DK Shivakumar, Deputy Chief Minister, Government of Karnataka, inaugurated Prawaas 4.0, which is being held at the BIEC Exhibition Grounds, Bengaluru. The event organised by the Bus and Car Operators Confederation of India (BOCI) between 29 August and 31 August 2024 is a premier multimodal transport event where bus and cab manufacturers, dealers, and private cab and bus operator come together to showcase their offerings in terms of products and services. 

Commercial vehicle manufacturers make it to the event to showcase their new developments in terms of technologies, gadgets and vehicles. Supported by the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Union Ministry of Heavy Industries and Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (Government of India), the exhibition is supported by six local host associations including the Karnataka State Tourism Private Transport Owner’s Association, Karnataka State Travel Operator’s Association, Karnataka Tourist Motor Cab Maxi Cab Owners Welfare Association (KTOA), Bangalore Tourist Taxi Owners Association (BTTOA), Karnataka State Tourist Bus Operators Association and Karnataka State Bus Owners’ Federation. 

Encouraging the entire operators’ fraternity, Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways, Nitin Gadkari, mentioned, “I am honored to be part of Prawaas 4.0, a significant event organized by the Bus and Car Operators Confederation of India. I extend my gratitude to the organizers of this flagship show focused on the future of public transport, technologies, and services.”

“Transportation is crucial for economic growth, providing essential mobility for people and goods. Buses, in particular, play a vital role in India’s public transport system. However, with 93% of buses currently running on diesel, we must shift to greener fuel options like ethanol, methanol, biogas, CNG, LNG, electric, and green hydrogen. This transition is not only necessary for economic viability but also for reducing pollution and making our public transport system sustainable,” he added. 

In his inaugural speech, DK Shivakumar, said, "We acknowledge the vital role of the transport industry, serving 92 percent of the common man and providing significant employment opportunities. Your resilience, especially during challenging times like COVID-19, reflects your dedication to the nation. The Government of Karnataka is committed to supporting you; let's join hands, think, and work together to find solutions. Progress begins with unity, and success follows when we collaborate. Joining together is the beginning, thinking together is the progress and working together is success."

The inauguration ceremony took place in the presence of Ojing Tasing, Minister for Rural Development, Panchayat Raj, Co-operation and Transport, Government of Arunachal Pradesh; Yoonus Khan, Former Transport Minister, Government of Rajasthan; Girish Wagh, Executive Director, Tata Motors, and S. S. Gill, Chief Commercial Officer, VE Commercial Vehicles Ltd. 

To be visited by state’s ministers, union and state government authorities in addition to the representatives of various transport departments, the three-day event is hosting 5000 registered operators. Larger delegation from Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Odisha, Himachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and West Bengal will be visiting the show. A significant number of visitors will come from Madhya Pradesh. From the North Eastern region of the country, a special delegation of over 80 members will visit the show. 

With a diverse lineup of events, including BOCI Day, an extensive exhibition, a conference, an awards function, leadership talks and panel discussions featuring industry leaders from across the country, Prawaas 4.0 is witness to a new initiative, BOCI Yuwa. This initiative is aimed at engaging and empowering the younger generation in the respective sector to achieve greater success.

This year’s Conference with over 100 experts addressing Multimodal transportation, PPP model, School buses, Tourism, Electric vehicles (EVs), Insurance, and Car industry will be attended by over 1500 industry representatives. 

The auto companies as top exhibitors include Tata Motors, Volvo Eicher, RedBus, Veera, Abhibus, Prakash, Nippon Paint, JBM Group, Eka Mobility, Repos Energy, Ashok Leyland, Eberspächer, Bosch, Trans ACNR, Spheros Motherson, Futureautotech-Global Ventures, Audi, BMW Deutsche Motoren, Mercedes-Benz, Kia, Renault, Maruti Suzuki and others. 

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Tata Motors has introduced factory-fitted air conditioning systems across its entire truck range, marking a significant upgrade for drivers in India. The new AC systems are now available in all cabin models, including the SFC, LPT, Ultra, Signa and Prima, as well as cowl models for the first time.

The advanced air conditioning system features dual-mode operation with Eco and Heavy settings, ensuring optimal cooling while improving energy efficiency. Alongside this comfort upgrade, Tata Motors has also enhanced the power output of its heavy trucks, tippers and prime movers, now delivering up to 320 hp. These trucks also incorporate intelligent fuel-saving technology to maximise efficiency, making them suitable for a wide range of applications.

Additional improvements include duty-cycle-based fuel efficiency features such as engine idle auto-shut and a voice messaging system that provides real-time alerts. These upgrades reflect Tata Motors’ commitment to setting new benchmarks in performance, driveability and driver comfort.

By offering factory-fitted AC across its entire range, including cowl models, Tata Motors is reinforcing its leadership in India’s commercial vehicle market while prioritizing both operational efficiency and driver well-being.

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TVS Motor Company has announced a leadership transition, with Sudarshan Venu set to take over as Chairman and Managing Director effective 25 August 2025. The Board of Directors unanimously approved his appointment in recognition of his significant contributions to the company’s growth and strategic direction during his tenure as Director.

Current Chairman Sir Ralf Speth has informed the Board that he will not seek re-appointment as a Director at the upcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM). As a result, he will step down as Chairman at the conclusion of the AGM on 22 August 2025. However, to ensure continuity and leverage his expertise, the Board has appointed Speth as Chief Mentor for a three-year term, effective 23 August 2025.

Venu Srinivasan, Chairman Emeritus, TVS Motor Company, said, "I express my sincere gratitude to Ralf for his exceptional leadership as Chairman over the last three years. His contributions have been invaluable in guiding our strategic expansion into global markets and fostering innovation that has significantly strengthened our industry standing. We are grateful for his continued support as Chief Mentor for TVS Motor and in welcoming Sudarshan into his new role. I am confident that Sudarshan, who, in his capacity as Managing Director, has demonstrated tremendous growth for the business, will take the Company to even greater heights.”

Sir Ralf Speth said, "It has been an honour for me to steer TVS Motor Company as its Chairman over the last three years. I am grateful for the support, cooperation and personal friendships developed during my tenure. As I hand over the Chairmanship to Sudarshan, I am confident that under his leadership, the Company will continue its growth journey while championing core TVS values. Sudarshan’s dynamism and passion underscore his vision for the business, and I am confident that TVS is in safe, responsible hands. I wish Sudarshan and TVS Motor a bright future ahead.”                               

Sudarshan Venu said, "I am very thankful to the Board for giving me this singular opportunity. I am really honoured and excited for the future and look forward to their continued support. TVS has been built on our Chairman Emeritus’s commitment to customer centricity, quality and technology. As we look to the future, we have to build on these values while capitalising on new opportunities and reimagining for the future. I am most grateful to him for his continued guidance. Sir Ralf has been instrumental in challenging and mentoring us to expand more globally, onboard international talent, embrace newer processes and invest in future products and technology. I look forward to his continued mentorship as our Chief Mentor. Importantly, TVS has grown due to the passion and energy of the entire team. I look forward to the continued partnership in our shared future.”

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Environment Day On the occasion of World Environment Day, VE Commercial Vehicles (VECV) has reaffirmed its commitment to sustainability -aligned with India’s Net Zero commitments. It has measurable strides towards reducing its environmental footprint. In this direction, it recently launched the first ever electric truck, the Eicher Pro X that is capable of zero tailpipe emission operation in mid and last-mile delivery segments. 
With electric buses in operation since 2022 in various states across India, VECV has pushed sustainability-led innovation in its Bhopal plant, inaugurated in 2020. This facility is India’s first commercial vehicle manufacturing unit built on Industry 4.0 principles that seamlessly blends digital intelligence, operator ergonomics and eco-conscious design. 
The integration of AI-powered, real-time energy monitoring systems further optimises consumption and boosts operational efficiency. The Eicher Pro X is built in this plant, which also has an all-woman final assembly line. 
Speaking about the company’s commitment to Net Zero, Vinod Aggarwal, MD and CEO, VECV, said, “In line with India’s Net Zero vision defined by Honourable Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi ji, VECV is committed to delivering future-ready mobility solutions—from electric, LNG and CNG trucks and buses to emerging technologies like hydrogen and fuel cells—as the market matures. Our investments in smart manufacturing, renewable energy, and responsible resource management reflect a holistic approach to sustainable growth. As we celebrate #WorldEnvironmentDay, let's work together to be the change we want to see!”
Aiming to achieve 70 percent renewable energy usage by FY27 and become water positive by 2030. VECV is focussing on improving our gender diversity, energy efficiency, waste reduction, Zero Waste to landfill, plantation and emissions control by executing impactful projects contributing significantly to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 6, 7, 12, and 13. 
A significant milestone in this journey has been by developing a water body with around 52 million litre capacity in its facility at Bhopal. The water body is sufficient to run the plant for four months. Similarly on the energy front, the company has transitioned to 100 percent LED lighting across all its facilities, replacing close to 5000 conventional lighting fixtures. This move has led to a substantial reduction in energy intensity – from 3.85 GJ/MINR in FY23 to 3.74 GJ/MINR of revenue in FY24. 

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Scania Commercial Vehicles India Pvt. Ltd. has announced strategic service agreements with leading finance facilitation companies to improve financing accessibility for its customers in the mining, infrastructure and transport sectors. 
These arrangements integrate financial solutions into the vehicle purchase journey, making Scania’s high-performance vehicles more accessible, accelerating solutions sales growth and reinforcing the company’s customer-first approach in India’s commercial vehicle industry.
Some of the service agreements include financial solutions providers like True Blue Asset Services Pvt. Ltd. (Hyderabad), CorpCare Investech Private Limited (Mumbai) and Connect Residuary Private Limited (Mumbai). 
Each of them brings extensive experience and a robust network of financial institutions, enabling Scania customers to access a wider range of financing options tailored to their operational and business needs. The collaborations ensure hassle-free loan processing with streamlined documentation and quicker approvals, minimising downtime.
 Customers of Scania India stand to benefit from simplified loan procedures and faster approvals. They can now access custom-built financial products such as structured EMIs, leasing models and flexible repayment terms, making them suitable in view of the price and TCO of Scania’s off-road and heavy-duty commercial vehicles.
 “Our customers operate in some of the most demanding sectors of the economy. Access to fast, flexible financing should never be a barrier to progress,” said Silvio Munhoz, Managing Director, Scania Commercial Vehicles India Pvt. Ltd. “By building strong financial partnerships, we are not just enabling vehicle purchases but empowering businesses to scale with confidence, backed by solutions that support their long-term growth,” he explained. 
Scania India sells heavy duty mining tippers in India with a GVW of 40-tonnes and even above to carry out tasks such as the transportation of overburden from deep inside the mine to outside it. The heavy-duty tippers are made at a greenfield facility on the outskirts of Bengaluru. 
 

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