JCBL Marrel Tippers (JML), a leading manufacturer of specialised trailers, POL tankers and bowsers, special application export-oriented containers and components for the US and European market has expanded its manufacturing facility in Oragadam, Chennai.

The expansion the company claims will increase its production capacity by 25 percent and will allow to diversify its product offering across sectors including defence, automotive, navy, railways, construction equipment, petroleum transportation, mining, power transmission, and earth moving heavy fabrication components.

The company expects this move will create 200 new jobs and opportunities for around 40 new suppliers in the geography.

In addition to the existing 100,000 square feet, JML has operationalised more than 60,000 square feet of facility space in the first phase of expansion. Another 50,000 square feet facility has been planned for its second phase expansion. For FY2026, JML expects to further expand its facility for new projects.

Rishi Aggarwal, MD, JCBL Group, said, “At JML, innovation and responsibility go hand in hand. This expansion is about more than scaling up production; it is about creating a greener, more sustainable future for the automotive industry. By integrating green technologies and adopting the lean manufacturing principle, we ensure that we can meet growing customer demand while minimising our environmental footprint.”

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.”

Volvo Trucks has introduced its latest Road Train solution in India, featuring the FM 420 model optimised for high-efficiency and long-haul transportation. 

The Volvo FM 420 comes equipped with a 13-litre engine delivering 420 horsepower and 2100 Nm of torque. The truck features advanced technology, including the I-Shift 12-speed automated manual transmission, which automatically selects optimal gearing for both power and fuel economy.

The new Road Train configuration offers approximately 50 per cent higher volume capacity compared to standard 18.75m tractor-trailer combinations. This increased capacity contributes to greater productivity through more cargo with a single tractor while reducing operational costs related to drivers and maintenance. Despite consuming marginally more fuel, the significantly higher load capacity results in better overall efficiency, with two Road Trains able to do the work of three conventional tractor-trailers, leading to reduced traffic and lower emissions.

In his speech, Minister Nitin Gadkari highlighted the critical challenge of high logistics costs facing the Indian economy. Speaking at an event showcasing new transport technology, Gadkari noted that while logistics costs in China stand at 8 per cent and in the USA and Europe at around 12 per cent, India's logistics costs remain stubbornly high at 16 per cent.

"This is why we are not very competitive in the international market," Gadkari explained. He announced that the National Competitiveness Authority (NCA) has set an ambitious target to reduce logistics costs to single digits—specifically 9 per cent—within two years.

The Minister expressed confidence that improved logistics efficiency would significantly boost India's export potential. "In the whole world today, there is a lot of demand, and I am 100 per cent confident that reducing logistics costs will help expand our exports," he stated.

Gadkari emphasised the importance of road quality while acknowledging that modern technology is helping address many transportation challenges. He stressed two key priorities: comprehensive driver training programmes for safer roads and the adoption of new vehicle technologies that can reduce costs.

The Minister noted that while current imports for certain vehicle categories stand at 22 lakh units, India is moving towards domestic manufacturing, which could potentially halve costs and make transportation more economical.

Looking towards the future, Gadkari expressed optimism about electric vehicles, stating: "While I don't know if it's immediately possible for all large vehicles, I am 100 per cent confident that electrification will happen in due course of time."

He praised Volvo for introducing new technology that will improve logistics efficiency, help increase exports, and reduce domestic logistics costs. Gadkari concluded by appealing to all stakeholders and customers to prioritise LNG, CNG, or electric vehicles, emphasising that while they might have higher upfront costs, their long-term value for the country and society would be greater.

Commenting on the launch, Vinod Aggarwal, MD & CEO, VE Commercial Vehicles Ltd., stated, "The Volvo FM 420 4X2 road train is another pioneering introduction by Volvo Trucks for the Indian market. Designed to enhance the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of road transport, it aligns perfectly with the ongoing transformation in Indian logistics and the government’s Gati Shakti master plan. Volvo Trucks India is grateful to Nitin Gadkariji, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, and ARAI for championing such advancements, and we remain committed to bringing more global innovations to India."

The solution is being operated by Delhivery Ltd.

Suraj Saharan, Co-founder and Chief People’s Officer at Delhivery, said, "We're excited to further strengthen our partnership with Volvo Trucks as we advance towards high-efficiency, sustainable long-haul logistics. From adopting tractor-trailers to LNG and electric trucks, Volvo has been a key enabler in our journey. Road trains are a natural next step, perfectly suited to our high-volume line-haul operations. With India's expressway network expanding rapidly, we look forward to scaling this innovation across more routes in the near future."

Emphasising Volvo Trucks’ unwavering commitment to safety and efficiency, B. Dinakar, EVP & Business Head, Volvo Trucks India, remarked, "Beyond productivity and cost-effectiveness, our focus is on the safe integration of this pioneering solution on Indian roads. I am grateful to the ministry for having certified this path-breaking solution. We will now work to implement this highly efficient and safe transport solution in other suitable sectors."

The new offering includes ultra-modern displays with a 12-inch digital Driver Information Display and a 9-inch touchscreen Secondary Information Display that can show 360-degree vision cameras and real-time driver coaching. Volvo has implemented an electronic stability control system that continuously monitors individual wheels on both truck and trailers, distributing brake pressure as needed for better vehicle stability and safety. For improved manoeuvrability in tight spaces, the Road Train comes with a self-steerable axle for the trailer.

An 810-litre fuel tank is designed for extended operations, allowing the trucks to run around the clock without frequent refuelling stops. The Volvo FM has earned the maximum 5-star Euro NCAP safety rating, featuring an air-suspended climate-controlled sleeper cabin with airbag protection for operator comfort and safety. The vehicle's pre-trip diagnostic system checks all vital parameters before departure and alerts drivers to potential issues via pop-up messages on the information display.

The Road Train concept was formally incorporated into regulations in 2020, allowing for vehicle combinations to operate at higher efficiency and capacity in the logistics industry. This development is part of India's ongoing efforts to modernise its transportation infrastructure and improve road train efficiency according to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

PMI Electro Mobility Solutions (PMI), one of India’s leading manufacturers of electric buses, has bagged a strategic investment of INR 2.5 billion through a preferential allotment of equity shares, led by a consortium comprising of Authum Investment & Infrastructure (Authum), Antique Securities and associated HNI family offices and Nikhil Kamath-backed Gruhas.

Incepted in 2017, PMI has a fleet of 2,000 e-buses already plying across 31 cities in India. Cumulatively these e-buses have clocked over 200 million green kilometres. Going forward, the company aims to expand its fleet to over 5,000 e-buses in the next 24 months. At present, PMI has an order book of more than 3,000 e-buses.

The new funding the company said will be used towards accelerating its strategic initiatives, including developing new solution, upgrading technology in production capabilities and scaling up operations.

Dr. Aanchal Jain, CEO, PMI Electro Mobility, said, “We extend a warm welcome to Authum, Antique Securities and associated HNI family offices and Gruhas as our strategic partners in the pursuit of revolutionising sustainable transportation in India. We are deeply honoured by this second round of private equity investment, which reinforces our commitment to advancing green mobility initiatives and accelerating the adoption of electric buses within the country’s public transport system. With robust government support, driven by progressive policies and visionary programs under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, this transition is gaining significant momentum. We take immense pride in contributing to this transformative journey and shaping the future of mobility”.

Amit Dangi, Director, Authum Investment & Infrastructure, said, "At Authum, we believe that sustainable financing is critical to the future of our economy. Our investment in PMI Electro Mobility is a testament to our commitment to supporting green mass mobility and the EV sector in India. The adoption of electric buses in the public transport system is still in its nascent stages, but we believe that it is on the cusp of rapid growth. We are excited to partner with PMI Electro Mobility as they drive the nation’s green mobility revolution. This partnership reflects our shared vision of driving positive environmental, social, and governance (ESG) outcomes, and we are looking forward to contributing to the transformation of India’s transportation landscape.”

Abhijeet Pai, Partner, Gruhas said, "At Gruhas, we believe the future is built on the foundations of innovation and sustainability. PMI Electro Mobility is redefining urban transportation in India through their commitment to electric mobility and environmental stewardship. Our investment reflects our shared vision of accelerating India’s transition towards a green and sustainable future, creating meaningful change for generations to come”