India’s commercial vehicle (CV) industry is rapidly aligning with global standards, thanks to policy reforms, evolving customer expectations and a robust domestic ecosystem. Automakers and suppliers are making significant strides in cost competitiveness, safety innovations and integrating alternative energy solutions. As the sector continues to evolve, the need for collaboration and strategic discussions has never been more critical.

Recognising this imperative, Motoring Trends, a leading automotive magazine, hosted its inaugural Commercial Vehicles Conference on 21st November 2024, in Pune, India. Themed ‘Moving India Forward’, the event served as a platform for industry leaders, including OEMs, suppliers, technocrats, fleet operators and industry partners, to address challenges and identify opportunities shaping the future of the Indian CV landscape.

By bringing together stakeholders from across the value chain, the conference underscored the importance of collective action in driving innovation, enhancing safety standards, and adopting sustainable practices. As the CV industry transforms to meet global benchmarks, such forums are vital to ensuring India’s leadership in the sector while addressing its unique market dynamics and needs.

Mahindra Truck & Bus, Ashok Leyland and Apollo Tyres supported the event as sponsors, while Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) was the Associate partner, while Asian Trucker and Tyre Trends were the Media partners. The delegates at the event attended from a range of companies such as Tata Motors, MAN Trucks, Continental India, Tyresoles India, and Volvo Trucks among others.

The event kicked off with Dr Seshu Bhagavathula, Director, CityQ and an automotive industry veteran delivering the Keynote address, where he highlighted how urban cities around the world are working to decongest and decarbonise their streets. “This (decongestion and decarbonisation) requires a serious relook and focus on improving urban mobility as well as the role of alternative energy to support the transition,” Dr Bhagavathula.

Rashmi Urdhwareshe, Former Director, Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) shared her perspective on how the automotive industry has been focussing on not just introducing the latest technologies, but also co-developing solutions to meet the India-specific needs. She emphasised  the close cooperation between testing agencies, suppliers and OEMs that is accelerating the transition to the latest technologies.

Making commercial vehicles safer

The commercial vehicle population on Indian roads accounts for a small parc of the total vehicles, but ranks 3^rd when it comes to the vehicles involved in road accidents. In 2022, more than 460,000 accidents took place in India, which resulted in over 168,491 people losing their lives and over 443,366 people being injured.

The first panel discussion of the day focussed on one of the most important aspects pertaining to the CV industry – Safety. The panellists for the session included – Dr Venkat Srinivas, Head Of Business, Mahindra Truck & Bus; Rahul S. Mahajan, Deputy Director, The Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI); Sudeepth Puthumana, Head of Segment – ADAS, Autonomous Mobility, Continental Automotive India and Prashant Kakade, Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH).

The session, moderated by Bhushan Mhapralkar, Editor, Motoring Trends, touched upon various factors ranging from ADAS technology, and road designing to driver training and sensitisation.

SKP Amarnath, Group Head - R&D, Apollo Tyres gave a presentation on ‘Commercial Vehicle (Truck) Evolution In India And Impact On Tyres’. He dwelled into the key developments that have taken place in the CV industry and how tyres can play a key role in influencing vehicle safety and efficiency.

Vijay Shrinivas, Member, TREA - Tyre Retreading Education Association and CEO, Indag, gave a presentation on ‘Driving Sustainability and Circularity in Commercial Vehicle Industry’. He presented his thoughts on how treading not only helps save costs on tyre replacement but also enables higher circularity and thus helps reduce carbon emissions too.

Alternative energy & future of commercial vehicles

The role of alternative energy has been a key topic of discussion globally across vehicle segments. While there has been a focus on electrification in certain vehicle classes, the commercial vehicle segment will need to adopt a mixed approach depending on the application and use case.

The second panel discussion was on the topic of Alternative Energy and the Future of Commercial Vehicle. The panellists – Dr Bhagavathula ; Mahesh Babu, CEO, Switch Mobility; Anil Baliga, President, EKA Mobility; Boddapati Dinakar, Executive Vice-President, Sales & Marketing, Volvo Trucks, VECV; Shailesh Zinge, Director - Marketing, Growth Initiatives and Program Management, Engine Business, Cummins India and A Ramasubramanian, CTO, Blue Energy Motors presented their perspective on the alternative fuel segment.

The session was moderated by Nilesh Wadhwa, Assistant Editor, Motoring Trends.

The discussion focussed on how industry stakeholders were exploring various energy mix ranging from electric, LNG to future fuels such as hydrogen and fuel cells. The panellists agreed that globally too at present there was no single fuel that could completely overhaul the commercial vehicles segment. There was a need to not only focus on the vehicles but the necessary charging/refuelling ecosystem.

Transport ecosystem

The health of the CV industry is one of the key barometers to understand a country’s economic prosperity. While one can discuss the trends, policies and technologies, it is imperative that the views of the key stakeholder – fleet operators – are taken into account.

The third panel discussion of the day was on the topic of ‘Transport Ecosystem’. The panellists for the session were - Bal Malkit Singh, Chairman - the Core Committee, Former President, All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) Prasanna Patwardhan, President, Bus & Car Operators Confederation Of India (BOCI) and Sanjay Sasane, Principal, Institute of Driving Training and Research (IDTR).

The session, moderated by Sharad Matade, Executive Editor, Motoring Trends, had an indepth discussion on how fleet operators continued to face headwinds ranging from increases in operational expenses, driver shortages and road infrastructure among others. At the same time, the revenues had not kept up at the same pace. The panellists also presented their perspectives on the adoption of newer technologies and alternative fuels.

Atul Patil, Vice-President – Marketing, Pin 365 delivered the Vote of Thanks. 

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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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