Hindustan Zinc (HZL), the world's largest integrated zinc producer, has taken a major step towards sustainable operations by deploying a fleet of 40 Electric Vehicle (EV) Bulkers at its Zinc Smelter Debari facility in Udaipur.

The company is deploying the EV bulkers in collaboration with Enviiiro Wheels Mobility under an extensive eight-year contract. These vehicles will be used to transport calcine (a by-product of the roasting process) from the Debari smelter to the company's integrated zinc-lead smelter in Chittorgarh. The first batch of 10 bulkers is already operational, with the remaining units scheduled for rollout in the coming months.

This initiative is a significant step in HZL's commitment to achieving Net Zero by 2050 or sooner. The transition to EVs complements the company's existing use of LNG and battery-powered trucks and its wider strategy of integrating renewable energy and advanced energy-efficiency measures.

Arun Misra, CEO, Hindustan Zinc, said, “We are embedding sustainability into the core of our logistics strategy to build an ecosystem that is clean, connected, and future ready. These electric mobility solutions are not just reducing our carbon footprint, but also unlocking operational efficiency, workforce safety, and long-term value - all aligned with our broader vision of decarbonising operations and enabling India’s green industrial growth.”

In a related move, HZL also signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Enviiiro Wheels Mobility to introduce electric buses for employee transportation at the Zinc Smelter Debari. This shift will further reduce the company's Scope 3 emissions and ensure a cleaner commute for its workforce.

Praveen Somani, CEO, Enviiiro Wheels Mobility, said, “Hindustan Zinc’s groundbreaking endeavour marks a pivotal moment in India’s manufacturing landscape. We stand committed to Hindustan Zinc’s vision of decarbonisation and believe that our green logistics solutions are instrumental to advancing India’s sustainability objectives. As part of our ongoing commitment with Hindustan Zinc, we’re proud to deploy 40 additional electric bulkers for Vedanta. We firmly believe that clean and eco-friendly mobility solutions will play a pivotal role in aiding industries to attain their sustainability goals”.

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Pune-headquartered automotive major Force Motors has launched its comprehensive Roadside Assistance (RSA) program, now offered complimentary for three years across all its product lines – Traveller, Trax, Monobus, Urbania and Gurkha.

The company shared that this first-of-its-kind initiative in India’s commercial vehicle segment is part of its continued efforts to enhance ownership experience and ensure round-the-clock customer support across India.

The RSA program covers a wide range of services, from breakdown support and accident assistance to towing and on-site repairs, aimed at minimising downtime and delivering peace of mind to every customer.

Prasan Firodia, MD, Force Motors, said, “Our customers place their trust in Force vehicles every day, and it is our responsibility to stand firmly by that trust. With the three-year complimentary Roadside Assistance program, we aim to provide total support throughout their journey- reaffirming our commitment to reliability, responsiveness, and care. This initiative marks another milestone in our continued investment in enhancing the ownership experience and building long-term trust through dependable service”.

Key features of Force Motors Roadside Assistance also includes free towing up to 100 km to the nearest authorised Force workshop, on-site repair support for minor mechanical or electrical issues, accident assistance including vehicle recovery and coordination with workshops, tyre change, battery jump-start and key-related assistance. It also includes, emergency coordination services and add-on convenience benefits including legal and medical referrals among others.

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Billion Electric Mobility (BillionE), an electric mobility-as-a-service (eMaaS) platform, has partnered with Hindalco Industries’ Birla Copper Division to launch Gujarat’s first heavy-duty electric freight corridor.

As part of the understanding, BillioE will deploy 15 Ashok Leyland e-trucks with 55-tonne capacity in phases between Dahej and Asoj, a 160km route. The electric trucks will see BillionE leverage ChargeZone’s charging network with stations at Karjan, Bharuch, and a strategic point along the route. Upon successful induction, additional electric trucks will be deployed for secondary transport across Vapi, Daman and Silvassa, further expanding Gujarat’s zero-emission freight network.

Sanjeev Kulkarni, CEO, BillionE Mobility, said "Launching this heavy-duty electric freight corridor is more than just a milestone. It represents a transformation in how India moves goods at scale. Heavy logistics have long depended on fossil fuels, contributing to emissions and energy vulnerability. By deploying electric trucks, we are showing that industrial transport can be both efficient and sustainable. Our partnership with Hindalco is an important step toward creating a nationwide network of zero-emission freight corridors, helping businesses decarbonize operations while improving efficiency and reducing long-term costs."

Bishnu Agarwal, Functional Head, F&C Copper business of Hindalco Industries, said,“As logistics is the backbone of our business, it is our responsibility to drive change toward cleaner and smarter solutions. By transitioning to EVs, we are reducing our carbon footprint while improving efficiency with quieter, low-maintenance, and future-ready vehicles. This is sustainability as a business advantage, not just a regulatory requirement.” 

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MAN Truck & Bus is adding an AI-supported assistant to its digital fleet management service – Perform. The new tool uses Perform's vehicle usage data and driving style analyses, alongside a knowledge database, to create performance analyses and recommendations for fleet managers.

Following a launch in Austria in spring 2025, the feature is now available to Perform customers in Germany, with other European countries set to follow.

The chat function allows fleet managers to formulate analysis requirements in everyday language. When asked questions such as ‘Which drivers have room for improvement?’ or ‘What recommendations can I give to drivers?’, the AI immediately provides evaluations and concrete recommendations that can be passed on to drivers.

Karl-Maximilian Strobel, Head of Product Management Services, MAN Truck & Bus, said, “Imagine you have a personal assistant who simplifies your everyday life and revolutionises it, like AI does when planning trips or shopping online. An assistant who saves you time and money and gives you new ideas. This is exactly the added value we are now bringing to fleet management with the Digital Fleet Assistant.”

The Digital Fleet Assistant is claimed to provide up to three times faster evaluation of the information. The AI analysis tool evaluates data, including driving behaviour, fuel consumption, use of assistance systems and technical information such as downtime and wear.

This data is linked to a continuously updated knowledge database containing training materials, technical manuals and practical experience. Fleet managers receive evaluations directly in the chat, including recommendations for action tailored to the fleet, such as tips for more economical driving.

Perform is one of MAN's used digital services. The service on the RIO platform accesses data from vehicle use in near real time, providing overviews of vehicle utilisation, driving style and the severity of transport tasks for individual vehicles or entire fleets.

Managers can use this information to draw conclusions about untapped efficiency potential or unnecessary vehicle wear and tear. The data is provided in a neutral and comparable format, enabling an assessment of driver and vehicle performance. Thanks to the interaction between Perform and the MAN Driver App, drivers can also access their individual performance data to improve their driving style independently.

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Tata Motors has announced strong commercial vehicle sales for Q2 FY2026, with total domestic and international sales reaching 94,681 units. This marks a substantial 12 percent increase compared to the 84,281 units sold in Q2 FY2025.

The surge was particularly pronounced in September 2025, which saw a 19 percent YoY increase with 35,862 units sold, up from 30,032 units in September 2024. The company's international business grew significantly with a massive 75 percent growth for the quarter.

Across the second quarter, several segments reported double-digit growth. Small Commercial Vehicle (SCV) Cargo and Pickup grew 11 percent to 34,732 units in Q2 FY2026 (up from 31,399 units in Q2 FY2025). This portfolio saw exceptional performance in September 2025, recording a 30 percent YoY increase.

Intermediate and Light Commercial Vehicle (ILMCV) Trucks also performed strongly, with sales rising 15 percent to 16,845 units for the quarter. The heavy commercial vehicle (HCV) trucks segment posted a modest 5 percent growth, selling 24,056 units in Q2 FY2026. Passenger Carriers grew 5 percent for the quarter, reaching 11,428 units.

Overall domestic sales for commercial vehicles rose 9 percent to 87,061 units in Q2 FY2026, up from 79,931 units in Q2 FY2025.

Girish Wagh, Executive Director, Tata Motors, acknowledged the volatile market conditions but expressed optimism about the company's swift response and future outlook.

“Q2 FY2026 was a mixed quarter for the commercial vehicles industry, start marked by subdued market conditions and ending with a promising resurgence in demand. While July faced headwinds due to monsoon and August reflected cautious sentiment ahead of the GST 2.0 rollout, the onset of the festive season and lower GST rates from late September brought a good recovery in sales, bookings and sentiment," Wagh stated.

He further elaborated on the strategies that led to the strong September performance.

"Following the GST reduction announcement, we acted swiftly and decisively to capture the growth in demand—by enhancing product availability, sharpening our pricing strategy, and intensifying market activations. These initiatives helped us unlock demand across segments, making September our best-performing sales month in FY2026, driven by a strong 30 percent YoY growth in our SCV and PU portfolio led by the new launches, Ace Pro and Ace Gold+. Overall, in Q2 FY2026, Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles delivered sales of 94,681 units, registering a growth of 12 percent over the same period last year. We continue to build strong differentiation for our expansive range of trucks that now offer higher power output of up to 320hp. With smart engineering and a relentless focus on operational efficiency, our trucks remain the preferred choice for fleet owners seeking better performance, higher profits and long-term value.”

Looking ahead, the company anticipates continued growth, driven by key economic indicators and product pipeline.

"Looking ahead, with the festive season underway, improving consumption, and the full impact of GST reforms yet to unfold, we anticipate a strong second half for FY2026. Construction, infrastructure and mining activities will gain momentum, further fuelling demand for trucks and tippers. With a robust pipeline of upcoming launches, and a richer, more customer-aligned product portfolio, we are well-positioned to accelerate this momentum and drive meaningful, broad-based growth across all commercial vehicles segments,” Wagh concluded.

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