Safety and emission reduction, though not paramount, are gaining traction in the Indian commercial vehicles space. Wabco India, which has been acquired by ZF, is bullish on the market which is being driven by regulations and trends. According to P Kaniappan, Managing Director, WABCO India Ltd, the new independent Commercial Vehicle Control Systems division with ZF will offer better value and service to the Indian customers in the local context. The company keeps focusing on bringing its global capabilities to cater to new regulations and demand for advanced driver assistance, braking, stability control, suspension, transmission automation and aerodynamics to improve safety, efficiency and connectivity of commercial vehicles.

ZF Friedrichshafen completed its USD 7 billion acquisition of commercial vehicle technology supplier Wabco Holdings amid the pandemic last year. The integration is still underway and is expected to finish in early 2022. As part of the process, the company’s initial focus was to ensure seamless business continuity with customers and to assure employees that the acquisition is another part of the business. “From day one, we had communication with all our employees, giving them the rationale and logic of this merger with the customer centricity approach for which we are known in India and globally,” said P Kaniappan, Managing Director, WABCO India Ltd.

The acquisition is expected to create a powerhouse in the commercial vehicle space, offering better value and service, catering to demand for safety, dynamics controls, air suspension systems, fuel efficiency, emission reduction, fleet management and connectivity.

Wabco, which will be the 10th division of the Germany-based technology company, will operate as the independent Commercial Vehicle Control Systems division within ZF.

“We are updating our customers on the integration process, which is taking place at a global level. The integration process is very structured and professionally aligned internally,” added Kaniappan.

Wabco is the leading global supplier of braking control systems and other advanced technologies that improve commercial vehicles’ safety, efficiency and connectivity. Wabco is present in India for more than 60 years. Powered by its vision for accident-free driving and greener transportation solutions, Wabco India provides industry-leading solutions in the autonomous, connected and electric (ACE) domains to the commercial vehicle industry in India.

Currently, Wabco India Limited is a world-class manufacturer and local market leader in advanced braking systems, conventional braking products and related air assisted technologies and systems in India. Headquartered in Chennai, Wabco India has five manufacturing facilities, an advanced technology development centre, a vehicle testing facility and a nationwide aftermarket distribution and services network. Wabco India is committed to the long-term success of its customers by leveraging Wabco’s robust global technology portfolio.

Though Kaniappan agrees that the integration would have been a smoother ride if the pandemics had not caused subsequent lockdowns, he said the employees’ safety and health have always been paramount for the company. “Yes, the focus could have been much more intense (on the integration), and the timeline could have been shorter. But by the time we started the integration, the pandemic was already affecting the world. So that’s the reason we had to stretch the integration deadline.”

Wabco is betting high on all its product range considering the new regulations related to safety, emission, fuel economy and total cost of ownership. According to Kaniappan, Wabco braking system will remain the main growth driver for the company. India has been traditionally the drum brake system market. However, with the growing emphasis on safety and new mobility, the Indian auto industry is slowly moving on to the air disc brake (ADB), which offers better safety, service, comfort and overall cost. The ADB offers a shorter stopping distance, consistent brake performance and very high mechanical efficiency. The prime advantage of ADB is in weight reduction; the single-piston allows to deliver the same performance with a significantly lower number of components, which in turn minimises parts failure. The company launched disc brake systems for the bus segment, mainly for the front axle. “Within our brake system, the company also aims to improve the efficiency of the braking system that consumes energy,” added Kaniappan.

He also added that the increased axle load norm demands improvement in the braking system. As a result, the company has upgraded all its braking system products to support the customers, which involves upsizing the compressors or optimising the size of the compressors, upgrading the air management system products, and in some cases, changing the actuators and other elements of the braking system to handle the higher axle load requirement.

Commercial vehicles, trucks, buses and multi-axle vehicles account for a third of road accidents in India. About 84 percent of accidents occur owing to loss of control.

India is also in the process of making electronic stability control (ESC) mandatory soon. The draft notification has been issued for the ESC for buses, which is expected to come into force by April 2023. It aims to achieve higher standards of safety for all categories of vehicles. Wabco India has already been supplying Electronic Stability Control (ESCsmart) for trucks and buses. The ESCsmart improves vehicle stability during highly dynamic driving manoeuvres. ESCsmart provides yaw control on low friction road conditions and roll stability control on high-friction road conditions. It operates independently of driving and load conditions and delivers outstanding control quality due to self-adapting capabilities on the road.

In addition, Indian customers are now testing and evaluating some advanced emergency braking systems for collision avoidance, which immediately assists and alerts the driver. The Wabco executive expects autonomous emergency braking (AEB), which has collision warning systems and collision mitigation systems, will soon be introduced in India. “The technologies available with both companies are to be localised at an appropriate time,” he added.

Wabco India also offers solutions to make air suspension intelligent. The company’s air suspension with electronic control air suspension technology (ECAS) is an alternative to the steel-spring suspension. It improves fuel economy, increases ride comfort, enhances passenger safety and improves vehicular stability. With this technology, the vehicle can sense the road and distribute the load, and the whole system can be raised or lowered to give reduced drag and roll-over protection. Usually, on bumpy roads, air depletes in the suspension; however, ECAS can ignore small humps on the road and air depletion will occur only during the heavy bumps. “With the ECAS, we can reduce air consumption, resulting in saving fuel. As every vehicle goes through a bumpy road, the air depletes. Our electronic control can programme the system so that it does not deplete, and it improves the fine balance of the compressor running. Plus, it can also raise and lower the height of the vehicle’s suspension. This fuel-saving technology will find its place due to CAFÉ norms. This technology is also progressively coming into the Indian market, and we are working with some customers,” added Kaniappan.

Tyres are the only component that touch the road, which influences the safety and fuel efficiency of the vehicle as well. Inappropriately aired tyres impact the fuel economy and tyres’ life and could also cause accidents. As per a report, over 30 percent of truck breakdowns were caused by tyre failure. Wabco India’s OptiTire, tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS), helps maintain tyre pressure at the recommended level and detects slow punctures early. This also helps in improving fuel efficiency, rolling resistance and reduction in CO2 emission. The company is also working on getting TMPS sensors localised to make the technology competitive in the country.

The AIS 140, standards published by the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), mandates a vehicle-tracking device and an emergency button in all existing and new public-service and commercial vehicles. Wabco India also finds business opportunities in the vehicle tracking space.

Fleet management is also another area where Wabco sees more considerable opportunities as the fleets are now realising the importance of the total cost of ownership through such programmes. In addition, Wabco offers its connected vehicle programme for OEMs.

Wabco India also launched fleet management solutions or connected vehicle programme. The company has already strengthened its connected vehicle solutions after the acquisition of Transics. The company has developed a solution in India for the Indian market in the local context. It has partnered with a few customers and is powering its connected vehicle solutions by providing end-to-end solutions from hardware, firmware and software. This includes advanced fuel management, uptime monitoring, trip monitoring and route management, vehicle diagnostics, track and trace of fleets, helping improve fleet logistical efficiency and the safety and comfort of passengers and drivers.

For the aftermarket, WABCO acquired AssetTrackr. Asset Trackr offers global capabilities with a value proposition for the Indian market. The company is now leveraging its aftermarket and using the aftermarket network, service centres to promote Asset Trackr as another significant new revenue stream.

Demand for OE commercial vehicles has been slackening for two years. In FY20, commercial vehicle sales plunged 29 percent , followed by over 20 percent in FY21. As a result, the company is banking on its reach and product offering in the aftermarket business. Wabco India’s aftermarket business grew over 50 percent in the first three months of this calendar year.

Taking a lesson from the pandemic that has severely impacted commodity prices, Wabco explores the chances to procure steel, aluminium from the prime producers in the local market to have stability in supply. “We have learned a lot during recent times. We can anticipate the things in a much better way and can have better preparedness, flexibility and agility which will help us to face any potential headwinds that are going to come,” added Kaniappan. (MT)

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Mumbai-headquartered engineering major Greaves Cotton has incorporated a wholly-owned subsidiary, Greaves International Trading FZE (GITFZE), in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The subsidiary will function as a hub for trading and distribution, aiming to increase the company’s presence in the Middle East and Africa.

The subsidiary will manage business development, customer engagement, technical support, channel partnerships, aftermarket services and supply chain coordination. Its portfolio will include diesel engines, gensets and powertrain solutions.

Greaves International Trading FZE  will initially target GCC markets, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain, with subsequent expansion planned for the Levant and Africa.

Parag Satpute, MD & Group CEO, Greaves Cotton, said, “International Business is a key growth driver for Greaves and a core pillar of our GREAVES.NEXT strategy. In line with our strategic roadmap, its contribution increased from 9 percent to 13 percent in FY2026. The establishment of Greaves International Trading FZE marks a significant step in strengthening our presence across the Middle East and Africa. It enhances our ability to respond with agility to market needs, deepen customer engagement and deliver reliable, future-ready solutions. This is a focused move towards expanding our global footprint and driving sustained, long-term growth.”

The establishment of GITFZE is part of the company's strategy to scale its footprint and export capabilities.

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Stellantis, one of the leading automotive groups, has announced appointments within its Enlarged Europe organisation, effective 1 July 2026.

The company has announced that Santo Ficili has been appointed the CEO of the Maserati brand, while continuing his role as CEO of Alfa Romeo. In addition, Luca Napolitano has been appointed Head of Stellantis &You Sales and Services.

These appointments follow the departure of Jean-Philippe Imparato, who is leaving the company after 36 years.

Emanuele Cappellano, COO, Enlarged Europe & European Brands and Head of Stellantis Pro One, said, “I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Jean-Philippe for his unparalleled contribution to our Company, in which he spent his entire professional life. Jean-Philippe has been a true example of how to combine passion with business, inspiring people with his daily commitment and deep knowledge of the automotive industry. I congratulate on their appointments Santo and Luca, who are already fully operational within Maserati and Stellantis &You organisations and will ensure continuity in these key areas. Their experience and leadership will be crucial in this new stage of growth.”

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Tata Motors has entered into a memorandum of understanding with Castrol India to launch a pilot programme focused on establishing a circular economy for used engine oil. The initiative directly supports India’s Extended Producer Responsibility regulations while addressing the environmental challenges posed by lubricant waste.

The collaboration will create a structured and traceable system for the collection, storage and channelling of used oil originating from Tata Motors’ authorised service network. Operations for this pilot are specifically centred in Karnataka, targeting a longstanding gap in the responsible handling of this hazardous material.

Under the programme, Tata Motors’ service touchpoints in the state will function as designated collection hubs. Castrol India will leverage its technical expertise to oversee the delivery of the recovered oil to registered recyclers, ensuring rigorous quality control and traceability throughout the recycling chain.

This partnership extends the companies’ established relationship and reinforces their mutual dedication to sustainability. The pilot complements Tata Motors’ wider strategy of promoting alternative-energy vehicles while supporting Castrol India’s objective of integrating recycled content into its premium lubricant offerings.

Vikram Agrawal, Head – Spares and Non-Vehicle Business, Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles, said, “Responsible used-oil management is central to building a truly circular automotive ecosystem in India. The volume of used engine oil generated across India’s roads each year makes responsible collection and recycling a matter of significant environmental consequence. By partnering with Castrol India, we are creating a credible, scalable model that links responsible collection at our service touchpoints to high-quality re-refined output. This is a meaningful step in Tata Motors’ broader sustainability journey.”

Anoop Jindal, Vice President – B2B (OEM) Sales, Castrol India Limited, said, “Creating a circular economy for lubricants requires collaboration across the entire value chain. This association with Tata Motors marks our first OEM collaboration focused on building a structured ecosystem for responsible used-oil management in India. We are working to strengthen every link in the circularity chain, from collection and channelisation to recycling and reuse. Insights from our used-oil collection pilots in southern India have deepened our understanding of both the opportunities and challenges involved in scaling circularity. Together with Tata Motors’ extensive service network, this initiative can help create a more organised, traceable and scalable model for used-oil circularity in India.”

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French automotive major Renault Group has appointed Quitterie de Pelleport as General Secretary, effective from 1 July 2026. The new division will oversee Legal, Audit, Risk, Ethics & Compliance, Prevention and Protection, Sustainability, Strategic Partnerships, Defence activities and the Circular Economy unit ‘The Future Is Neutral’.

The company also announced the appointment of Sandra Gomez as Chief Product & Program Officer and Francois Lavernos as Chief Information & Digital Officer. Both will report to CEO Francois Provost, who will oversee strategy and the futuREady product plan.

Francois Provost, said, “Four months after the launch of our futuREady plan, we are continuing the transformation of Renault Group with a clear focus on simplification and speed of execution. The creation of the General Secretariat is a key lever to strengthen our governance and our capacity to deliver on our ambitions. This role will also contribute to the development of certain high-potential activities. I have every confidence in Quitterie to lead this strategic function. At the same time, we are simplifying the scope of product, programs and strategy to accelerate the strengthening of our vehicle range and technologies.”

Pelleport joined Renault Group in 2021 as Chief Legal Officer. Her career includes roles at Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel, DLA Piper, Rhodia and Solvay.

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