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
 

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Ashok Leyland, the Indian flagship of the Hinduja Group and the nation’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturer, has expanded its presence in Odisha with a new light commercial vehicle dealership in Rourkela. This facility represents the company’s seventh LCV outlet in the state, reinforcing a nationwide distribution network that now exceeds 945 customer touchpoints. The product range available includes BADA DOST, DOST, SAATHI, PARTNER and MiTR.

The newly appointed channel partner, SteelEx India, operates a 3S facility covering sales, service and spares at Brahmani Tarang in Vedvyas, Rourkela. Strategically positioned to serve local demand, the site features 12 quick service bays alongside modern infrastructure aimed at delivering a superior customer experience.

With this inauguration, Ashok Leyland continues to strengthen its light commercial vehicle footprint in eastern India, leveraging a robust service backbone to enhance vehicle uptime and owner support in the Rourkela region.

Viplav Shah, Head – LCV Business, Ashok Leyland, said, “Odisha has always been an important market for us, and we are excited to further strengthen our presence in this region. Our relationship with customers is built on trust, performance and shared growth. Our products are known for their superior mileage, reliability and performance with a robust network and an industry-leading service retention; we take pride in the continued confidence our customers place in us. The opening of this new dealership marks another step in our commitment to delivering world-class products and unmatched service.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Pune-headquartered automotive major Force Motors has announced its strongest-ever annual financial performance in FY2026, driven by significant growth in the domestic market and improved operating leverage.

The company reported a 13 percent YoY growth in revenue at INR 91.67 billion, EBITDA at INR 15.93 billion, up 39 percent YoY and a net profit of INR 12.11 billion, up 51 percent YoY.

It attributed the growth to broad-based expansion across primary vehicle platforms, maintaining its dominant position in the van segment while doubling its presence in the premium mobility sector. Force Motors continues to remain a zero-debt company, highlighting a disciplined approach to capital allocation and financial prudence.

The company reported a 20 percent growth in overall domestic wholesales compared to the previous fiscal year. Performance across key platforms includes the Traveller maintaining a consistent 70 percent market share in the core van segment. Urbania recording over 100 percent growth, established as a leader in premium shared mobility.

Trax volume grew by over 70 percent, successfully expanding the company's reach into rural and semi-urban markets. While, demand for specialised vehicles strengthened through institutional and defence portfolio, fulfilling key orders for specialised applications for the Indian Armed Forces.

The record profitability is attributed to an improved quality of earnings and a more balanced product mix. Higher volumes allowed for better absorption of fixed costs, while a focus on higher-margin premium segments, such as the Urbania, bolstered the bottom line.

Prasan Firodia, Managing Director, Force Motors, said, “We have been a segment creator since our inception, and we are now pioneering and leading the premium shared mobility segment with Urbania’s strong presence, while platforms like Traveller and Trax continue to deliver scale and reach across markets. At the same time, our engagement with institutional and defence customers reflects the depth of our engineering capabilities and our ability to deliver in demanding and ever‑evolving environments.”

“FY2025–26 marks an unprecedented year in our journey, where consistent execution across quarters has translated into our strongest-ever financial performance. This has been driven by a clear focus on the segments where we believe we can lead and also create new segments, supported by improved operating leverage and a more balanced product mix. As we look ahead, we remain focused on building the business with consistency and discipline. Staying closely aligned to customer needs, while continuing to strengthen our product, technology and innovation capabilities, will remain central to how we approach the next phase of growth,” he added.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Euler Motors has announced a strategic partnership with Annapurna Finance to expand financing options for electric commercial vehicles (EVs), specifically targeting semi-urban and rural markets in India.

Annapurna Finance joins Euler Motors’ network of over 15 financing partners, offering customised loan solutions for the manufacturer's range of electric three-wheelers and four-wheelers.

The collaboration focuses on fleet operators, small businesses and last-mile entrepreneurs who have traditionally remained outside the mainstream lending ecosystem.

The partnership aims to leverage the unique strengths of both organisations to bridge the credit gap in the commercial EV sector. They will focus on micro-entrepreneurs and MSMEs in underserved regions where formal credit access is often limited. By using Euler Motors’ data-driven insights into vehicle performance and battery health, Annapurna Finance can perform more accurate risk assessments on EV assets.

The initiative aims to improve the unit economics for small operators by providing affordable financing that aligns with the higher uptime and lower operating costs of electric vehicles.

Rohit Gattani, VP of Growth & Vehicle Financing, Euler Motors, said, “Financing remains one of the most critical levers for EV adoption in the commercial segment, especially in markets where access to formal credit is limited. As demand scales, the real unlock lies in reaching operators who have the intent to transition but remain outside traditional lending ecosystems. Annapurna Finance brings a strong, on-ground understanding of these customer segments, particularly in semi-urban and rural markets, which will allow us to extend EV access far more meaningfully. This partnership is about going beyond availability of credit to enabling real participation in the EV economy, with stronger unit economics and more predictable earnings for small businesses and fleet operators.”

Asish Mishra, Head of Product, Annapurna Finance, said, “At Annapurna Finance, our focus has always been on expanding access to credit for segments that are often overlooked by mainstream financial systems. With EVs emerging as a viable pathway for income generation, this partnership comes at a critical time. Euler Motors’ strong product engineering and real-world performance focus give us confidence in the asset itself, which is fundamental to enabling sustainable financing. For our customers, this translates into higher vehicle uptime, better operating efficiency, and ultimately more stable and improved earnings over the long term. We see this as a meaningful step towards building both financial inclusion and clean mobility at scale.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Tarmac, a CRH company and one of United Kingdom’s leading sustainable building materials and construction solutions business, has reported a significant decrease in road incidents and operational costs following the first 12 months of a safety technology partnership with Motormax and Geotab.

The company operates a diverse fleet of over 2,000 vehicles including trucks, vans and plant equipment, deployed a multi-camera system integrated with the MyGeotab platform.

This ‘single pane of glass’ view allows transport teams to access telematics data and high-quality video footage simultaneously, providing evidence for incident reporting and targeted driver training.

The implementation has delivered measurable improvements across safety and financial metrics including 30 percent decrease in driver-fault collisions and a 50 percent reduction in ‘pulling out’ incidents. The proportion of high and medium-risk drivers fell from 40 percent to 6.5 percent.

Tarmac claims it achieved a 30 percent YoY saving in collision repair costs, while fuel economy improved by 25 percent across the van fleet due to better driving behaviours. Speeding incidents per 1,000 miles also halved since May 2023.

The technology has streamlined collaboration with Tarmac’s insurer, AXA. By training the insurance claims team to use the system, the company has accelerated claims resolution and improved liability decisions. Based on these results, the insurer has provided a bursary that Tarmac is reinvesting into multi-camera technology for all new vehicles.

Jonathan Meddings, Fleet Risk & Compliance Manager, Tarmac, said, “The integration allows managers to view telematics data and high-quality camera footage in a single platform, accelerating decision-making and streamlining fleet operations. As a result, we have already seen significant cost savings.”

Beyond safety, the platform supports wider business functions including HMRC Compliance – accurate reporting of personal mileage usage. Improved mileage capture for lease vehicles and the optimisation of vehicle types to ensure higher-cost 4x4s are only used when necessary.

Tarmac uses the data to reward safe driving through its ‘100 Club’ initiative, which recognises drivers who maintain perfect scores over 300 miles in a month.

The integration of fleet safety data into monthly management packs has elevated road safety from a compliance task to a core operational discipline with clear accountability.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!