terms of safety, the buses are equipped with pneumatic passenger door with safety sensor, seatbelts, CCTV cameras with a 30-day recording capacity, panic switches, anti-rust treatment and a Fire Detection and Alarm System (FDAS).

Dinesh Dua, Business Head, JCBL, said, “This project is a testament to our commitment to delivering high-quality, safe, and innovative mobility solutions. Completing one of India’s largest single-customer staff bus orders within just three months reflects our dedication to excellence and customer satisfaction.”

Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV), a wholly owned subsidiary of Daimler Truck AG, has announced that the company has reached a significant milestone in its sustainability journey by utilising 100 percent renewable power at its Oragadam production facility.

A major component of this strategy is the installation of a renewable power-generation plant with a peak capacity of 4,300 kW, powered by 15,000 solar panels, which offsets approximately 4,000 tonnes of CO₂e emissions annually, contributing to 17 percent of the renewable power generated in-house. This achievement highlights DICV’s commitment to environmental protection and represents a significant step, as the company has successfully reduced its Scope 2 emissions ahead of the original end-2025 target. A total of 22,970 tonnes of CO₂e are offset through the sourcing of renewable power, demonstrating DICV’s decarbonisation efforts.

Satyakam Arya, Managing Director & CEO, Daimler India Commercial Vehicles, said, “We have made significant strides in positioning DICV as a leader in sustainable manufacturing and we are proud to achieve 100 percent renewable power utilisation at our Oragadam facility. This milestone, achieved ahead of target, demonstrates our commitment to decarbonising operations. Since 2018, we have focused on building the infrastructure to increase our reliance on renewable power and now we have reached 100 percent renewable power utilisation under Scope 2 emissions. Supportive state and central policies, such as green power purchases through various energy sources available under regulatory framework, played a vital role in this accomplishment.”