Volvo and Eicher Showcase Future-Ready Mobility Solutions At Auto Expo 2023

BMW X1 Plays The Big Game

VE Commercial Vehicles (A Volvo Group and Eicher Motors joint venture) unveiled a range of future-ready mobility solutions from the Eicher and Volvo brands, at Auto Expo 2023 today. Under the banner of VECV’s vision of smart sustainability, the company showcased its expanded EV and natural gas portfolio. Also on show are a range of alternative fuel prototypes, building on VECV’s leadership in driving modernisation in bus and truck transport in India and the developing world, the company claims.

The Eicher brand unveiled India's longest 13.5m electric intercity coach and the Eicher Pro 2049 electric 4.9 T GVW truck. Built on Eicher’s proven EV platform, the Eicher Pro 2049 electric 4.9 T GVW truck is specifically developed for economical and clean last-mile applications, VE Commercial Vehicles states. Also on display is the Eicher Pro 8055 LNG/CNG truck, designed specifically for meeting needs for clean transport in long-haul applications. While managing longer range on LNG, the Eicher Pro 8055 is capable of transitioning to use CNG fuel by the simple turn of a switch, well suited to leverage the rapidly expanding CNG distributor network.

Volvo Trucks showcased the Volvo FM LNG 420 4X2 Tractor, which is undergoing extensive trials with leading e-commerce operators in long-haul hub-to-hub operations. The Volvo LNG solution is based on the unique diesel-cycle technology that provides 15-20 percent improvement in fuel economy over petrol or Otto-cycle technologies, states the company.

Volvo Buses presented its state-of-the-art 15m Volvo 9600 luxury coach. Built on the Volvo 9600 platform, the coach offers first-class luxury seating for an exclusive travel experience, as per the bus manufacturing company.

VECV also showcased prototype Eicher Hydrogen Fuel Cell Truck and Hydrogen ICE technology engine at the Auto Expo 2023, claims the company. These next-gen technologies are aligned with the Government of India’s Green Hydrogen Mission and offer a promising path to zero tail-pipe emissions.

According to VE Commercial Vehicles, all Eicher and Volvo trucks and buses are supported with a wide variety of support solutions. Enabled by the industry-first 100 percent connected fleet and state-of-the-art uptime centre, these app-based smart support solutions ensure higher productivity and efficiency or trucks, buses, drivers and fleet managers, further reducing their collective carbon footprint.

Speaking on the occasion, Vinod Aggarwal, Managing Director and CEO, VECV, said, “As a successful Volvo Group and Eicher Motors JV, VECV was the first to build and introduce modern BS VI technology in India. Eicher and Volvo trucks and buses are backed by our 100 percent connected ecosystem, which helps deliver on our promise of productivity and uptime for our customers. The electrification of the CV industry has already started with buses, and we believe that a range of alternative fuels, including LNG, ethanol and hydrogen, are essential to lead decarbonisation of the CV industry. Under the banner of smart sustainability, VECV is well poised to harness this opportunity and play a transformative role for the Indian CV industry.”

TVS VMS Partners Montra Electric To Deploy E-Trucks For Freight Operations

TVS VMS

TVS Vehicle Mobility Solutions (TVS VMS) has entered into electric commercial trucking through a partnership with Montra Electric, deploying a fleet of Montra Electric Rhino heavy commercial vehicles into freight operations.

As part of the initial phase, TVS VMS flagged off 57 Montra Electric Rhino 5538 EV 4x2 TT trucks in Manesar. The electric heavy commercial vehicles will operate on a primary freight route covering a 190-kilometre distance in Chhattisgarh, supported by three charging stations along the corridor. The partners are targeting to expand the deployment to more than 300 electric trucks in FY2026–27.

Jalaj Gupta, Managing Director, Montra Electric, said, "For a partner like TVS VMS, with seven decades of experience to put our electric trucks into live freight operations is exactly the validation India's logistics industry needed. This is proof that our technology is ready for commercial scale. It also reflects the depth of what we've built at Montra Electric with products engineered to address the specific operational needs of this market. Our team worked with TVS VMS to plan the operations, set up charging around their exact routes, and our telematics platform keeps optimising performance as the fleet runs. That's the difference between a truck that works on paper and a fleet that works on the road."

Navneet Sethi, CEO, Montra Electric (eM&HCV Division), said, "For years, industries built around heavy, continuous haulage, steel being a prime example, have questioned whether electric HCVs can genuinely stand up to sustained heavy-load freight, and that scepticism has shaped how slowly this sector has moved toward electrification. TVS VMS putting our Rhino trucks into live operations answers that question decisively, for us and for every heavy-load industry watching closely. This is a company with over seven decades of running conventional trucking now choosing to enter electric trucking for the first time, and choosing us to do it is validation that our platform can handle the demands of commercial-scale freight. For Montra Electric, this is a marker of how electric heavy trucking moves from possibility to standard practice in India, and we intend to lead that shift at national scale."

Madhu Raghunath, CEO, TVS VMS, said, "This strategic partnership marks a decisive step in advancing India's green logistics infrastructure. TVS Vehicle Mobility Solutions is proud to power this transition through our full-suite, end-to-end lifecycle management platform—integrating vehicle leasing, driver operations, maintenance, insurance, charging ecosystem, and connected telematics to make zero-emission fleet operations effortless and commercially viable."

Manufactured at the Montra Electric facility in Manesar, the Rhino 5538 EV tractor-trailer features a 55-tonne gross combination weight capacity. It incorporates a 282 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery paired with a permanent magnet synchronous motor delivering 280 kW peak power and 2,000 Nm torque. The vehicle offers a range of up to 198 km per charge under loaded and empty cycle conditions, and is available in fixed-battery fast-charging and battery-swapping configurations.

Belrise Industries Acquires Hyva India’s Tipper Body Business For $5.65 Million

Belrise Industries - Hyva

Automotive and aerospace component manufacturer Belrise Industries has announced the acquisition of the Tipper Body Business of Hyva India, a subsidiary of JOST Werke.

The transaction carries a total purchase consideration of approximately USD 5.65 million, representing an Enterprise Value to EBITDA multiple of approximately 3.60x.

Hyva India manufactures tipping solutions used across construction, mining, defence and infrastructure sectors, supplying the top five commercial vehicle original equipment manufacturers in India. The business reported EBITDA of approximately USD 1.57 million for calendar year 2025, alongside a return on average capital employed of around 20 percent.

Through the acquisition, Belrise expands its manufacturing footprint by adding three production plants located in Pune, Jamshedpur and Bengaluru. The deal also incorporates a European commercial vehicle original equipment manufacturer into Belrise's client portfolio as part of its positioning as a Tier-0.5 supplier.

Swastid Badve, General Manager, Belrise Industries, said, “We are pleased to welcome Hyva India’s Tipper Body Business into the Belrise family. This acquisition is a strong strategic fit and complements our manufacturing and engineering strengths. It enhances our position in the commercial vehicle value chain and supports our vision of becoming a diversified, global mobility solutions provider. Belrise remains committed to ensuring a seamless transition for customers, employees, suppliers, and business partners, while investing in the future growth and development of the business.”

Flytta Green Deploys Electric Trucks For Dalmia Cement In Assam

Flytta Green

Logistics company Flytta Green has introduced a fleet of heavy-duty electric trucks for Dalmia Cement's clinker transportation operations in Assam. The deployment is being executed in partnership with Drivn, which is providing financing and leasing options for the vehicles.

The initiative follows Flytta Green's introduction of retrofitted electric trucks for Dalmia Cement in October 2025. The company's strategy focuses on deploying new electric trucks with a gross vehicle weight of 55-tonnes and above, alongside developing charging infrastructure and exploring solar power integration for fleet operations.

The initial delivery of 15 trucks, manufactured by Montra Electric, was completed last week. An additional 45 vehicles are scheduled for delivery during August and September.

Flytta Green has received expressions of interest for approximately 1,000 heavy-duty electric trucks, with planned deployments spanning the next 18 months across the cement, mining and metals sectors. The initiative is being managed by Ashwin Dichpally, Chief Operating Officer of Flytta Green.

In collaboration with Drivn, Flytta Green plans to deploy 200 trucks during the current financial year, with financing for subsequent vehicles to be funded by international investors. Deployment operations will prioritise the North-East, East and South-East regions of India.

Switch Mobility - Sai Green Projects

Switch Mobility, the electric vehicle subsidiary of Hinduja Group, has secured an order to supply 650 electric buses to transport operator Sai Green Projects. The e-buses will be deployed for public transit operations in Mumbai and Pune under Phase II of the Government of India's PM E-Drive scheme.

Under the supply agreement, Switch Mobility will deliver 9-metre electric buses procured through the CESL PM E-Drive Phase II tender framework. Sai Green Projects won the operational rights to run the fleet, which comprises air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned variants. The buses will serve routes managed by the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking in Mumbai and Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal (PMPML) in Pune.

Ganesh Mani, Chief Executive Officer, Switch Mobility, said, "The deployment of 650 electric buses is a significant step towards India’s ambition to reduce emissions, improve operating economics, and modernise public transport systems. At Switch Mobility, we remain focused on delivering reliable and efficient electric mobility solutions that enable operators to transition towards cleaner public transport while ensuring a superior passenger experience. With a growing product portfolio, we are well positioned to support the evolving mobility requirements of cities across India."

"We are pleased to partner with Sai Green Projects in supporting large-scale deployments in Mumbai and Pune under the PM E-Drive initiative. This is the beginning of a long-term partnership where we look forward to covering many green miles together," added Mani.

RG Venkataraman, Chief Commercial Officer, Switch Mobility, said, "This development is a strong testament to our commercial proposition and our ability to deliver at scale for operators across the country. At Switch Mobility, we go way beyond manufacturing great products. Our focus is to make sustainability commercially viable to the operators so they can run efficient, profitable fleets."

Vikas Gupta, CEO, Sai Green Projects, said, "Sustainable living is at the core of what we do at Sai Green Projects. We are proud to partner with a leading OEM like Switch Mobility to take India's vision for clean, efficient, and future-ready public mobility forward. We are confident that these electric buses will enhance the everyday experience of commuters in Mumbai and Pune."

The contract expands Switch Mobility's operational footprint in India, where the manufacturer has supplied over 2,500 electric buses to date across city, intercity and specialised transport segments.