The Prawaas 5.0 exhibition, an event focused on the public transport industry, has opened at the Helipad Exhibition Centre in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. Scheduled from 9–11 July 2026, the exhibition is organised by the Bus & Car Operators Confederation of India (BOCI) to coincide with its 10th anniversary.

The event, held under the theme ‘Towards Safe, Smart & Sustainable Passenger Mobility,’ brings together manufacturers, technology providers, and operators. Exhibitors include companies such as Tata Motors, VE Commercial Vehicles, Daimler, JBM, Force Motors, EKA Mobility, Switch Mobility and Sun Mobility, among others.

The exhibition showcases a range of technologies and solutions across the transport value chain, including electric vehicles, charging infrastructure, fleet management systems and digital platforms. The event aims to serve as a platform for industry stakeholders, including fleet owners, state transport undertakings and policymakers, to discuss developments in the sector.

The inauguration was led by Miraben Patel, Mayor of Gandhinagar and Kaushik Jain, MLA of Dariapur. Over the three-day programme, the exhibition will host product launches, conferences and business meetings intended to facilitate collaboration within the passenger transport sector.

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Volvo Buses India, a business unit of VE Commercial Vehicles, has unveiled the Volvo 9600 Seater-Sleeper coach at the Prawaas 5.0 exhibition in Gandhinagar. It is designed to combine seating and sleeper configurations in a single platform for intercity, tourism and pilgrimage routes.

The 15-metre coach accommodates 51 passengers, featuring 24 upper-deck sleeper berths and 27 lower-deck seats equipped with calf support. It is powered by the Volvo VEDX8 engine and utilises an I-shift transmission. The interior includes an integrated kitchenette, an onboard toilet, mobile charging points and entertainment systems.

S S Gill, Chief Commercial Officer, VE Commercial Vehicles, said, “India's bus industry is evolving rapidly, with rising passenger expectations for premium travel experiences and operators seeking higher productivity and operational efficiency. At Volvo Buses India, we continue to shape the future of mobility by combining globally proven engineering with innovations that address evolving needs of the Indian market. The Volvo 9600 Seater-Sleeper expands our premium coach portfolio with a flexible solution that meets customer expectations for safety, comfort and luxury."

Suresh Chettiar, Executive Vice-President – Bus Division, VE Commercial Vehicles, added, "The Volvo 9600 platform has been widely appreciated for setting new standards in luxury, safety and passenger comfort. Building on that success, we are introducing the Volvo 9600 Seater-Sleeper to meet the growing demand for more flexible premium travel solutions. Featuring 24 upper sleeper berths and 27 premium lower-deck seats with calf support, the new coach enables operators to efficiently cater to both short- and long-distance routes while delivering an elevated travel experience for passengers."

The vehicle introduces safety features, including a 360-degree camera system and camera-based electronic rear-view mirrors. It also includes a tyre pressure monitoring system, a driver state monitoring system to detect fatigue and an alcohol interlock system. The coach is equipped with a telematics solution for real-time monitoring of vehicle location, performance and fuel consumption.

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SWITCH Mobility has introduced the SWITCH EiV9, a 9-metre electric bus, at the Prawaas 5.0 exhibition in Gandhinagar. The e-bus is designed for city transit, employee transportation, and school mobility.

It uses a Permanent Magnet Variable Reluctance (PMVR) motor that provides 213 kW of peak power. The Switch EiV9 features battery pack options, regenerative braking and dual-gun CCS2 charging. Safety features include a Fire Detection and Suppression System (FDSS) and disc brakes on the front and rear axles. The passenger cabin is equipped with air suspension, seating and USB charging points.

Ganesh Mani, CEO, Switch Mobility, said, "The launch of the all-new Switch EiV9 marks an important milestone in our growth journey as we strengthen our presence across key public and institutional mobility segments. We see strong momentum in this category, with the 9m electric bus market expected to grow at a CAGR of nearly 34% by FY30, driven by increasing demand. The EiV9 has been purpose-built to deliver what operators value most: higher efficiency, superior passenger comfort, advanced safety and lower operating costs. It represents our commitment to developing solutions that not only accelerate the adoption of electric mobility but also create tangible business value for our customers. At Switch Mobility, we believe the transition to cleaner transportation will be driven by practical choices that make both environmental and economic sense. This philosophy is reflected in our new #SwitchKaro campaign, which encourages fleet operators and businesses to make the switch to smarter, more sustainable mobility solutions."

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Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV), a wholly owned subsidiary of Daimler Truck AG, has unveiled the BharatBenz Torqshift 1926 AMT heavy duty bus chassis for intercity transportation. It has also launched the BharatBenz 917, an eight-metre fully built bus designed for India's growing compact-bus segment.

The Torqshift AMT tech comes to buses after doing duty in BharatBenz trucks. It is a globally proven AMT system that draws good amount of knowhow from Daimler’s Brazilian operations in terms of engineering and integration, according to sources aware of the development.

The AMT is coupled with the 260 hp engine of the 1926 bus chassis and automatically selects the optimum gear based on driving conditions, eliminating the need to continuously operate the clutch and gears. Aiding driving on congested urban roads and difficult terrains where manual shifting adds to driver strain over long shifts, the AMT increases safety. It is part of the powertrain that also includes a five-stage electromagnetic retarder.

The salient points of the AMT include intelligent eco roll for smarter coasting and reduced fuel consumption; multiple drive modes; one touch control, and clutch overload monitoring.

Speaking at the unveiling event, Andamuthu Ponnusamy, Head of Bus Business, Daimler India Commercial Vehicles said, "Fleet operators run on tight margins, and every hour a bus is off the road costs money. The BharatBenz Torqshift 1926 gives drivers an easier, more consistent ride while cutting downtime and lifecycle costs —this kind of improvement shows up directly for fleet operators margins."

Aimed at school, staff and institutional transportation requirements, the new eight-metre BharatBenz bus, called the 917, incorporates Daimler’s experience from catering to the above mentioned segments through its nine-metre long buses with an emphasis on safety, efficiency and comfort. Its features include Anti-lock Braking System (ABS); Electronic Vehicle Stability Control (EVSC); highest roll-over angle aiding best-in-class stability; seat belts for all passengers; largest emergency door in the segment; highly reliable fire alarm and fire protection system, optional PM2.5 air purification (Premium HEPA filter); retractable lower footstep for easy ingress; ergonomic and comfortable seating; powerful air-conditioning, anti-skid flooring and under-seat storage.

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MG Group has unveiled Starz, its coach platform, at Prawaas 5.0 in Gandhinagar, for which it claims it has already secured an initial order for 50 units.

The Starz platform is designed for applications including intercity travel, staff transportation and tourism. It will be available with diesel and alternate-fuel powertrain options. Pricing for the platform starts at approximately INR 3.9 million, with bookings opening in July 2026.

Anil Mohan Kamat, Chairman & Managing Director, MG Group, said, “India’s passenger transportation sector is undergoing a profound transformation, driven by higher expectations around safety, comfort, reliability and sustainability. Starz represents our response to these changing market dynamics. It embodies decades of manufacturing expertise, deep customer understanding and a relentless focus on innovation. More importantly, it reflects our commitment to creating mobility solutions that deliver long-term value for operators while elevating the travel experience for passengers.”

MG Group operates manufacturing facilities in Belagavi, Karnataka and Zaheerabad, Telangana. The Belagavi plant focuses on coach production, while the Zaheerabad facility supports the production of school buses, staff vehicles and other segments.

“Starz is not merely a new coach platform; it is a reflection of our long-term vision for passenger mobility. Our focus has always been to combine design excellence with engineering precision. Through Starz, we are delivering a product that is aesthetically refined, operationally efficient and built to meet the future requirements of the transportation industry,” concluded Kamat.

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