Outlining the journey of M&HCVs for the last 12 years and how they have reflected IIP growth in India, Jayesh Shelar, Head – Product Management Group, Mahindra Truck & Bus Division, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd, mentioned, “The last decade was one of discovery and presented key challenges like the 3 emission cycles. The BS IV to BS VI emission norm transition was the fastest in the world.” In his presentation as part of the webinar organized by S&P Global Mobility- formerly IHS Markit Automotive- (as part of their 2022 Automotive Solutions Webinar Series) under the theme ‘Indian MHCV Outlook – Is the Future Truly Electrifying’, Shelar expressed that the industry recovered quickly at a GACR of almost 14.8 percent – from the slowdown of FY2014 to the high of FY2019 – by displaying resilience and strong fundamentals. He spoke about the challenge posed by railways starting from 2010. “The rising fuel prices, a shift towards eco-friendly logistics, and an increase in technology have pushed the vehicle cost up,” he added.  

Describing the journey of M&HCV segments as a decade of discovery to a decade of disruption, Shelar said, “There were limited brands in India in 2010. By 2030 there will be multiple brand options available.” Drawing attention to a change in the customer profile, he mentioned, “The entry and exit barriers have come down and will ease further. From being acquisition and resale value sensitive in 2010, customers are now looking at Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). They are ready to experiment with new technologies and brands.” Pointing at a shift to higher capacity engines, Shelar said, “A movement towards battery-operated vehicles is also taking place. Fuel cell technologies are catching up and power requirements are ignificantly going up.” Of the opinion that average speeds have gone up and regulations and infrastructure have improved, he informed, “Trucks are traveling up to 450 km a day as compared to 275 km in 2010. By 2030, they will travel up to 700 km per day.”  

Highlighting rising affinity for technologies like telematics, Shelar mentioned, “A shift from transport to logistics model is taking place.” He drew attention to the TCO of an electric vehicle (despite high acquisition cost) being lower in comparison to the running cost of a diesel and natural gas vehicle over five years. “Fuel cost in diesel and natural gas vehicles is about 55 to 60 percent whereas, in case of the electrical vehicle, it is 14 percent,” quipped Shelar. Underlining the government’s pledge to be net zero by 2030 through measures like 500 gigawatts of non-fossil fuel electricity generation and an increase in natural gas production among others, he said, “Electric vehicle technology is relevant event though issues like high initial acquisition price and charging time will take some time to resolve.”

Drawing attention to key drivers like the FAME policy, stringent emission norms, higher compliance cost, and new business models against challenges like the high initial acquisition cost of EVs, range anxiety, developing charging infrastructure, and battery performance, Shelar said that fuel cell is the long-term technology for M&HCVs. In his presentation, Paritosh Gupta, Analyst – M&HCV Forecasting, S&P Global Mobility, averred that the global M&HCV industry headwinds include the Russia-Ukraine conflict and supply chain constraints. “The forecast for 2022 alone is a drop of about 150,000 units, which is 4.4 percent of the entire market size,” he added. Informing that major degradation has come from Europe and North America, Gupta mentioned, “In 2022, the European and North American markets have dropped by 86,000 units and 38,000 units respectively. A lot of volume from central and eastern Europe has been lost and the possibility of sales moving up smartly in the next three years is less.”  

Stating that South Asia, Middle East, and African regions are showing optimism, he explained, “The South Asian market is primarily driven by the performance of the Indian market over the last two quarters. The Chinese market was the only one in 2020 among the key regional M&HCV markets to report positive growth numbers.” Underlining China’s slowing economic growth due to factors like a highly stringent pandemic policy, ithdrawal of pandemic state support, and a shift from road to rail for bulk materials, Gupta expressed, “A 26 percent drop in 2022 and another 1.6 percent drop in 2023 is expected before recovery starts in 2024,” Announcing that the North American forecast is largely positive even though the potential for growth remains limited, he stressed on rising inflation, increasing interest rates, and manufacturing constraints. “We expect fleets to add capacity with the supply chain situation improving in 2023,” quipped Gupta.  

Describing that the Western European market is estimated to remain flattish while the Central and Eastern European market is estimated to drop by 28 percent, Gupta pointed at the Russia-Ukraine conflict and supply constraints as the reasons. Western European markets are facing challenges like raw material and truck price increase whereas the Eastern-Central European markets are facing sanctions, stoppage of production by foreign OEMs, and the possibility of Chinese OEMs setting up shops in Russia, he said. Stressing that South Asia was the fastest growing market in 2021, led by India outgrew expectations, Gupta revealed that India accounts for around 60 percent of the M&HCV sales in the region. “In 2022, the South Asian M&HCV market should grow by 7.2 percent and the figures for 2023 and 2024 will be healthy double-digit ones,” he explained. Of the opinion that the factors driving the South Asian M&HCV market include economic and industrial growth, public sector construction spending, the roll-out of new emission norms in Indonesia, comprehensive economic partnership across the region, and an increase in travel, Gupta quipped, “Struggling with chip and other raw material shortage, the Japanese and South Korean markets are expected to be largely flat.” 

Highlighting rising inflation, high import bills, and weaker global demand as Indian M&HCV headwinds, Gupta mentioned, “The outlook is largely positive though not to the extent it was two years back.” “The construction industry spending will command a CAGR of 10.1 percent between 2021 and 2026 and provide a solid impetus for M&HCV growth,” he added. Stating that while the infrastructure segment’s growth will fuel the growth of heavy-duty trucks, Gupta quipped, “The upward growth trajectory of the e-commerce industry towards becoming the second largest by 2034 is indicative of the growth in demand for medium-duty trucks.” Explaining that the rise of e-commerce and medium-duty trucks over the last five years is a parallel journey, he averred, “Expected to grow at a CAGR of 21 percent over the next 8 years as per IBEF, the e-commerce industry will give a huge boost to medium-duty trucks in India in the future.” “The government has also introduced several policies which are aimed at providing growth to the automotive industry,” he added.  

Pointing at the scrappage policy, production-linked incentive scheme, and electrification initiatives, Gupta said, “We see a big tranche of about 50,000 e-buses to come over the next five years” Of the opinion that the monopoly of Tata Motors and Ashok Leyland will continue over the next decade, he averred, “Expect the industry volumes to peak in 2025. Tata Motors will almost touch 200,000 units in 2026.” “In terms of segmental sales, heavy trucks are the largest shareholder in the (M&HCV) market and are expected to clock 275,000 units in 2026 growing at a rate of 7.8 percent,” quipped Gupta. Explaining that MCVs rise will be linked to the rise of e-commerce industry growth and will clock almost 97,000 units by 2026 at a rate of 7.3 percent, Gupta said, “Worst hit by the pandemic, the M&HCV bus segment is expected to pick up in 2022 and reach 54,000 units by 2026.” “The production trend of M&HCVs will be similar to the demand trend in the market. Some buffer will be provided by exports as part of the PLI scheme,” he added.  

On the topic of M&HCV propulsion trends, Manat Bali, Research Analyst, S&P Global Mobility, mentioned, “Electrification is happening at a much higher pace in buses than trucks. About 99 percent of the M&HCV truck market is currently belonging to IC engines comprising gas and diesel fuels. About 75 percent of the bus market is driven by IC engines running on gas and diesel. With electrification initiatives, the market share of e-buses is expected to reach 30 percent in the long run. It will reach about 9.8 percent by 2029. Natural gas market share will increase up to 12 percent by 2029, triggered mainly by increased availability. It will achieve better traction in medium-duty trucks rather than in heavy-duty ones.”

Of the opinion that diesel fuel will see a de-growth of about 9 percent by 2029 in the Indian CV market at the cost of gas and electrification, Bali averred, “The only electrification taking place in the M&HCV segments is in the bus space as of now. In the long-run, the CNG market share will continue to trail that of the e-bus market share.” “Tata Motors will continue to lead the e-bus market followed by BYD and others in the long run,” he added. About the global e-bus market in the M&HCV category, Bali mentioned, “China is a highly ature and dominant player in e-buses. Other regions are moving up with South Asia having a CAGR growth of 46 percent from 2020 to 2029. India will dominate the e-bus market in South Asia by contributing to over 90 percent of the share.” “The factors driving electrification in India include FAME, state schemes, COP26 target, PLI schemes, and taxation,” he added. “The hindrances in electrification include regulatory drawbacks, infrastructure issues, cost concerns, and end-user dilemmas,” Bali concluded.  

Recorded webinar session Available on Demand, please click the link below to watch the session:

https://event.on24.com/wcc/r/3673674/7F886C4E4B36403DD80C623612674EFF?partnerref=motoringtrends
 

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IVECO BUS has completed the delivery of 53 CROSSWAY Hybrid buses to Interbus Group, a Spanish passenger transport operator. The buses are destined for interurban routes in the Madrid and Andalusia regions, following the award of the ECO label for these transport corridors.

The majority of the new fleet will be integrated into the Madrid Regional Transport Consortium (CRTM) to support mobility within the capital's metropolitan area. The remaining units will be deployed in Andalusia to operate regional interurban services.

The delivery is part of a broader infrastructure renewal programme aimed at improving the environmental footprint and operational efficiency of Spanish public transport.

The CROSSWAY Hybrid model utilises a 48V mild-hybrid system. This architecture recovers energy during braking and provides motor assistance during start-up and acceleration. The system does not require external charging infrastructure, allowing for service continuity on long-distance routes.

Giorgio Zino, Head of IVECO BUS Commercial Operations in Europe, said, “The renewed confidence shown by Interbus demonstrates the strength of our partnership and our ability to provide concrete support to operators throughout their transition. In our sector, sustainability is truly meaningful when it delivers tangible benefits for operators while helping to improve air quality for citizens. This delivery confirms that IVECO BUS hybrid technology now represents a practical and effective solution to connect regions and ensure high-performance daily mobility”.

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Tata Motors, one of the leading commercial vehicle manufacturers, has expanded its electric-CV portfolio with the launch of the Intra EV Pickup at prices starting INR 1.19 million (ex-showroom). The EV is positioned as a high-payload solution for urban and regional cargo requirements.

The Intra EV is engineered for demanding duty cycles across sectors such as e-commerce, FMCG and dairy distribution. It features a purpose-built electric architecture designed to handle diverse Indian weather and terrain conditions.

The e-SCV has 1,750 kg payload capacity with load body options extending to 10.2-feet. It uses a 72kW electric motor generating 230 Nm of peak torque and 23 percent gradeability. It features an IP67-rated 28.2 kWh battery providing a certified range of 211 km on a single charge. The Intra EV supports CCS2 fast charging, enabling a 10-80 percent charge in approximately 55 minutes.

The EV integrates an Electronic Braking System (EBS) for stability and a three-level regenerative braking system to enhance energy recovery. Fleet management is supported via the Tata Motors Fleet Edge platform, which provides real-time tracking, vehicle health monitoring and predictive maintenance data.

The cabin is crash-tested and features Electric Power Assisted Steering (EPAS) and a walk-through design to reduce driver fatigue during extended operating hours.

Tata Motors provides a 6-year or 200,000 km high-voltage battery warranty. It is supported by a network of over 25,000 charging points and 200 dedicated EV service centres across India. The launch follows the deployment of the company's electric buses and the recent introduction of the Ace EV 1000 and Ace Pro EV mini-trucks.

Girish Wagh, Managing Director & CEO, Tata Motors, said, “Our commitment to green mobility is focused on delivering sustainable solutions that are proven at scale and relevant to India’s diverse commercial mobility needs. Building on the strong market response to our electric mini‑trucks and the successful deployment of our electric buses serving commuters across 10 cities nationwide, we rolled out our next‑generation electric trucks earlier this year and are now advancing further with the launch of electric pickups. Through this progression, Tata Motors has established the country’s most comprehensive electric commercial vehicle portfolio across segments. This momentum is being enabled by progressive Government policies and strong collaboration across customers, partners and suppliers, accelerating India’s transition to cleaner and more sustainable mobility.”

Pinaki Haldar, Vice-President & Business Head – SCVPU, Tata Motors, said, “The all-new Intra EV Pickup has been developed with a clear focus on earning capability and everyday usability, combining one of the highest payload capacities in its segment with strong performance, long range and high uptime, all at a segment-beating price. Its comfortable, crash‑tested cabin, car‑like driving dynamics and thoughtfully integrated features are designed to reduce fatigue and improve productivity across long operating hours. As adoption of cleaner technologies accelerates, Tata Motors remains committed to raising industry benchmarks and making electric cargo mobility a practical, confident choice for businesses.”

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Pune-headquartered automotive major Force Motors has reported its domestic wholesales of 36,536 units for FY2026, which marks a 20 percent increase compared to the 30,531 units sold in the previous fiscal year.

For the month of March 2026, the company registered a 14 percent growth with 4,126 units sold.

The company stated it witnessed growth across its product portfolio, supported by demand in passenger mobility, institutional and defence sectors.

Force Traveller continued to maintain a 70 percent market share in the light commercial vehicle segment, with applications in school and ambulance services.

The company’s premium passenger mobility platform Urbania recorded volume growth exceeding 100 percent, while Trax platform saw 70 percent growth with traction from Tier-2 and Tier-3 markets.

Force Motors’ Special Vehicle Division delivered its first batch of 600 Gurkha units to the Indian Army.

At present, Force Motors operates five manufacturing units and an R&D centre in Pune. The company produces and tests engines for all Mercedes-Benz and BMW cars and SUVs manufactured in India.

Additionally, Force MTU Power Systems, a joint venture with Rolls-Royce Power Systems AG, produces 10 and 12-cylinder engines for global power generation and rail applications. Overall exports for the company's four-wheelers grew by 13 percent during the year.

Prasan Firodia, Managing Director, Force Motors, said, “Our performance this year reflects the way we are steadily shaping the business – being more focused, disciplined and aligned to the segments where we know and believe that we can lead. The Force Urbania is setting new benchmarks in premium shared mobility, while the Trax platform is helping improve connectivity across the country. Our Traveller range continues to anchor our presence in the segment, with its market leadership reflecting the deep trust customers place in the brand. At the same time, our continued work with the defence sector reflects the strength of our engineering and our ability to deliver in demanding conditions. We also saw steady growth in our export business, with overall exports growing by 13 percent (4-wheelers only). Given our strong exports’ presence in Gulf markets, we remain mindful of the evolving geopolitical situation and are closely monitoring the developments. As we look ahead, staying close to our customers and paying close attention to their needs & shaping our products and solutions accordingly—will remain a key focus for us. We will continue to build on our strengths with consistency, while staying responsive to evolving market needs”.

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ZF Commercial Vehicle Control Systems India has been awarded a business nomination by a mobility OEM to develop and supply an Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) suite for an upcoming bus platform. The project encompasses system supply, vehicle integration, and validation, with the start of production targeted for Q1 FY2027.

The awarded solution centres on ZF’s OnGuardMAX platform, which utilises multi-sensor fusion including a front camera, mid-range radar and an image processing module. This system is integrated with Short-Range Radar (SRR), an Electronic Braking System (EBS) and Electronic Stability Control (ESC) to provide comprehensive active safety.

The platform enables Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Lane Departure Warning (LDW) and Driver Drowsiness and Attention Warning (DDAW). It also features SRR units address blind spots to protect vulnerable road users, supporting Blind Spot Information Systems (BSIS) and Moving Off Information Systems (MOIS). The integration of EBS and ESC provides faster braking responses, shorter stopping distances and improved rollover resistance for electric vehicle platforms.

The ADAS suite is engineered to meet GSR 184(E) requirements. The technology has undergone 450,000 kilometres of testing on Indian roads and has received ARAI certification. The architecture is scalable to SAE Level 2 and is designed to support future automation requirements.

Paramjit Singh Chadha, Managing Director, ZF Commercial Vehicle Control Systems India, said, “ADAS was and remains a strategic priority for ZF Commercial Vehicles in India. With a legacy of deep customer understanding and proven technological competence that make commercial transportation safer, smarter and more efficient, we also offer ADAS solutions that fit the specific driving conditions in India and at the same time have the backing of our global expertise.”

Akash Passey, Non-Executive Chairman, ZF Commercial Vehicle Control Systems India, added, “We see a rapid acceleration in India in the adoption of advanced driver assistance technologies that enhance road safety and operational efficiency. ZF Commercial Vehicles Division offers made-to-fit market solutions that address the specific needs of leading and new-age e-mobility OEMs with the strength of ZF’s global engineering expertise and combining it with deep regional insights.”

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