Montra Electric eM&HCV, the electric commercial vehicle brand of the Murugappa Group, made a significant stride in India’s clean mobility transition today with the launch of its new 55-tonne electric truck – the Rhino 5538 EV 4x2 TT.

The unveiling took place at the company’s new eM&HCV manufacturing facility in Manesar, Haryana. The event also marked the inauguration of India's first all-women monitored, fully Automated Battery Plant and a new eM&HCV conveyor line equipped with Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs).

The new Rhino 5538 EV 4x2 TT is designed for long-haul freight and will be available in two variants: one with a standard fixed battery pack and another offering a battery-swapping option. The fixed-battery variant is priced at INR 11.5 million (ex-factory).

The most crucial announcement was the commercial launch of the 'Battery Swap' solution for the Rhino 5538 EV 4x2 TT and the existing 6x4 TT models. This technology aims to tackle one of the primary hurdles in commercial EV adoption: charging downtime. The company claims the swap process takes less than 6 minutes, a stark contrast to the over one hour required for conventional fast charging.

The battery swap station boasts a 7+1 configuration and advanced automation, built to handle over 160 swaps per day at peak utilisation. Its drive-through design allows tractor-trailers to move in and out seamlessly, enhancing operational efficiency for large fleets.

The new 55-tonne e-truck is powered by a 282 kWh LFP battery, delivering 380 HP and 2000 Nm torque, with a claimed range of nearly 198 km on a single charge under standard test conditions. The vehicle features a 6-speed AMT transmission and is backed by an extended 10-year/900,000 km AMC contract, including a 95 percent uptime guarantee.

M A M Arunachalam (Arun Murugappan), Chairman, Montra Electric (TI Clean Mobility), said, "At Montra Electric, we are building products and services that directly address the biggest hurdles in commercial EV adoption. With innovations like battery swapping for heavy-duty trucks and purpose-built platforms across segments, we are making clean mobility seamless, reliable and economically viable for fleet operators. This approach strengthens our vision of building a full-spectrum sustainable mobility ecosystem. Each step we take is designed to accelerate India’s shift towards cleaner logistics, ensuring that sustainable mobility becomes the norm rather than the exception."

The expansion builds on the success of Montra Electric’s first heavy-duty electric truck, the 6x4 TT, which has already clocked over 12 million kilometres in two years.

Jalaj Gupta, Managing Director, Montra Electric (TI Clean Mobility), said, “It is a milestone in Montra Electric’s journey of putting India firmly on the global map of sustainable mobility with the introduction of battery swapping technology. Launch of the Rhino 5538 EV 4x2 TT, in one of the largest industry segments, demonstrates our commitment to innovation, localisation and sustainability.”

“All the new additions to our manufacturing facility, automated battery plant, battery swap technology and the conveyor line integrated with Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs), will collectively unlock greater efficiency, reliability and localization. These advancements position India to take significant strides in driving innovative, technology-led, clean freight solutions. With the government’s thrust through initiatives like the PM E-DRIVE scheme, the adoption of e-trucks is set to accelerate rapidly,” added Gupta.

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Sonalika Tractors is celebrating its 30th anniversary, marking its transition from a local business in Hoshiarpur, Punjab, to a USD 1.1 billion global entity. The company is currently ranked as the third-largest tractor manufacturer in India and the fifth-largest globally.

Founded in 1996 by LD Mittal and his sons, Dr A. S. Mittal and Dr Deepak Mittal, the company began by manufacturing agricultural threshers before entering the tractor market. Sonalika adopted a strategy of customising machinery for specific soil and regional conditions rather than following industry standardisation. Since 2011, the company has utilised vertical integration, manufacturing its own engines, transmissions and sheet metal aggregates in-house.

Technical milestones of the brand include:

• Production Capacity: The Hoshiarpur facility was expanded in 2017 to become a fully integrated plant capable of producing one tractor every two minutes.
• Product Range: The company develops over 2,000 models ranging from 20 HP to 120 HP.
• Export Leadership: Sonalika has been India's leading tractor export brand for seven consecutive years, holding a 30 percent market share in exports. Every third tractor exported from India is manufactured at its Hoshiarpur facility.
• Global Presence: The brand operates in over 150 countries and owns six assembly plants internationally.

In 2022, Sonalika became the first Indian tractor manufacturer to publish vehicle prices on its website, followed by the publication of service costs in 2025.

Going forward, the company intends to increase its production capacity to 300,000 tractors per year. Future plans include the integration of digital platforms and connected diagnostics to manage farmer engagement and vehicle maintenance.

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Caterpillar has announced an expanded collaboration with Nvidia to develop AI-enhanced solutions for machines, manufacturing facilities and supply chains. The partnership focuses on applying physical AI to heavy equipment to assist with autonomy and site management.

The automaker is utilising the Nvidia Jetson Thor platform to enable real-time AI inference on its construction, mining and power equipment. This technology provides a foundation for autonomous operations and in-cab assistance. Machines will process sensor data via edge computing to provide safety alerts, productivity tips and real-time coaching to operators. In mining and construction environments, these systems are designed to process data points in milliseconds to navigate changing jobsite conditions.

At CES 2026, the company debuted the Cat AI Assistant, a tool embedded in digital and onboard products. Built using Nvidia Riva speech models, the assistant uses voice activation to help users manage equipment settings, perform troubleshooting and access maintenance information. The system draws from Caterpillar’s Helios unified data platform to provide context-specific recommendations to dealers and customers.

Caterpillar is also implementing an Nvidia AI Factory to automate manufacturing processes, including forecasting and production scheduling. The company is developing digital twins of its factories using Nvidia Omniverse and OpenUSD. These virtual models allow engineers to simulate and optimise factory layouts and production flows before physical implementation.

Joe Creed, CEO of Caterpillar, said, “As AI moves beyond data to reshape the physical world, it is unlocking new opportunities for innovation – from job sites and factory floors to offices. Caterpillar is committed to solving our customers’ toughest challenges by leading with advanced technology in our machines and every aspect of business. Our collaboration with Nvidia is accelerating that progress like never before.”

Jensen Huang, Founder and CEO, Nvidia, said, “For a century, Caterpillar has built the industrial machines that shaped the world. In the age of AI, Nvidia and Caterpillar are partnering across the full spectrum – from autonomous construction fleets to the AI data centres powering the next industrial revolution.”

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Pune-headquartered automotive major Force Motors has reported domestic wholesale growth of 49 percent in December 2025, reaching 2,952 units compared to 1,985 units in December 2024.

The automaker stated that for YTD FY2026 it sold 24,920 units, marking a 25 percent growth over the same period last year.

Quarterly performance showed momentum with Q3 domestic wholesales rising 47 percent to 8,427 units, up from 5,723 units in the corresponding quarter. The company attributed these figures to demand across its vehicle platforms, specifically the Traveller and Urbania ranges. According to the company, the tour and travel segment is showing signs of revival through fleet expansion and intercity movement, while school mobility remained steady.

Prasan Firodia, Managing Director, Force Motors, said, “December has been another strong month for us, and it is encouraging to see positive momentum across our core platforms. We are beginning to witness clear signs of revival in the tour and travel segment, supported by rising intercity movement and renewed fleet expansion. School mobility has also remained steady through the holiday period, reflecting growing institutional confidence as we head into the new year. The continued traction for Urbania across urban and emerging markets, along with the commanding market leadership of the Traveller range, underscores the trust customers place in Force Motors. Together, these trends point to a broad-based strengthening of demand and give us a solid foundation as we step into 2026”.

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Mumbai-headquartered Tata Motors has reported its domestic commercial vehicle (CV) sales of 107,918 units for Q3 FY2026, which marks an 18 percent YoY growth, as compared to 91,260 units sold last year.

For December 2025, domestic CV sales stood at 40,057 units, up 24 percent YoY, over 32,369 units sold a year ago.

On the other hand, the company sold 2,451 units in the international market, up 63 percent YoY.

Girish Wagh, MD & CEO, Tata Motors, said, “The sales momentum ignited by GST 2.0 and the festive surge in Q2FY26 continued into Q3FY26, driving growth and lifting overall sentiment of the commercial vehicles industry. Tata Motors registered double-digit sales growth in Q3FY26, powered by a strong rebound in construction and mining activity post the extended monsoon, along with sustained demand from core sectors and auto logistics. Continued strength in SCVs and Pickups further amplified performance, resulting in wholesales of 115,577 units, with 21 percent YoY  growth over Q3FY25 and 22 percent sequential growth over Q2FY26. Going forward, we expect demand to strengthen in Q4FY26 across most commercial vehicle segments. Key drivers in 2026 will include the government’s sustained infrastructure push and expansion in end-use sectors, both of which are expected to fuel positive momentum for the industry. With an optimised portfolio ensuring superior product availability, a decisive pricing strategy, and deeper customer engagement through intensified market activations, Tata Motors is well-poised to unlock demand across segments, paving the way for continued success.”

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