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.”

Atul Greentech, Valeo India and Honda Power Pack Energy India (HEID) have entered into a partnership to introduce battery-swapping technology for its new range of electric three-wheelers.

As per the understanding, Atul Greentech’s electric three-wheeler will use Valeo’s powertrain and Honda Power Pack Energy India’s battery technology as well as battery swapping network. The EV maker's Mobili Swap passenger variant comes with a claimed 79km certified range per battery swap, while the Energie Swap cargo variant has a claimed range of 74km per battery swap.

Vijay Kedia, Director, Atul Auto, said, “Interchangeable products will revolutionise the electric vehicle sector. They will increase customer revenues by eliminating the need to recharge batteries. An extensive network of exchange stations will reduce range anxiety. As the battery remains the property of the company, customers will benefit from lower vehicle costs and reduced warranty obligations.”

Jayakumar G, Group President and Managing Director, Valeo India, said, “This three-way engagement between Valeo India, Atul Greentech and Honda Power Pack Energy India brings together the expertise required to accelerate the electrification of three-wheeler vehicles and reduce CO2 emissions. Valeo's advanced electric powertrain technology adapted to the Indian market with our strong engineering and local manufacturing expertise will help strengthen our partnership in this growing market.”

Dr. Tomohide Haraguchi, Vice President of Honda Power Pack Energy India, said, “HEID utilises safety and reliable swappable batteries that are implemented with Honda's long-accumulated technology and know-how from the four-wheeled vehicle development. The combination of our batteries and Valeo's cutting-edge powertrain technology provides an automobile-grade electric solution in the e-three-wheeler market.”

Ashok Leyland, one of the country’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturers, has been conferred with the Mother Teresa Award for Corporate Citizen of the Year 2024 by the Loyola Institute of Business Administration (LIBA).

The recognition was on the back of the OEMs Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives. Dr. Palanivel Thiagarajan, Minister for Information Technology & Digital Services, Government of Tamil Nadu, presented the award to the Ashok Leyland CSR team.

The Mother Teresa Award for Corporate Citizen was established in 1998 that recognises organisations for their contribution towards societal welfare and contribution towards environmental sustainability.

Shenu Agarwal, MD & CEO, Ashok Leyland, said, “At Ashok Leyland, we see corporate social responsibility as an integral part of our business philosophy. Our commitment to nation-building goes beyond manufacturing world-class vehicles, as we strive to uplift communities, protect the environment, and drive meaningful change. Receiving the Mother Teresa Award is a great honour and a reaffirmation of our efforts to create a sustainable and inclusive future. Our Road to School and Road to Livelihood programs continue to make a meaningful impact, now reaching over five lakh students. This year, we proudly welcomed 92,000 new students, and we are set to expand further by adding another 1,00,000 students in FY26, reinforcing our commitment to education and empowerment.”

Balachandar NV, CSR and Corporate Affairs, Ashok Leyland, said, “Our CSR initiatives focus on holistic and long-term impact, aligning with our vision of creating a better society. This award is an encouragement for us to continue driving positive change through education, healthcare, environment sustainability, and skill development. We remain very proud of our ‘Road to School’ project, an initiative that takes education to the last mile, focuses on holistic child development enabling them to realize their full potential. For us, 'Road to School' is far more than just a CSR program; it represents a company-wide commitment to driving real, meaningful change in the lives of students.”

Ashok Leyland initiated the Road to School (RTS) program in collaboration with Learning Links Foundation, which tries to bridge educational disparities among students in rural and underserved areas attending government schools across India. It provides both academic and co-curricular growth, encompassing health, hygiene, physical and emotional well-being and sports. Aligned with the United Nations Global Sustainable Development Goals the program works on improving the quality of education, scholastic and co-scholastic development including sports and art education and promoting good health and wellbeing amongst underserved children from government schools.

Initiated in 2015 with 36 schools in Tamil Nadu, has now expanded across 7 states encompassing 2505 schools and has impacted 418,121 students across Government Primary, Upper Primary and High Schools in the country. Ashok Leyland shared its mission is to impact a million students by ensuring every child in India has access to quality education.

SANY India, a leading manufacturer of construction equipment, has unveiled the all-new SY80 PRO excavator via an extensive roadshow and customer meet. The SY80 PRO series is made to be very efficient, long-lasting and flexible enough to meet a wide range of infrastructure and building needs.

By giving consumers a personal look at the machine's cutting-edge capabilities through this roadshow, SANY India strengthened its position as the industry leader in dependability and performance. The 900-kilometre roadshow started in Pune and travelled through important construction and industrial areas, including Satara, Karad, Sangli, Solapur, Beed and Sambhajinagar. This project attracted a lot of interest from specialists in the field and attracted a lot of attendees from several places. The roadshow ended with live demonstrations and an exclusive client meet In Sambhajinagar.

Shashank Pandey, Vice President, Excavator Business, SANY India, said, “The SY80 PRO exemplifies SANY India’s dedication to delivering cutting-edge solutions that enhance productivity and operational efficiency. This roadshow was instrumental in showcasing our commitment to innovation while directly engaging with our valued customers, enabling them to witness the machine’s capabilities across varied terrains.”