The Climate Pledge, co-founded by Amazon, has launched SUPEREV, a mobile application intended to accelerate commercial electric vehicle adoption in India. Developed alongside energy technology company Pulse Energy, the platform aggregates procurement, charging, financing, leasing and renewable energy sourcing into a single system.

The application follows a trial period with commercial operators and provides access to 20,000 charging points managed by over 85 operators, covering approximately 75 percent of the national charging network. Initial fleet partners on the platform include Blueline, Astranova and Athena, alongside vehicle, financing and leasing suppliers.

SUPEREV was created to support JOULE, a joint action project led by The Climate Pledge to aggregate demand across commercial transport sectors. The platform is also testing integration with the Ministry of Power's India Energy Stack, aiming to match charging demand directly with local renewable energy generators, including solar producers.

Karan Chugh, Director of Operations, Amazon India, said, “Accelerating EV adoption requires industry to move together. SUPEREV builds on Amazon and The Climate Pledge’s broader efforts to support electric mobility in India, including initiatives to expand charging infrastructure, advance electric freight and address barriers to commercial EV adoption. By bringing together vehicles, charging, financing, and renewable energy on a single app, SUPEREV takes this collaborative approach further creating a model that could be replicated across emerging markets facing similar challenges.”

The application provides drivers with charging network discovery, session initiation and payment options via the Unified Payments Interface (UPI). Fleet managers can use the system to contract charging services, request locations for charging station installation, arrange vehicle leases, apply for finance and procure renewable energy.

Akhil Jayaprakash, Co-Founder and CEO, Pulse Energy, said, “India has already shown the world what open, interoperable digital infrastructure can do with UPI. SUPEREV brings the same playbook to fleet electrification one app where a driver can charge across 85 networks, a fleet can finance and lease vehicles, and a farmers’ surplus solar can power a delivery van. We built this in collaboration with The Climate Pledge because scaling EV adoption requires better coordination across the different stakeholders and services that enable the transition.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Chennai-headquartered commercial vehicle manufacturer Ashok Leyland, the flagship company of the Hinduja Group, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Tamilnad Mercantile Bank to provide financing solutions for purchasers of its trucks and buses.

The agreement was executed by Neelakantan, Vice-President of Finance at Ashok Leyland and R. Ananda Ganesan, Executive Vice-President and Country Head of Credit at Tamilnad Mercantile Bank, in the presence of Salee S Nair, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Tamilnad Mercantile Bank.

Under the partnership, Tamilnad Mercantile Bank will extend end-to-end vehicle loans with structured repayment schedules across Ashok Leyland's range of light, medium and heavy commercial vehicles.

The partnership leverages Tamilnad Mercantile Bank's network of over 600 branches, with coverage across rural, semi-urban and commercial hubs in Tamil Nadu and South India. The initiative aims to increase credit accessibility for transport operators, fleet owners, small and medium enterprises and agricultural businesses purchasing commercial vehicles.

K M Balaji, Whole-Time Director and Chief Financial Officer, Ashok Leyland, said, "We are pleased to partner with Tamilnad Mercantile Bank (TMB) to provide accessible and convenient financing solutions to our customers. Financing plays an important role in enabling customers to invest in commercial vehicles and grow their businesses. This partnership will further strengthen our customer-centric approach by facilitating greater access to finance for customers purchasing Ashok Leyland trucks and buses. We look forward to a meaningful and long-term association with Tamilnad Mercantile Bank (TMB)."

Madhavi Deshmukh, Senior Vice-President and National Head of Sales for Medium and Heavy Commercial Vehicles, Ashok Leyland, said, "Our customers are at the heart of everything we do, and ensuring easy access to financing is an important part of supporting their business journeys. By joining hands with Tamilnad Mercantile Bank (TMB), we are extending another avenue for customers to access timely financing support. The partnership will help improve vehicle penetration across regions and ensure that customers can benefit from faster turnaround times and tailored financing offerings that suit their operational requirements."

Salee S. Nair, MD and CEO, Tamilnad Mercantile Bank, said, "We are delighted to partner with Ashok Leyland, a leading name in India’s commercial vehicle industry. Through this partnership, TMB will offer tailored financing solutions backed by seamless processes and customer-centric service. By leveraging the combined strengths of TMB's robust banking network and Ashok Leyland's extensive market presence, we aim to support business growth and drive greater mobility for transport operators and fleet owners."

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

India’s transportation sector recorded growth across vehicle categories in September 2026, driven by festive dispatches and core sector demand, according to the Shriram Mobility Bulletin.

Truck rentals remained stable across key trunk routes, remaining above levels recorded during the same period in the previous year.

The company finds that on a MoM basis, rentals on the Bengaluru–Mumbai–Bengaluru route grew by 1.3 percent, followed by the Delhi–Mumbai–Delhi route at 1.1 percent and the Delhi–Hyderabad–Delhi route at 1 percent.

The YoY perspective showed increases on all monitored routes, led by Delhi–Kolkata–Delhi at 13 percent, Bengaluru–Mumbai–Bengaluru at 11 percent and Kolkata–Guwahati–Kolkata at 10 percent.

Vehicle dispatches reflected sequential expansion in core industries. Construction equipment sales rose 31 percent MoM, earth-moving equipment increased 17 percent and goods carriers grew 13 percent. Passenger cars and two-wheelers each recorded a 4 percent sequential rise, whereas agricultural tractors fell 15 percent and commercial tractors declined 22 percent.

On a YoY basis, maxi cab sales grew 75 percent, three-wheeler goods vehicles rose 63 percent and goods carriers increased 40 percent. Agricultural trailers recorded a year-on-year decline of 27 percent.

Electric vehicle adoption increased across all monitored segments. Electric two-wheelers recorded a 13 percent MoM rise and a 111 percent YoY gain. Electric passenger cars grew 12 percent sequentially and 143 percent YoY, while electric three-wheelers increased 8 percent MoM and 113 percent YoY.

Sudarshan Holla, Joint MD & COO, Commercial Vehicles, Shriram Finance, said, "Firm truck rentals amid festive dispatches, strong two-wheeler demand, accelerating EV adoption, and healthy sales of heavy-duty trucks and construction equipment all point to resilient economic activity. Importantly, the strength seen in commercial vehicles and construction equipment indicates continued momentum in infrastructure and core sectors, reinforcing a positive outlook for the broader economy. Concerns of a potential interest rate increase during the festive season may be a sentiment dampener."

Interestingly, fuel consumption data showed a 2 percent sequential rise in diesel use alongside a 5 percent decline in petrol consumption. On a YoY basis, petrol and diesel consumption increased by 7.2 percent and 4.9 percent, respectively. FASTag collections fell 3.9 percent in volume and 1.2 percent in value MoM, though YoY collection value increased by 11 percent.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

FlixBus has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, on World Tourism Day to promote domestic destinations and advocate responsible tourism practices across its intercity transport network.

The agreement was signed in the presence of Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Tourism Minister, Bhuvnesh Kumar, Secretary and Suman Billa, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Tourism.

Under the agreement, FlixBus will integrate destination content and Incredible India branding across its digital platforms, while deploying co-branded coaches on select intercity routes.

FlixBus has launched ‘Trails of India,’ a dedicated microsite showcasing thematic travel circuits and regional destination highlights. The partnership also includes a national campaign titled ‘Har Safar, Swachh Safar,’ aimed at encouraging environmental awareness, community respect, and sustainable practices among intercity passengers in alignment with the government's Mission LiFE initiative. Additionally, FlixBus will participate in policy dialogues to share international insights on intercity mobility and tourism development.

Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said, "India’s tourism landscape is as diverse as the country itself, with countless destinations offering distinctive cultural, natural and local experiences beyond the well-known tourist circuits. Enabling travellers to access and explore these destinations more easily is key to unlocking their wider tourism potential. Our partnership with FlixBus brings together its technology-enabled platform and intercity network with the Ministry’s vision of taking India’s tourism story to a wider audience. As we connect travellers with a broader range of destinations, it is equally important to foster greater awareness of responsible travel, encouraging journeys that are enriching for visitors while contributing positively to the local communities and destinations they encounter. We believe this partnership can help open up new avenues for destination discovery while promoting a more conscious and inclusive travel experience."

Bhuvnesh Kumar said, "Mobility can play a transformative role in bringing destinations closer to travellers, particularly those that lie beyond the established tourism circuits. FlixBus’s technology-driven approach and growing intercity network offer an opportunity to reach travellers at scale and connect them with a wider range of destinations and tourism experiences across India. Through this partnership, we also have an opportunity to use the travel journey itself to build greater awareness around responsible tourism and encourage travellers to be more mindful of the places they visit and the communities they interact with. By bringing together destination discovery, accessibility and responsible travel, we hope to create greater value for travellers while supporting tourism opportunities across India."

Surya Khurana, Managing Director, FlixBus India, said, "At FlixBus, we believe mobility is a powerful catalyst for tourism, economic development and cultural exchange. We are proud to partner with the Ministry of Tourism in supporting the Incredible India campaign through a collaboration that goes beyond transportation to strengthen India's tourism ecosystem. By combining our technology platform, global expertise and growing domestic network, we aim to enhance the visibility of Indian destinations, encourage travel beyond traditional circuits and contribute to a more connected, responsible and resilient tourism landscape."

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Toyota Motor Corporation has launched the new Sora fuel cell route bus, developed in partnership with Isuzu Motors. The vehicle combines Isuzu's battery-electric full-flat route bus platform with Toyota's fuel cell system as part of joint efforts to achieve zero-emission public transportation.

The updated bus utilises a commercial-grade fuel cell stack and a large-capacity battery, reducing total hydrogen tank capacity by approximately 20 percent while increasing operating range to over 300km on a single fill. The fuel cell stack and hydrogen tanks are mounted on the roof structure to facilitate vehicle maintenance for bus operators.

The company claims that refuelling takes approximately 10 minutes, with support for high-speed filling standards designed to reduce refuelling times as compatible station infrastructure develops. As of September 2026, Toyota has supplied over 3,500 fuel cell systems across commercial buses, rail, and stationary generator applications globally.

Safety systems on the new Sora include an Emergency Driver Stop System linked with a Driver Status Monitor, which decelerates and stops the vehicle while engaging the parking brake if driver impairment is detected. A front blind spot monitor alerts the driver to pedestrians and cyclists ahead of the vehicle.

The passenger compartment features a step-free full-flat floor layout, optional one-touch wheelchair securement systems, and four seating configurations across urban and suburban variants. The bus can also function as an emergency power source during disaster events when connected to an external power supply unit.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!