COMMERCIAL VEHICLE INDIA FEBRUARY 2023

The Bo TT o M line

CommerCial VehiCle magazine

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editor Ashish Bhatia

Test editor Aspi Bhathena

Correspondent Prateek Pardeshi

Contributors Deepti Thore, Sumesh Soman

head-Design & Production Ravi Parmar

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In Equal Measure

The CV Industry put up a strong show at the Auto Expo 2023 - The Motor Show and the February issue goes deep into it. The organisers SIAM, CII and ACMA deserve a special mention here for a stellar show. Spanning solutions for the gig economy to light, intermediate, medium and heavy duty, people and cargo movers, the show had something for everybody. The CV OEMs made a stronger case for fully-built transport solutions backed by an ecosystem than in the past editions of the expo. The progress made in addressing the need for an entire spectrum of greener, higher performance oriented transport solutions with an assurance of lower TCO was there for all to see. Be it on conventional ICE, natural gas (including gas hybrids) or BEV, or the well-received Hydrogen-based options, the respective goto-market strategies committed to better cover the customer life cycle. A chat with a veteran marketer at a CV major revealed the thought process for making communications more believable and stand out. It is to ensure that the message on the new product line and the efforts to address occupant and pedestrian requirements, the business needs of a fleet operator are not lost in transition. This implies that product differentiation has assumed higher significance over the need to create brand differentiation with the industry pushing fully built solutions in a cowl-driven market. We also get you industry insights on the CapEx intensive budget. Watch this space as we are a step closer to the 14th Apollo CV Awards 2023 getting underway and the jury adjudging the winners at the gala event on the other side!

Ashish Bhatia

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a.bhatia@nextgenpublishing.net

@atashishbhatia

@Ashish Bhatia

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Editor Ashish Bhatia

Product differentiation has assumed higher significance over the need to create brand differentiation as the industry looks to push fully built solutions in a cowl-driven market.

Greener transport solutions: The return of Auto Expo 2023 - The Motor Show had greener, higher performance CVs dominate the floor. Ashish Bhatia took stock of the OEM displays to gauge the dominant trends.

 Expediting critical road infrastructure

 FASTag collection grew in 2022

 Nitin Gadkari addresses global recyclers

 M&M and Maharashtra Govt. MoU

 Adani Enterprises enters CV pilot

 Bharatbenz partners with BEST

 OSM and iM3NY JV

 Altigreen and Exponent Energy optimise cargo solution

 TKM inducts new Board Directors

 Astro Motors bags order

 SAMIL Mini-authorised sales points

 FM Logistics and UCB partner

 Apollo and Telangana Govt. MoU

 Continental Tires CPD store

 Statiq fast charging station

 Valvoline EV fluids

 Revfin onboards Sushil Kumar Jain

 EXZOD manufacturing expansion

 ADAS Level-4 trial at UD Trucks

 Organisational changes roll at ZF

 IPC turns 23

 Caterpillar partners Lithos Energy on battery tech

 Autonomous service for Milton Park commuters

 DB Schenker adds MAN eTrucks to its fleet

More Than A Truck Or Bus: Tata Motors showcased a huge lineup at Auto Expo 2023.

Tangible Outcomes

At Ashok Leyland: Ashok Leyland Ltd. is pursuing its sustainable development goals with renewed vigour.

A New Breed For Transportability: VE Commercial Vehicles had Eicher Motors and Volvo Group bring in smart, sustainable transport solutions.

The Switch To e-LCVs: Switch Mobility forayed into e-LCVs as hinted at earlier.

The JBM E-Verse: JBM Auto expanded its electric universe.

23 38 28 42 32 22

Exhibts at Auto Expo 2023 - The Motor Show

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A CapEx Intensive Budget: The pre-election Union Budget 2023-24 turned out to be CapEx-intensive.

Beyond Plug And Play: Denso International India is developing automotive solutions with sustenance and societal responsibility at the core of its strategy.

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Plugged In: Social Media Highlights

Step 1 : Open the Camera app or a QR Code scanning app Step 2 : Hold your device steady for 2-3 seconds pointing towards the adjoining QR Code Step 3 : A notification with a url will appear Step 4 : Click to visit the content as shown on the right hand side.

expediting critical road infrastructure

Under the Gati Shakti - National Master Plan, the government will prioritise and expedite up to 18 critical road infrastructure projects in the fiscal year 2023-24. Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), inaugurated 18 National Highway (NH) projects totalling 550 kilometres in Orchha, Madhya Pradesh. Speaking on the projects valued at ~ Rs.6800 crore, Gadkari pointed at the easy

access to tourist destinations in Madhya Pradesh such as Orchha, Khajuraho, Panna, Chitrakoot, Tikamgarh, and Sanchi owing to these. He stated that the construction of the BhopalKanpur economic corridor will ease the transportation of cement and minerals helping to reduce logistic costs. The minister stated that the construction of this corridor will improve connectivity from Bhopal to Kanpur, Lucknow,

FaSTag collection grew in 2022

Electronic toll collection (ETC) through FASTag has seen consistent growth in recent years. The total toll collection on fee plazas, including the state highway fee plazas during the calendar year 2022 was ~ Rs.50,855 crore, which is an increase of an estimated 46 per cent over Rs.34,778 crore in 2021. The average daily toll collection through FASTag on NH fee

plazas in December 2022 was Rs.134.44 crore, and the singleday highest collection touched Rs.144.19 crore on December 24, 2022. Similarly, the number of FASTag transactions witnessed a growth of ~48 per cent in 2022 over 2021. The number of FASTag transactions in 2021 and 2022 were 219 crore and 324 crore respectively. With 6.4 crore FASTags issued as of date, the

Prayagraj, and Varanasi. The construction of a two-lane road with a paved shoulder connecting Tikamgarh and Orchha will also improve traffic safety. He also announced the construction of a 105 kilometre, four-lane greenfield road from Bamitha to Satna for Rs.2000 crore. Tikamgarh, Panna, Chhatarpur, Khajuraho, and Bandhavgarh National Park tourism will benefit from the construction of this road.

total number of FASTag-enabled fee plazas across the country also grew to 1,181 (including 323 state highway fee plazas) in 2022 from 922 in 2021. Notably, MoUs have been signed with 29 different state entities for on boarding state fee plazas under the program which includes Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka.

nitin Gadkari addresses global recyclers

Material Recycling Association of India (MRAI) hosted the 10th edition of the International Indian Material Recycling Conference (IMRC) from February 02-04, 2023, at Kochi, in Kerala. One of the biggest meets of global recyclers

witnessed participation from 1800+ delegates, including 450 foreign delegates. The conclave was aimed at creating a deeper insight into the need for a recycling policy framework to set up circular economy park for creating a conducive ecosystem and address climate change. Such a policy framework will help achieve the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) for commitment to carbon neutrality by 2070. Sanjay Mehta, President of, MRAI shared, “Being the world’s secondlargest steel producer, India

needs to become a responsible steel producer and therefore, we anticipate incremental usage of scrap in the coming years.” He further added, “Primary steel industry accounts for about eight per cent of total carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions every year while it accounts for 12 per cent of all CO2 emissions in India.” The global metal recycling market size reached USD 219.8 bn in 2021. The global market is slated to reach USD 302.4 bn by 2027, at a CAGR of 5.46 per cent between 2021-2027.

Eicher Pro 2049 CNG

M&M Mou with Maharashtra government

Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (M&M), announced an Rs.10,000 crore investment for Electric Vehicles (EVs) under the Maharashtra Government’s industrial promotion scheme for EVs. The company, through its subsidiary, will invest over seven to eight years in setting up the manufacturing facility,

development, and production of the upcoming Born Electric Vehicles, first showcased on the INGLO platform at Oxfordshire, in the UK, in mid-August 2022. Rajesh Jejurikar, Executive Director, Auto and Farm Sectors, at the Mahindra Group, stated, “We are very thankful to the Govt. of

adani enterprises enters cv pilot

Adani Enterprises could enter a CV pilot project with Ashok Leyland Ltd. and Ballard Power. This will entail the development of a hydrogen fuel cell electric truck for mining logistics and transportation. Focused on both mining operations and developing

green hydrogen projects for sourcing, transporting, and building out hydrogen refuelling infrastructure, it is expected to lead the demonstration project. The FCmoveTM fuel cell engine for the hydrogen truck will be supplied by Ballard, and the vehicle platform and technical

Bharatbenz par tners with BeST

Maharashtra for their continued support. The focus on ease of doing business and progressive policies, together with our investment will act as a catalyst for Maharashtra to become the EV hub of India, attracting further Indian and Foreign Direct Investment.”

support will be provided by Ashok Leyland. The Adani Group previously announced plans to invest over USD 50 bn in green hydrogen and associated ecosystems over the next 10 years. This equates to a capacity of up to three million tonnes of green hydrogen annually.

Daimler Buses India joined forces with BEST Undertaking. The addition of BharatBenz buses to the iconic BEST fleet is a feat for the company. Bharatbenz leadership claimed to have this as a significant step forward in our mission to provide Mumbai residents with safe and comfortable transportation. BharatBenz BEST buses will feature a bouquet of technology-led utilities like GPS tracking (via the Chalo App) and real-time updates. These buses will also offer better ergonomics and HVAC.

oSM and iM3nY Jv

Omega Seiki Mobility (OSM) entered into a new Joint Venture (JV) with USA-based iM3NY. With it, the OEM is claimed to have become the first-ever brand to bring US battery cell technology to India. Under the JV, OSM will produce six HIGoTM powertrains for power capacities from 7-34 kW using its own Korean technology capacities. It has committed an investment of Rs.800 crore

to set up two new greenfield manufacturing facilities for manufacturing components. With it, becoming a completely integrated EV OEM. iM3NY is known for producing Li-ion batteries where it operates a gigafactory in upstate New York. Under the JV, new facilities will be set up in Haryana and Maharashtra for manufacturing powertrains and batteries respectively.

altigreen and exponent energy cargo solution

Altigreen launched the neEV Tez, a new variant of its threewheeler cargo EV in collaboration with Exponent Energy. The aim to optimise cargo solutions has translated to the neEV Tez boasting of a 98 km range (ARAI certified) and a city drive range of ~ 85 km. This is attributed to the 8.2 kWh battery pack, a proprietary battery from Exponent known to use Lithium FerroPhosphate (LFP) cell chemistry. It charges from 0-100 per cent in 15 minutes using an e-pump charging network. The neEV Tez starts at Rs.3.5 lakh (exshowroom) with a five years/one

lakh kms warranty. The company also offers a five years/1.56 lakh kms warranty on the battery pack

TKM inducts new Board directors

Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) announced that Akio Toyoda san would step down as President and Chief Executive Officer. He will be succeeded by Koji Sato san, who is also the President of the Toyota Lexus brand. The current Chairman Takeshi Uchiyamada will also drop his Chairman title and remain on the Board.

Toyoda san will become the new Chairman as part of the ongoing churn with effect on April 01,

based on testing of we are offering an unprecedented warranty on it, with 3000 fast-charge cycles.

2023. Additionally, Swapnesh R, Maru, currently serving as the Executive Vice President & Chief Compliance Officer and oversees Finance, Human Resources & Administration, Information Technology, Legal and Corporate Planning at TKM with effect from January 19, 2023.

astro Motors bags order

EV manufacturer Astro Motors is claimed to have received a Purchase Order (PO) for 1000 units. Astro Triyaan NAVYA and other EV variants from the company are believed to be deployed under a pilot with multiple logistics companies including SKS Cleantech and

Loadex Supply Chain Solutions. The cargo L5, three-wheeler L5 segment with a claimed rated payload of 0.635-tonne (635 kgs) boasts a 120 km range. As per Vitan Jagada, Founder of Astro Motors, the company is in discussions to deliver a significant portion of its order book.

SaMil Mini-authorised sales points

Shriram Automall India Limited (SAMIL) has commissioned SAMIL MINI, an authorised retail point for used vehicles and equipment in Noida. At present, SAMIL has one fullfledged Automall in the region and with the addition of the new touch point is hoped to penetrate further. Claimed to be a thoughtfully designed business model focused on the transparent auction process, power of choice, fair prices and ease of bidding for its customers. It brings along the SAMIL services suite of documentation,

logistics, insurance, finance, inspection and valuation. Sameer Malhotra, Director and Chief Executive Officer, of Shriram Automall, said “This new concept

FM logistics and ucB partner

FM Logistics was awarded an end-to-end National DC contract by the global fashion brand United Colors of Benetton (UCB). The company will carry out storage and handling operations spread across one lakh sq. ft. at its owned FM Global certified and LEED Gold certified, Grade-A, Multi-Client Facility (MCF) at Farrukhnagar, in Haryana. It will cater to order preparation for UCB-owned, franchised outlets and other

partners, including e-commerce pan India. The company will make use of the plug-and-play, comprehensive supply chain and IT solutions for seamless B2B2C operations. Additionally, FM Logistics will also provide

has been thoughtfully designed to make it a convenient one-stop shop to purchase used vehicles and equipment right in the heart of the city.”

Value-Added Services (VAS) like labelling, repackaging and managing returns and refurbishments. It is also geared to handle seasonal peaks in demand courtesy of a warehouse management system.

apollo Tyres and Telangana government Mou

Apollo Tyres Ltd., in partnership with the Telangana Government, launched a Digital Innovation Centre in Hyderabad. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by Jayesh Ranjan, IAS, Principal Secretary for IT and Industries and Commerce, Govt. of Telangana and Neeraj Kanwar, Vice Chairman and MD, Apollo Tyres Ltd., in the

presence of K T Rama Rao, Minister for IT, Industries and MA&UD. The MoU was signed at Davos at the World Economic Forum. The new centre will leverage Industry 4.0, and new-age technologies like IoT, cloud computing, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Robotic Process Automation (RPA) and block chain to help develop and deliver new business

continental Tires cpd store

Continental Tires launched the flagship Conti Premium Drive (CPD) store in Bengaluru. Spread across 1200 sq. ft., the store incorporates several key brand features including a brand experiential zone. It features products in PLT, LCV, 4x4, SUV, and TT segments, as well as Continental Tires’ latest key pattern: UltraContact UC6, ComfortContact CC6, and the AX6 to cater to the ever growing need for SUVs. Apart from retailing

Continental’s range of premium passenger vehicle tyres for cars and SUVs, the newly launched

Statiq fast charging station

EV charging network provider Statiq together with Nexus Malls has launched its first EV charging station in Amritsar at the Nexus Mall. Equipped with two fast EV DC Chargers of 60 kW each to charge all kinds of electric cars. Claimed to charge up to 80 per cent in about 40 minutes, the association marks the launch of 17 EV charging hubs across 13 cities that include Chennai, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Navi Mumbai, Pune, Udaipur, Mangalore, Chandigarh, Mysuru, and Indore. The charging hubs in the mall parking lots will offer a combination of both slow and fast chargers.

models and market-leading customer service. Sunam Sarkar, President and Chief Business Officer, Apollo Tyres, expressed, “Sustainability is one of the key enablers of our Vision 2026, this is an important milestone in that journey. I would like to commend the corporate procurement and sustainability teams on achieving this within a short period.”

CPD store in Bengaluru features an advanced workshop equipped with the latest machinery and technologies to handle all tyre and vehicle-related services. Located at Bhattarahalli, Thambu Chetty Palya, the flagship store, as per Rajnish Kochgave, Head of Sales and Marketing PLTRE, Continental Tires India, will help the company reach its customers with quality products in Karnataka. The flagship store will be managed by Shiva Sai Enterprises.

Statiq and Zoomcar partner

Statiq has partnered with self-drive company Zoomcar to accelerate EV-based travel in the country. Under this partnership, the two will enable EV owners to host on Zoomcar and earn additional income through ride-sharing. “This collaboration will provide the much-needed impetus to the EV charging ecosystem. At the same time, it will increase the popularity of EVs among nonEV owners helping to foster a culture of clean mobility among the public,” said Akshit Bansal, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, of Statiq, in a company statement. The pilot will commence in the Delhi NCR region before further expansion.

Valvoline EV fluids

Valvoline is ready with a lineup of EV fluids. The brand has embraced the electrification of vehicles and developed EV Fluids to meet the highest standards of the EV category. It will draw from its global learnings from the use of its next generation of advanced fluid solutions applicable to BEVs, HEVs, and PHEVs

which can be further extended to autonomous vehicles and EV fleets. “The industry will see robust demand for EVs in the coming years and we are prioritising how to best meet every vehicle owner’s need.” said, Sandeep Kalia, Managing Director, and Chief Executive Officer, of Valvoline India.

Revfin onboards Sushil Kumar Jain

Digital consumer lending platform Revfin has appointed Sushil Kumar Jain as its National Head of Collections. In his new role, he will spearhead the National Collection Portfolio of all Revfin’s products to expand the company’s footprints across the EV financing space in the country. Kumar brings to the table an experience spanning over two decades including in auto loans, business loans,

commercial vehicles, construction equipment and tractor portfolio. He brings along experiences with organisations like Toyota Financial, TVS Credit, Shriram City, Magma Fincorp & Satin Credit care. The fintech platform currently has a nationwide presence for its EVs in more than 15 states, including Uttarakhand, UP, Bihar, Haryana, Punjab, Tripura, Jharkhand and Assam.

exZod to expand manufacturing footprint

Pallet manufacturer

EXZOD India is setting up a manufacturing plant in Hyderabad aimed at serving its Southern India clients. After Punjab, Maharashtra and Haryana the new plant will be equipped with state-of-the-art automatic pallet manufacturing machines. Nitin Kalla, Founder and Managing Director, of EXZOD India, said, “With this new plant we wits customers to meet the increased demand from the South and our value chain for supplying pallets is complete. This would make us a dependable company for buying pallets for both large brands and

4PL warehousing players in the country.” Classifying itself as an organised pallet manufacturing company in India with automated pallet manufacturing, the company has so far delivered more than seven lakhs pallets for

its clients across logistics, retail, petrochemicals and automotive and 4 PL logistics. Technologyembedded AMC is its forte. AMC is a strategic business option for companies that want to save money on capital expenditures, repair costs, and improve handling processes. Because of the company’s expertise in the supply chain space, it can provide customised solutions as needed. The company provides technology embedded AMC Services and is the industry’s only organised player. The idea is to replace the traditional AMC approach with an approach incorporating advanced robotics.

adaS level-4 trial at ud Trucks

UD Trucks and Kobe Steel collaborated on an autonomous driving trial at Kobe Steel Kakogawa Works, employing a heavy-duty Quon equipped with L4 autonomous driving technology. Douglas Nakano, UD Trucks Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, said, “This trial is another

important milestone towards the future of the transport and we are very proud of it.” The trial lasted two months, between August and October in 2022. The autonomous driving system provided by Sensible4 recognises and responds to rugged terrain and variations in weather. The truck features Active Steering, which

organisational changes roll at ZF

At ZF, the newly formed Board of Management team has Dr Holger Klein as the Chief Executive Officer of the company with effect January 01, 2023. Michael Frick, Chief Financial Officer, and Dr Peter Laier, in charge of Commercial Vehicle and Industrial Technology, are new members of the Board that has been downsized from seven to six members previously. At its first major appearance of the year, ZF presented its products for the software-defined vehicle and the next generation of autonomous transport systems at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) tech event in Las Vegas. Dr Klein mentioned, “Climate protection and digitalisation, transforming markets, and the increasingly unstable economic environment require anticipation and speedy reactions. We feel confident –after all, for the last 108 years, ZF has proven that we know how to transform!” Dr Klein is responsible for Corporate Sales, Research and Development, the System House of Autonomous Mobility Systems, and the Aftermarket division. Michael Frick and Dr Peter Laier assumed their Board of Management functions at the same time as Dr Klein. Dr Laier is responsible for Commercial

Vehicle and Industrial Technology, the Corporate Production department and the region of India. Frick, who joined ZF in December 2022, has been Chief Financial Officer since January 01 and is also Head of M&A, IT and Digitalisation. As a member of the Board of Management, Dr Martin Fischer now also heads the Car Chassis Technology Division in addition to his previous responsibilities (Active Safety Systems, Passive Safety Systems, Electronics and ADAS divisions, North and South America regions, Corporate Quality) at his office in the U.S. Asia-Pacific region and the Materials Management department will. In addition to the

dampens vibrations by making minor directional adjustments to ensure precise and stable steering as per claims. The vehicle maintains its course by incorporating GNSS-RTK and 3D-LiDAR technology, which in turn ensures precise movements even in environments blocking satellite signals.

Electrified Powertrain Technologies division be managed by Stephan von Schuckmann from Asia. The responsibilities of Sabine Jaskula, Chief Human Resources Officer in charge of Human Resources, Sustainability, Legal and Compliance remain unchanged. At the first global executive management meeting of the new year in Friedrichshafen, Dr Klein emphasised the achievements in difficult times that has helped to shape the future strategy. At the annual press conference in Friedrichshafen, scheduled for March 16, CEO Klein and CFO Frick will review the fiscal year 2022 and give a forward outlook.

caterpillar partners lithos energy on battery tech

Caterpillar Inc. announced an investment in Lithos Energy, Inc., a battery technology company based in the United States of America..

“Caterpillar’s collaboration with Lithos supports our commitment to delivering robust electrified products and solutions for our customers,” said Joe Creed, Group President of Caterpillar’s Energy and Transportation segment. “Lithos’ experience manufacturing battery packs for similarly demanding environments will be an asset as we continue our electrified product development.” Lithos, headquartered in San Rafael, California, specialises in the design, engineering, and manufacture of shock-resistant and high-performance battery solutions

for off-road and marine applications. James Meredith, Chief Executive Officer of Lithos Energy, said “This funding will enable Lithos to accelerate technology development and scale up manufacturing capacity as we look forward to providing increasingly advanced product offerings to our new and

existing customers.” At bauma, in 2022, in Munich, Germany, the company displayed four electric construction machine prototypes, including battery prototypes, and successfully demonstrated its first battery electric 793 mining truck at its Tucson Proving Ground in Arizona.

autonomous bus service for Milton park

First Bus launched an autonomous bus service in Milton Park, an Oxfordshire business, science, and technology park near Didcot and Abingdon, England. The service began in the third week of January. Aimed at improving people mobility both within the park, which is home to 250 businesses and 9,000 employees and throughout the Didcot region. Janette Bell, Managing Director at First Bus, said: “The launch of the UK’s first zero emission autonomous vehicle is a stellar example of how technology can support modal shift with wide partnership working between local authorities, operators and local business.”

ipc turns 23

Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC) has earned the certification as the number one truck brand in 2022 from the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. (CAMPI) and Truck Manufacturers Association, Inc. (TMA), making Isuzu the leading truck brand in the Philippines for 23 years on the trot. According to

the most recent annual CAMPI / TMA report, IPC sold 4,680 units in 2022, accounting for 46.4 per cent of the market and auguring well for the future prospects of the company.

The Isuzu N-Series in Category III (LDT) is performing well for IPC. It sold 2,952 units and commands a 55.3 per cent market share. IPC also performed well in both Category

IV

(MCV) and Category V. (HCV).

IPC President Noboru Murakami stated, “As the leading provider of durable and reliable trucks, as well as the best transport and business solutions to Filipinos, IPC would like to contribute to our customer’s business through our durable products, after sales services and variety of training.”

Greener TranSporT SoluTionS

The return of Auto Expo 2023 - The Motor Show had greener, higher performance CVs dominate the floor. Ashish Bhatia took stock of the OEM displays to gauge the dominant trends.

India Expo Mart at Greater Noida was abuzz again!

Returning to the exhibition scene after a three-year hiatus, the Auto Expo 2023 - The Motor Show rose back up the charts to draw in stakeholders of the CV industry between January 11-18, 2023. Setting aside the lows of the Covid-19-induced hiatus, notwithstanding a fresh threat of the pandemic, the exhibition halls had CV players and their stakeholders put their best foot forward as they allayed fears. They came in with market-ready solutions and concepts, greener, higher in performance. The CV industry stepped into the business end of the current fiscal (FY202223) with buoyancy. Moving

beyond electrification, there was ample for Natural Gas (NG) and Hydrogen fuel cell supporters to advocates of hybrids spread across the 64,000 sq. ft. exhibition expanse. The good-looking CVs hinted at sophistication akin to global markets. The OEMs offered advanced technology tuned to custom requirements across cargo and people movers. Connected Autonomous Shared and Electric (CASE) hit new highs too with the industry expected to settle in on L1-L2 ADAS and finding takers for telematics with assurance of higher efficiencies

From gig-economy twowheeler to Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs) going up to Medium and Heavy Commercial

Vehicles (M&HCVs) including intra-city, inter-city buses, and first-, mid-, and last-mile transport solutions. Made possible by the suppliers and ancillaries who have upped their game too, it was a rather confident outing for the CV industry, majors and new entrants alike. The industry is expected to end the fiscal in spitting distance of the one million Total Industry Volume (TIV) mark. The call for zero emissions with market-ready solutions was stronger than before and government interventions were hailed as a step in the right direction. The industry sought more clarity on the technological road map from the decisionmakers albeit. It was a show of

@atashishbhatia

auTo expo 2023

The underpinnings of the Ashok Leyland H2FCEV truck.

global technology and innovation and the call for localisation with India as the global manufacturing front was at an all-time high.

At a point of disruption in how mobility is defined and delivered, organisers, Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers

(SIAM), Automotive Component Manufacturers Association (ACMA) and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) accredited by The International Organisation of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers (OICA) left no stone unturned to disseminate

the message of supporting the adaption of sustainable mobility solutions and the future course of development. The focus on cost reduction, enhancing quality and productivity to match global standards was there for all to see. The Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), it was clear, have shifted focus from acquisition-focused strategies to support the entire customer life cycle journey. The shift from selling vehicles to selling transport solutions is imminent led by CV majors showing the way forward.

ModuLAr And GrEEnEr

With a strong focus on zeroemissions technology supporting modular power trains reliant driven by electrification on one end of the spectrum, and H2FCEV and H2-ICE on the other end of the spectrum, the motor show had the technology and ecosystem startups and supplier turned OEMs outlining their range of products to support a myriad of customer requirements. The well-to-wheel approach in a circular economy and sustainable development was found to be a high priority area with concrete plans to realise it. The product mix covered a lot of ground from ground-up developments to Completed Built Up (CBU) units from the advanced markets plying under commercial trials in India. Localisation of power trains being pursued to attain the benefits of Economies of Scale (EoS). The whole is greater than the sum of parts and there were no two ways that the CV OEMs have found strong supplier partners at an early stage of development. This has led to an influx of superior and sophisticated CVs making their way into India. It opens doors for higher exports out of

India to both developing and developed markets.

roAd sAFEt y drIVE

On the sidelines of the expo, SIAM set out to spread greater awareness of road safety among the visitors at Auto Expo. The apex body organised the ‘Surakshit Safar Pavilion’ to mark the national road safety week (January 11-17, 2023) in association with Rosmerta. Inaugurated by Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways of India, Government of India in

the presence of Vinod Agarwal, President at SIAM among other dignitaries, the pavilion was used to highlight the efforts put in place by SIAM, to align with the government mission of building road safety awareness for the general masses. The SIAM president mentioned, “SIAM and the Indian auto industry have been committed to improving the road safety scenario in the country. A lot of work has been done on vehicular engineering, and now Indian vehicles are matching global standards.” “Now, there is a need to focus on other

E’s as well of which education is critical as it helps to effect a behavioural change in road users, which can play a major role in reducing accidents. The Surakshit Safar Pavilion is one such initiative focusing on increasing public awareness about safety and seeing the success of the event, SIAM now plans to replicate this initiative throughout the country,” he informed.

The benefits of road safety were highlighted at the pavilion through a suite of simulator competitions, performances and photo booths. Stakeholders of road safety like Delhi Traffic Police, Centre of Excellence for Road Safety from IIT Madras, Indian Head Injury Foundation, Dr Shroff Eye Centre & Eicher Foundation, IVC Logistics –CMVR Compliant Logistics were among those highlighting exceptional work carried out in the field. Attention was drawn to good practices like the importance of helmets, the importance of wearing seat belts, and Good Samaritan law with a first responder also on display. To draw attention to the spurious parts business, an Asli Naqli (Be Genuine Buy Genuine), put up a fight against the illegal industry valued at an estimated Rs.25,000 crore. Karn Nagpal, President, of Rosmerta Technologies Ltd, stated, “At Rosmerta, we take pride in being perfectly aligned with the road safety initiatives of the Government of India, Ministry of Road Transport & Highways and playing our role in making Indian roads safer for the past 20 years. Our commitment to on-road compliance paves the path to seamless implementation of other road safety services like Automated Testing Stations (ATS) for vehicle fitness certification and Automated Driving Test

Hardeep singh Puri, union Minister of Petroleum and natural Gas, Government of India, leading the IstEM.

Vinod Agarwal, President at sIAM among other dignitaries, highlighted sIAM efforts to align with the government mission of building road safety awareness among the general masses.

Track (ADTT) for sensor and video analytics-based driving tests. Rosmerta’s contribution to road safety takes the next leap with eSIM technology for telematics and vehicle tracking ensuring V2X communications for nationally integrated transport solutions and safe journeys. As pioneers of mobility solutions, we strive to increase road safety and ease compliance throughout the complete life cycle of a vehicle from production to End of Life.” PK Banerjee, Executive Director SIAM opined that

education is a critical enabler for improving road safety and together with OEMs the focus has been on imparting early education, beginning at the school level, so that safe driving practices are inculcated from an early age. The plan is to launch a pan-India initiative focused on educating school children across all levels about road safety.

Some of the initiatives include standardised High Security Registration Plates (HSRP) and smart card-based VRC and DL, to link the vehicle identities and drivers for compliance and easier enforcement. It also paves the way for seamless implementation of the FASTags, automatic receipts and tolls.

Clockwise: Ashok Leyland Boss EV components, tata Motors H2-ICE, and osM battery pack were among next generation solutions.

EtHAnoL AdoPtIon

To amplify the government push for ethanol adoption in India, SIAM organised an International Symposium for Thriving EcoEnergy in Mobility (ISTEM). Focused on promoting ethanol as a sustainable fuel, the symposium

sought to impart clarity on the transition. It was supported by national and international stakeholders of the ethanol economy and included ethanol producers and technology providers with global OEMs in attendance. Inaugurated at the hands of Hardeep Singh Puri, Union Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas, the Government of India showcased the use of Flex Fuel Vehicles (FFVs) and their future scope. SIAM and the US Grains Council signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) toward the promotion of higher ethanol blends in the Indian gasoline mix and its impact on the automobile industry. The MOU was signed by President, SIAM and Josh Miller, Chairman, USGC in presence of the Union Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas, Government of India and Gloria Berbena, Acting Deputy Chief of Mission, US Embassy. The Minister said, “The year 2006 is the time when the journey of

Ethanol started. Brazil and the US were the only ones who had ethanol. Cut to the present times and I am glad that an MoU has been signed between India and the US council. Thanks to the combined efforts of the Auto industry and SIAM that India’s time to embrace ethanol, clean energy and biofuels has finally arrived. Domestic manufacturers must start making EVs and I have complete confidence that their efforts will be fruitful.”

India will adopt the pan India implementation of E20 in 2023 for vehicles to be material compliant, and in 2025 for vehicles to be fully E20 compliant. Companies including Toyota Kirloskar Motors (TKM), Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. (MSIL), Bajaj Auto Ltd., HPCL, IOCL, BPCL, and Oil India Ltd. were among the participants to showcase their flex-fuel technology. Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) UNICA and PRAJ Industries showcase their capabilities too with knowledge partners UNICA from Brazil and US grain council from US-supporting to spread ethanol knowledge to Indian customers. The SIAM President appreciated the role and vision of the US Council in developing long-term partnerships with Indian stakeholders, creating opportunities and adding value.

Clockwise: LnG tank, filling nozzle and CnG tank enclosure.

sun Mobility intelligent battery swapping solution.

More Than a TrucK or BuS

Tata Motors showcased a huge lineup at Auto Expo 2023. Ashish Bhatia draws attention to the product differentiation strategy.

As a Group, Tata Motors showcased 40 variants at the Auto Expo 2023 - The Motor Show. As committed, despite a heavy launch calendar, the CV major managed to save new launches for the business end of the fiscal. This included 14 exclusive launches. The CV major addressed a vast spectrum of complete transport solutions across the people and cargo subsegments. In a conscious move to align with the customer life cycle evolution, the company reiterated its focus on going beyond the product acquisition journey. To make the deal sweeter, the company drove in safer,

Girish Wagh, Executive director, tata Motors and Ashish Bhatia, Executive Editor, CV Magazine in conversation.

@atashishbhatia

smarter and greener vehicles and concepts. N Chandrasekaran, Executive Chairman, Tata Sons and Chairman, Tata Motors set the context ahead of the launch at the pavilion. He mentioned, “We are leading sustainability, energy transition and digitalisation-led transformation in each of our businesses. With an emphasis on zero emission power trains, cutting-edge technologies, advanced design engineering and best-in-class services, Tata Motors is accelerating the adoption of sustainable mobility and ‘net zero’ carbon emission goals.” “At the Auto Expo 2023, we are proud to present our vision of the future and its manifestation through our new-age vehicles, concepts and smart mobility solutions,” he expressed.

The company has set itself a target of turning ‘net zero’ in emissions by 2045. This could be achieved through Natural Gas,

electrification and hydrogenbased power trains. The full range that had SCVs, ILCVs and M&HCVs piqued interest, backed by quality aggregates and collaborations with partners like Cummins Inc among other suppliers. The internal group synergies came to the fore with it too. The OEM created a buzz with its concepts that include the Prima E.55S claimed to be India’s first hydrogen fuel cell powered tractor concept. A close second was the Prima H.55S as a hydrogen powered ICE-concept truck which was well received too. The company also displayed the Starbus Fuel Cell EV claimed to be India’s first hydrogen fuel cell bus for commercial application. The unveils included a total of five products: Signa in the 28-55-tonne range and known

Prima E 55s H2, 55-tonner 4x2 tractor Head

Prima E 55s FC, 55-tonner 4x2 tractor

to be underpinned by the new generation, all-energy architecture and modern cabin on offer for the M&HCV range.

The OEM also unveiled the new I&LCV (seven-19tonne) truck Azura, said to be underpinned by a new generation architecture complete with new exteriors and interiors. The Ultra E.9 zero emission, is a smart logistics city truck for intracity, with high-capacity urban cargo transportation capabilities. The Magic EV brought in the electric variant of the last-mile passenger transport, market leader Tata Magic. The Prima E.28K, was also unveiled. Taking us through the launches, averred Girish Wagh, Executive Director, Tata Motors, “With our goal to achieve net-zero emissions by 2045, we are transforming mobility by re-imagining our entire product portfolio, value chain and operations. We have unveiled India’s cleanest, smartest, and most advanced range of logistics and mass mobility solutions across all segments of commercial vehicles. Underpinned by the state-of-the-art propulsion technologies, we are uniquely positioned to offer in every segment multiple green fuel options.”

Wagh opined that the commitment and proactive actions leading to the fructification of zero-emission technologies will enable customers to progressively and seamlessly transition to cleaner and commercially viable mobility solutions, as part of the short- and long-term goalposts. He went on to opine that there would be a mix of preferences going forward in conventional fuels, NG, blended fuels like flex-fuel to BEVs and hydrogen comprising of FECV and H2-ICE. “The

starbus Fuel Cell EV with a 35+d seating capacity.

6.7-litre CnG 48-tonne truck based on the G-signa series

country will balance the energy basket very judiciously to ensure that there is emission-reduction, import substitution taking place as of current consistently along with energy security making it imperative to have all of these technologies in the product portfolio,” he explained. For some time, he implied, the technologies will coexist until such time that conventional fuels are consumed lesser and ZEVs move up the ladder.

The company is preparing to be fuel-agnostic in its approach going forward, and lead the transition in the segment. Going beyond selling the product, the company is focused on building an ecosystem around its offerings. In the case of

buses where the company won the tender and commenced its supplies, cited Wagh, the agreement revolves around the pillars of own, operate and maintain. This in turn required that the company developed skills and capabilities. In the case of ACE

EV, to address customer anxieties, the company has bundled the product with comprehensive fleet management solutions to support the vehicle for five years. The company has its hands full with all these imperatives, he quipped. It is

Magic EV aimed for the passenger transport (10+d) and last-mile

new Azura I&LCV (GVW 7-19-tonne) underpinned by a new generation architecture complete with new exteriors and interiors.

ultra E.9 EV for intracity transport

tata Prima E.28K, an electric tipper concept aimed at mining and closed-loop applications.

not a new development per se, the company has been at it for over a decade and a half. The company has worked on product iterations of the earlier showcased products for a go-to-market strategy relevant in today’s times.

Referring to the LNG bus demonstrated first in 2017 at its Pune plant. At that point and time, the company collaborated with Petronet where the company received positive feedback. The buses are still operating, stated

Wagh. Linking it to the company’s latest, LNG tipper, close to the production stage, the company is catering to mining customers to address this need. Agreeing with the company working on the fuel cells for over a decade now, the company has ensured that the technology graduates up to a certain benchmark. Also close to production, the company has gained acceptance in the form of an Indian oil tender in 2022 which the company readies to supply in a few

months from now. The company will continue to develop these technologies further and wait for an opportune time to commercialise these. In some cases, the company expects to have to create that opportunity on its own. The entire industry pursuing green mobility, Wagh credited the climate change awareness for the spike in activity.

Admitting to the product classification going down to the wire with every sub-segment distinguished, Wagh gave the example of smaller vehicles and buses for that matter, meant for intracity applications, implying the need for a lower BEV range. Given that the technology has proved itself in passenger cars, the company is confident of applying it on a case-to-case basis to the CV segment cited. Here, when scaling up the application to heavy-duty and longer hauls, the considerations change as per Wagh. “BEV has its limitations. One needs more batteries leading to higher kerb weight, reducing the payload in turn. In these cases, hydrogen is emerging as a good option given that its energy density is better,” he mentioned. The company is backing this use case with H2FCEV and H2-ICE.

The OEM Yodha CNG and the Intra V20 Bi-Fuel (long range) and the Prima G.35K are said to be India’s first LNG Tipper for heavyduty applications. It showcased the premium variant of the Winger that offers luxurious interiors in an attempt to redefine ride comfort. The Tata Ace EV and Starbus EV were also on display. To close the ecosystem loop, the company displayed the digital and connected solutions offerings in the ‘e-Dukaan’, fleet edge and fleet management solution. It was rounded off with the display of the 5.3-litre H2-ICE engine, 2.2-litre CNG engine and the E-Axle RAE 1010.

tata Winger exterior and interiors.

(Ltor): 5.3L H2-ICE engine, 2.2L CnG engine, and the E-Axle rAE 1010.

TanGiBle ouTcoMeS aT aShoK leYland

Ashok Leyland Ltd. is pursuing its sustainable development goals with renewed vigour. Ashish Bhatia caught up with the core team on the tangible outcomes resulting in the gain of the lost market share.

Ashok Leyland Ltd. wound up a year long strategy to address customer requirements with the display at the Auto Expo 2023- The Motor Show. Finding ways to stay profitable and minimise the pressures of operating margins, the Hinduja Group company showcased a total of seven mobility solutions including options in Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) and the hydrogen platform. It showcased the Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (H2-FCEV),

Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine (H2-ICE) vehicle, Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) solution, an intercity Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) coach, and a mini passenger bus on the Dost platform that drew second looks courtesy an established cargo hauling DNA. Dheeraj Hinduja, Executive Chairman, Ashok Leyland Ltd., stated, “Through this futuristic and innovative product portfolio, we have once again demonstrated our technological leadership, and more importantly our commitment

to the clean mobility mission. The range of our new clean-energy products, covering both the truck and bus segments, underscores our capability and readiness to lead the transformation in the road transportation sector.” He committed to remaining deeply invested in the cause of sustainability, aspiring to lead the market with new-generation commercial vehicles.

Taking the podium, and slipping into his new role with aplomb, Managing Director and Chief

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Ashok Leyland AVtr H2FCEV in a 4x2 configuration.

(L-r)

Executive Officer, Shenu Agarwal put forth his views. He averred, “The automotive sector has seen a wave of technological upgrade in the last two years with green fuel being the future of the industry. Having one of the best R&D teams in the country, we want to continue our path to innovate and leverage new technology to be a leader in sustainable and environment friendly mobility.” He shared, the OEM aims to make the alternate fuel segment self-reliant as one of the flag bearers of the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ campaign. To achieve this, he stressed on the need to be agile to tap into market opportunities that come by with a digital mind-set and a customer centric approach. The fabric of Ashok Leyland has embodies this over the years, he exclaimed.

In an exclusive chat, he mentioned that the current fiscal looked promising. He credited the government at the centre for its long-term impetus on infra structural development that is proving to be a significant tailwind for the company. He cited favourable conditions over the next two- to three-years. “Ashok Leyland has been able to recover its market share very fast and hopefully we will attain our best market share ever very soon too,” he expressed. Hailing the current times as exciting for the company and the industry as a whole, he admitted that the energy levels at the company are at their peak. He credited the mix of product and services for being able to recover the lost market share.

Sanjeev Kumar, Business HeadM&HCV at the company also cited tailwinds working in favour of the company. Admitting to the slower pace of scaling up CNG products when it were first introduced into the market, having lagged more than the company expected, he shared that the company had taking the learnings along. “We are clear this time round that we will be ready with all the technologies this time around,” he asserted. The company is confident of being in a position to improve its presence across geographies like the North (~33-34 per cent contribution to total volumes at the company in comparison to 21-22 per cent from South) and the East. North East together accounts for ~60-65 per cent plus for the company as a testimony to growing acceptance in

its satellite markets which continues to be a strong focus area for the company. He expressed hope in the India consumption subject to supply-chains expected to support the projections. Kumar cited the example of advanced markets like the US and China that went through a similar churn over the three decades.

He drew attention to the delivery of 29 H2-FCVs in partnership with Reliance Group, he shared how the company was working on small proof of concepts with its customers. He cited the AVTR platform as the core to this strategy which allows to retain the basic geometric and structural integrity of the vehicles as the base of a modular approach. He hailed the latest developments as a culmination of a rigorous threeyear exercise with each stakeholder including partner suppliers playing their part. While the adoption level has improved, he said the team was working to attain Economies of Scale (EoS) to get the costing right with domestic capacities aligned to it. The average order size has gone up sizeably, he shared pointing at

dr n saravanan, President and Chief technology officer, Ashok Leyland Ltd., shenu Agarwal, Chief Executive officer and Managing director, Ashok Leyland Ltd., in conversation with Ashish Bhatia, Executive Editor, CV Magazine.

Ashok Leyland Boss EV based on 1218 HB platform.

the growing preference of hightonnage vehicles consistently with traction in the tipper and MultiAxle Vehicles (MAVs) driven by the need to move several aggregates like coal and iron-ore etc. Tractor Heads are also gaining traction, he shared.

Dr N Saravanan, President and Chief Technology Officer, Ashok Leyland Ltd., mentioned that there are several drive train permutations and combinations today to pursuit the end goal of carbon neutrality that the company is working on. “We have the prowess on technology with an inhouse capability on diesel, CNG, LNG and H2ICE. We are demonstrating our capabilities across segments for the benefit of our customers.” He spoke highly of the modular approach that paves the way for using the same base platform and scaling it up to meet the duty cycles of different customer use cases. “The credit for our quick development cycles goes to our AVTR platform. We did not envision the transition to take place so soon but we had a plan in place for the industry shifting beyond diesel to so many alternatives which we have been able to press into action,” he explained. We expect to be ahead of the curve in terms of time to market, going forward, he stated.

On services, the company is looking to customise telematic applications with specific User Interfaces (UI) for meeting customer needs. He admitted to it being a tipping point as well. Admitting to the challenges en route to monetisation, going forward, he added, the company was confident of convincing customers on showing a tangible improvement on metric like improving fuel economics or procuring spares at a lower cost as examples. On pursuing technological parity among domestic and export interests, commercial and defence

applications, the company is claimed to have been able to reduce complexities and able to juggle the needs of zero emissions compliance to emission six levels in a vast demographic. It is closely watching the varied requirements and working towards meeting them on a case-to-case basis as per Dr Sarvanan. With similar challenges for OEMs across the globe, its the ability to tap into an opportunity that will set one OEM apart from the other, he opined.

The OEM drew attention to a 75 years old legacy, and how the company had succeeded in building a pan-India service network with 24x7 support, and in-house development capabilities. Building on it, the manufacturer aims to expand product lines and in turn expand its presence in the fastgrowing alternate fuel segment. In the BEV segment, Ashok Leyland displayed the Boss BEV aimed at green mobility requirements.

Powered by a Lithium-ion battery pack, the company has optimised the architecture to minimise the impact of battery pack weight eating into the payload. The company is claimed to have cracked a lightweight built. Its Hydrogen FCEV, has the fuel cell atmospheric oxygen along with hydrogen produce electricity. This in turn charges the power electronics and the motor that further drives the vehicle. The inclusion of a Lithiumion battery pack coupled with an external charging provision allows the vehicle to operate on a limited electric range as the backup. To ensure high safety level on board, the company has made provision for a leak detection system.

The flavour of auto expo (H2ICE) had the company leverage its partnership with RIL. Akin to the conventional combustion engines, the company is known to have made only a few tweaks to have it run on hydrogen. The vehicle comes

Sanjeev Kumar, Business HeadM&HCV, Ashok Leyland Ltd.

with L2-Advanced Driver Assistant System (ADAS) to meet the needs of enhanced vehicle and road safety. Having launched an LNG truck last year (2022), the company upped the ante with a dual-fuel vehicle, LNG and CNG hybrid. The architecture of the truck ensures the natural gas is super-cooled and cryogenically stored in liquid form in a tank mounted on the truck in line with the growing demand for LNG in the long-haulage HD

trucks offering 1000 km range on a single fill. All of these products are derived from the AVTR modular vehicle platform with a high-degree of sub-aggregates commonality with the company’s diesel range in an attempt to offer higher performance reliability. With an ability to smoothly transition to he Realworld Driving Emission (RDE) emission norms (BSVI-phase two), the company has planned ahead. It is closely watching the Euro7

compliance norms and how it will be translated into the Indian context. The company expects it to be rolled out between 2027-29 subject to regulatory requirements.

On its unique positioning credited to sister company Albonair, Dr Sarvanan informed, that the learnings from the latter’s experience of working with EU OEMs holds it on good stead. In the people mover range the 4x2 13.5m Intercity CNG bus attracted onlookers. Positioned as the longest bus in the growing segment, the company claims to have fitted the most powerful turbo charged CNG engine. About 1500-litre (255 kg) of CNG is stored in light weight composite cylinders said to have been safely mounted over the frame. This is claimed to give the bus an approximate 1000 kms range. The bus is built to offer maximised luggage space of 11 Cu. m., claimed to be the highest among the CNG buses. It also offers 20 per cent higher passenger capacity with 36 berths, a segment high as per company claims.

Drawing from the DNA of the Bada Dost, the company showcased the Bada Dost Xpress that runs on CNG too. A mini passenger bus, its engine is tuned for both city and highway driving. The ergonomic design has room to seat 12 passengers with special attention paid to an easy ingress and egress. Inclusions like the grab rails, safety handles, and anti-skidding flooring stood out. The vehicle will be offered with AC (optional) and Vehicle Tracking System (VTS). The company is also gearing to build an ecosystem around its product while hoping to bring the supporting infrastructure like lane markings to be able to scale up the adoption of tech like lane-departure assist, L1-L2 ADAS etc. It could foray into niche applications with these over waiting for the entire ecosystem to be built for rollout.

Bada Dost Xpress is a CNG mini passenger bus.

6x4 LNG Tractor Head based on the 5532 AN platform.

a new Breed For TranSporTaBiliTY

VE Commercial Vehicles had Eicher Motors and Volvo Group bring in smart, sustainable transport solutions. Ashish Bhatia looks at the new intracity and intercity additions enhancing operator transportability.

VE C ommercial Vehicles Ltd. had Eicher Motors and Volvo Group put together a strong showcase of people and cargo movers. At the Auto Expo 2023 - The Motor Show, this translated to a new breed of intracity and intercity, transportability taking centre stage. It was a testimony to the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) aligning its mix to the government’s overall vision of decarbonising the CV industry with greener transport

solutions and introducing efficiency in logistics. Vinod Aggarwal, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer at the company, said, “As a successful Volvo Group and Eicher Motors JV, VECV was the first to build and introduce modern BSVI technology in India. Eicher and Volvo trucks and buses are backed by our 100 per cent 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. Under the banner of smart sustainability, VECV is well poised to harness this opportunity and play a trans formative role in the Indian CV industry,” he stated.

At the Auto Expo, the company relied on the 4.9-tonne Gross

@atashishbhatia

Vehicle Weight (GVW) electric avatar of the Eicher Pro 2049. A distribution truck aimed at nearcity and city distribution duty cycles, it comes with a composite container with a deck length of 12 ft., an OTP-based lock smart locking system for cargo safety and transport effectiveness, telematics and connected vehicle, and infotainment for improved operational efficiency. In a unique display, the company’s LNG and CNG bi-fuel (hybrid) on the Eicher Pro 8055 series impressed. It is claimed to give the operator flexibility for navigating the long haul with LNG and the option to switch to CNG in regions with a denser distribution network. The company additionally displayed an LNG drivetrain for long haulage besides displaying an H2-ICE-based engine. Staying on Hydrogen, the prototype Eicher Pro 3015 Hydrogen Fuel Cell Truck was also showcased. Eicher has leveraged the internal synergies and the grip on the 13.5m coach segment came to

the fore yet again. The Eicher 13.5m electric intercity coach was displayed as a value offering. The company also displayed the nine-metre, 32+D seater, Eicher Skyline Pro-E with a 300 km rated range on a single charge under standard conditions.

onGoInG CoMMErCIAL

trIAL WItH LnG

Contributing in its inimitable way, Volvo Trucks caught the attention with its showcase of the Volvo FM LNG 420 4x2 Tractor Head. Known to be undergoing extensive trials with a leading e-commerce operator for the long-haul, hub-tohub operations. A single CBU unit is known to have been brought in for the purpose. Claimed Boddapati Dinakar. Executive Vice President - Volvo Trucks India - VECV, the Volvo LNG solution is based on a unique, diesel-cycle technology that provides a 15-20 per cent improvement in fuel economy. Focused on a niche market that was relatively well insulated from the Covid-19-induced slump, Dinakar

hailed the steady business with marginal impact at that time. Citing the uptick in the power sector, coal mining, and road construction, he admitted to these having a positive bearing on business as a whole. The product mix designed for such sectors has had the company gain high traction. Towards the end of 2022, he said, the push on building sustainable solutions was high on the agenda for the industry as a whole. This he opined, explained the seemingly parallel efforts from competition to offer a mix of co-existing, green technologies. The 420 4x2 LNG Tractor Head positioned as a long-haul, alternative fuel transport solution is one such effort, he averred.

tHE BEnEFIts oF tHE dIEsEL duty CyCLE

The company expects the 13-litre 420 4x2 LNG Tractor Head, on commercial trials will be offered with diesel duty cycle and not a petrol or an otto cycle (constant volume cycle), explained Dinakar. This implies that the company

The prototype Eicher Pro 3015 Hydrogen Fuel Cell truck.

already has an inherent efficiency giving it an edge. It is claimed to be more fuel efficient with a 20-25 per cent lower carbon footprint.

The OEM with LNG is targeting a 1000 km range on a single fill. It will be able to better project the initial demand once the LNG distribution network in the country comes up to the scale desired for such duty cycles according to Dinakar. “In my opinion, it is another game-changing technology,” he asserted. With the introduction of new products, the company in an ongoing exercise, continues to pursue new product derivatives in a common-architecture approach. The older products are retired where they can be replaced with the latest technology, explained Jonas Nilsson, Vice President, India and Indonesia, Volvo Trucks.

CustoMEr VALuE ProPosItIon

Admitting to the need for the ecosystem to be developed for the new transport solutions to be commercially viable, Dinakar expressed, “We are very positive on

that front as both the government at the centre and the state are equally upbeat in their sentiment having received the technological advancements well. Volvo Trucks will go to the customer on a Customer Value Proposition (CVP) and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) basis after the commercial trials conclude through which the OEM expects to learn more about the various factors crucial to the commercialisation strategy.” Not new to reverse engineering advanced technology at its disposal before marrying it to the commercial opportunity in the target market, the company plays the waiting game well. On the way to ensure that the productivity and efficiency levels of the customers graduate to the next stage, shared Dinakar, the company is well aware of the niche segments where the advanced products introduced can be applied in the near term. Looking at opportunities relevant to the niche segments the

company operates in, the strategy is to build an island around these. While the company has had to wait for the ecosystem desired by its products to come up, it prefers to focus on advancing as a niche player, tapping into the low-hanging fruits. A testimony to it is the manner in which the company was able to push its high-performance, road trains for express logistics when the industry was heavily dependent on rigid trucks. From clocking 1015,000 kms monthly, the segment running rigid trucks has taken notice of the capability brought in by Volvo tractor-trailers. The new transportability has operators carrying higher loads with a lesser TAT. It has resulted in operators being able to clock 25,000 kms on a monthly average with the tractortrailers clocking 29,000 kms on select occasions too. The gamechanging transport solution is only expected to find more takers in the future given the success story.

Vishal Mathur, sVP, LMd trucks Business, VECV.

Akash Passey, President, Bus divsion, VECV.

Nilsson, expressed hope for a faster adaptation of the product in the future, once the industry emerges from the Covid-19induced slump and can set aside the volatilities like the changing geopolitical equations. The company even on conventional ICE has added advanced features to convince the customer of a value proposition to switch to next generation of Volvos as per Dinakar. Apart from offering enhanced fuel efficiency, he informed, the company would soon roll out an improved generation of trucks which includes a more efficient engine management system, gearbox and after treatment system, automatic electronic braking system, and driver assistance among key internal components built around CVP. The objective is to offer a superior technology backed by the requisite ecosystem. This includes best loading and unloading practices, and truck utilisation at optimum levels in addition to driver skilling exercises to get the best out of the trucks, he said.

IndIA VIs-A-VIs GLoBAL MArKEts

The strategy is to partner with other progressive companies to create a market for the Group’s products as a follow up move to the government interventions. “In India, from 2015-16 there have been a series of changes driving progress. From the GST rollout, the transport between states followed by a series of policy interventions that have led to the road network development strengthening,” explained Nilsson. This is a big boost to the company’s strategy to offer efficient transportation at a pace faster than in the rest of the world. Akin to Indonesia, also a dense market, for example, the latter being in a landlocked state as an island country is also developing expressways. In comparison, India, with a broader landmass is developing on a larger scale, he admitted.

In Indonesia, the scale up of the Total Industry Volume (TIV) for the LNG Tractor Head is still some time away however the market is similar to India on the commodity

front like the prioritisation of coal, copper, nickel and gold which gives the company the added advantage of leveraging knowledge sharing in business for the two regions of interest. On India as a hub for Volvo Trucks globally, Nilsson admitted that the market was the fastest growing economy, and the company’s over two-and-a-half decade presence has set itself up for success on a global scale. The next five years look very promising, Nilsson quipped. With the LNG Tractor Head up and running since 2019 for Volvo Trucks in the EU region, the company has a repository of learnings from running it on LNG as well as on biogas using by products of household items and agricultural waste. It can be made available in different axle and horsepower configurations too for different cycle requirements, he confirmed.

The market evolution has the company closely assessing the business viability of diverse solutions like Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) up to the H2-FCEVs on the other end of the spectrum according to Dinakar. 2025 onwards, Volvo Trucks, independent of the National Hydrogen Mobility Mission would introduce the H2-FCEV range as an example. The group representatives, however, hailed the announcement of the programme as an encouraging

The nine-metre, Eicher skyline Pro-E.

The H2-ICEbased engine.

move for the development of the ecosystem desired by such trucks. The use of hydrogen in ICE was credited as being a step in the direction of speeding up the evolution of the hydrogen-based economy. The company is confident of stepping up the gas beginning with trials in line. The objective being to fulfil various requirements suitable for the company’s target segments.

VoLVo BusEs IndIA

Volvo Buses India upped the ante and reminded of its prowess in building state-of-the-art, premium coaches. It displayed the 15m Volvo 9600 coach in an

uber luxury avatar. The coach was built to offer first-class luxury seating for what the company claims will lend an exclusive travel experience. The coach comes with a surveillance system, full-length sun visor, retractable type front windshield area, child-friendly soft touch handles, ladder and restrainers without metal surface exposed, individual USB charging ports, individual AC louvres and reading lights, theatre-type saloon, ergonomically placed switches/ controls, the rear view camera with a seven-inch TFT as standard features. The variant displayed at the Auto Expo is known to have been built for transporting delegates arriving in India for the various rounds of G20 meetings. The cabin design with an all-new driver environment offered a modern, clean layout, curved around the driver for an ergonomic working environment. An on board toilet and a working pantry complete with kitchen counter and appliances added to the appeal.

The Group companies will push a wide variety of customer-centric solutions. Backed by a 100 per cent, connected fleet and state-of-the-art Uptime centres.

(Ltor): Boddapati dinakar. Executive Vice President - Volvo trucks India - VECV, Jonas nilsson, Vice President, India and Indonesia, Volvo trucks in talks with Ashish Bhatia, Executive Editor at CV Magazine.

The Volvo FM 420 4x2 LnG tractor Head is on commercial trials in India.

The 15m Volvo 9600 coach in a premium guise.

The SwiTch To e-lcvs

Switch Mobility forayed into e-LCVs as hinted at earlier. Ashish Bhatia looks at the tweaks to the modular architecture for the new launch driving the green mobility strategy, afresh.

Switch Mobility was aptly stationed alongside the Ashok Leyland booth at the Auto Expo 2023The Motor Show. The company, as hinted earlier during its electric bus launches in 2022, came good on the time line of its intended electric Light Commercial Vehicles (e-LCV) foray. The e-LCV segment is the other priority segment after electric buses for Switch. Having given a sneak peek at the work underway on previous occasions, the power train modularities for e-LCVs fructified. The Switch ion platform also underpins the bus range, from the Switch EiV 9 Standard to the ultra-low

floor Switch EiV 12 up to the double-decker Switch EiV 22, most recently in the news for deliveries in India to STUs BEST in Maharashtra and BMTC in Bengaluru besides the G20 run. The products have also entered Chandigarh, Patna and Ahmedabad.

Drawing on its Ashok Leyland and Optare DNA, the LCV foray is a testimony to the flexibility and the go-to-market agility at our disposal, and an outcome of a journey that began a decade ago, averred Dheeraj Hinduja, Executive Chairman at the company. He said, “It is when we positioned an all-electric bus in the UK a decade ago when the

industry, globally, was uncertain about the future of electric vehicles.” “We are fortunate to have Optare in the UK with the proven track record in electric vehicles and Ashok Leyland with its rich market presence, brand equity and above all the rich history of product introductions,” he expressed.

With capabilities to tap into both value and premium segments, globally with its presence in India, the UK and Spain, the company is banking on low-cost engineering support from the India base, the added advantage for the company as per Hinduja. He drew attention to the addressable EV market

@atashishbhatia

opportunity in buses, estimated at a “conservative” USD 16 bn by 2030 as per McKinsey studies with a volume of over 42,000 units. Here, the company as per Hinduja, expects the LCV business to be USD 55 bn with a volume of over 420,000 units implying a large market potential for the future growth of Switch. The progress is largely dictated by high battery prices and federal ground, and the momentum has picked up. Hinduja drew attention to the high acquisition costs being addressed by Emobility-as-aService (EmaaS) through Switch’s subsidiary company, Ohm Mobility, vehicle subscriptions, and Battery as a Service (BaaS) options among Value-Added Services (VAS) for an end-to-end connected EV fleet management system.

While the field may be open for multiple players, the company

would like to focus on a profitable and sustainable basis with its innovative products and solutions aimed at offering the lowest Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). The latter is achieved through light-weighting, modularity, best-in-class battery packs and state-of-the-art digital adaptation. In line with a global strategy, the company has expanded to nine sites across three countries. It is looking forward to entering new markets in the near term. Backed by the Sterling Pound 300 mn, a recent investment, a new technical centre in Warwick, in the UK and the new office in Chennai with ~4000 employees. The company is confident of the government’s impetus on infrastructure fuelling the growth of the CV segment where Switch has the right mix of products in both the e-bus and the e-LCV range. The company hopes to

launch the showcased e-LCVs soon.

Going deeper, Mahesh Babu, Chief Executive Officer at the company took the press gathering through the new range that marked the e-LCV foray in cargo and people mover categories. The iEV series had the company display the GVW 2.6-tonne (2620 kg) e-LCV truck. The truck offers a volume load of 250 Cu. ft. with a ~150 km range (non-AC) at a 70 kmph speed limit. It draws its power from a motor that has a peak rated power of 40 kW. Babu cited the cornerstone of this development as being the customer needs that have evolved. Today’s fleet operator needs an efficient fleet management system, on a vehicle that’s both modular and intelligent. Like in the case of Switch buses, the platform will be used to shape up multiple cargo models that will be more voluminous over weighing heavier. Through the new range, the company will offer best-inclass payload, range and TAT that is backed by reliability. It will span a spectrum from upwards of 1.24.5 tonnes.

Drawing attention to the EV industry in India growing to 10 mn units in 2022, he mentioned, “The e-bus market is going to double this year and is expected to triple in the next fiscal. The e-bus market is expected to grow 10x in the next five years with the Switch and the order book at Switch is a testimony of the company growing over the industry average.” In India, Babu pegged the bus industry at ~85,000 units for five-metre to 12m buses. Here the nine-metre to 10m buses are estimated to be around 40,000 units, he said. The company expects EVs to attain ~50 per cent of that volume in the decade for

Mahesh Babu, CEo, switch Mobility Ltd., with the EiV 7 configured to meet the demanding needs of the urban community.

which the company is gearing up. Laying further context, he added that the company had its first e-bus ready over eight years back with work on EVs underway a decade back. The company today has a global footprint, with 750 employees with a ~300-member strong R&D team and ~300 buses running across the globe having clocked ~50 mn kilometres.

Using data, the company has optimised its products. In line with its objective to “democratise carbon mobility”, the company wants to make EVs more accessible.

In a further expansion of its bus portfolio, the Switch EiV 7 bus unveil is aimed at last-mile mobility. Unveiled by Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport and Highways of India, the latest addition to the EiV series, is claimed to have been uniquely configured to meet the demanding needs of the urban community such as last-mile connectivity through metro feeders and smart commute for staff and school applications besides as campus shuttles. Babu

The proprietary technology solutions of switch ion that enables remote, real-time diagnostics and monitoring.

claimed, “In the Indian electric bus market, private operators are showing keen interest, given the lower total cost of operations and sustainability commitments. He explained that the EiV 7 is built on an advanced architecture, contributing to enhanced operational efficiency and superior performance. The 650V architecture for India is at par with its EU solution, he exclaimed.

The bus brings along customer-centric technology and passenger comfort with a low floor, luxurious seating, in-vehicle connectivity and a superior ride quality. Powered by the new generation, modular batteries

with advanced NMC chemistry, specially formulated for the Indian market and climatic conditions, the bus is known to be embedded with proprietary technology solutions of Switch iON that enables remote, realtime diagnostics and monitoring. With Switch iON, the company has introduced features like satellite tracking, charging tracker, and OTA updates among uptime solutions including ADAS and Driver Dashboard as a bundled suite offering around 100 plus features for diagnostic and prognostic needs. With an assurance of best-in-class TCO, it can clock 250 kms with a dual charging gun. For the charging

ecosystem, the company has partners in Duosida and Seimens for multiple configurations. It is claimed to charge 0-80 per cent in under an hour. In an hour and a half, the architecture facilitates a top-up of 300 kms in intercity applications. Powered by Dana’s globally competent technology of 235 kW and a 3000+ Nm torque, the company can offer nine-and 12m buses too.

The battery pack is claimed to be 30 per cent lighter than the competition and offers high energy density. With a claimed ~4000 cycles plus life, the company is offering eight years warranty to back the claim. These packs are configurable upwards of 110 kW to 460 kW with a two-speed thermal management system. Safety is enhanced with a three-layer (module, battery and string level including vehicle level components with a (-) five degrees to 55 degrees. Using data analytic and mining, with the capability of collecting close to two terabytes of data. The company has attained ~18 per cent energy efficiency as a tangible outcome as per Babu.

The company also showcased an open-top, hop-on hopoff tourist application for the intra-city segment on the Switch EiV 22. Carrying forward the wide front and rear doors, two staircases, and an emergency door complying with the latest safety standards, the bus optimised to seat 65 passengers is powered by a 231 kWh capacity, two-string, liquid-cooled, higher density NMC chemistry battery pack also with a dual gun charging system. It boasts a 250 km range for intra-city applications. The nextgeneration, modular architecture with superior technology has enabled Switch to attain both scale and customer-centricity.

An open-top, hop-on hopoff tourist application for the intra-city segment on the switch EiV 22.

The JBM E-VERSE

JBM Auto expanded its electric universe. Prateek Pardeshi goes through the new products and the ecosystem backing them.

Amultimodal transport stem can’t do without people movers. With the tourism sector opening up and the need to do intracity and intercity travel through buses and coaches, there is significant headroom for new offerings to capture the market.

JBM at Auto Expo 2023 - The Motor Show impressed with its state-of-the-art products to meet the requirements of different sub-segments. Building on the buzz created around the one E9 bus in 2022, the company introduced four new products at the Motor Show. The new products part of the Electric Universe (E-Verse) are claimed to alleviate range anxiety and make EVs more impactful as per Nishant Arya, Vice Chairman at the JBM Group.

The company brought in the new Galaxy, a long-haul coach built on a monocoque chassis which the OEM has high expectations from. It also showcased the staff and school bus applications based on the E9 platform. To support its new range of products, JBM also brought in the supporting ecosystem led by the first rapid charger with a capacity of 500 kW. The charger is claimed to fully charge in 45-50 minutes, comparable to the charging time of our smart phones. The

JBM electric buses build on the learnings of deployment in over 12 Indian states where the JBM Ecofuel charger series is known to have been installed to support seamless city bus operations. Using it the JBM Ecobolt batteries on board the bus are charged.

IntErCIty APPLICAtIon

The 12.4m Galaxy coach with a capacity to seat (recliners) 45 passengers in a 2x2 layout is the first product from JBM to have a high-strength corrosion resistance monocoque structure and bus body built in compliance with AIS 052. The wide body (2590 mm) and 6350 mm wheelbase

bus make it roomier and give it a strong on-road presence. Claimed to have built and designed the coach in-house, it has several firsts to its credit. For starters, the coach design has been revisited with its DNA traced to match the ECO-LIFE E9, a nine-metre bus showcased last year. The design focused on enhancing aerodynamics with LED mounted on ORVMs, piano-black finish and chrome inserts on the hood among additions adding to its premium appeal. On the starboard side, there is a provision for storage under the floor bed. The additional gain of space given that it’s an EV opens up the rearengine compartment had it been

an ICE coach. The roof extension at the rear, at first resembling a spoiler, is used intelligently to mount the reverse camera. The rear windshield houses the LED Passenger Information System (PIS). The taillight is in trapezoidal shape and it quite resembles the LED brake light akin to the Eicher intercity range. Three reverse parking sensors aid the driver. The Galaxy is claimed to have a 1000 km range on a single charge powered by an advanced Li-ion battery pack that supports the regenerative charge. The coach is offered disc brakes with EBS and scores high on safety inclusions with ADAS, ECAS, EBS, and EVSC coupled with Hill-hold assist. Operators and passengers could take to a liking with calve support, vehicle tracking, reading lamp, and coach kneeling for easy ingress.

sCHo oL And stAFF sEGMEnts

JBM waited patiently for the school and staff bus segments to generate demand. Based on the ECO-LIFE (E9 and E12)

platform. The 37 and 45 seater options for the nine-metre variant and 63-seater in the 12m variant gives operators a choice as per their requirements. The bus code compliance translates to standard inclusions for added safety. Arya explained, “We have equipped the bus with fire detection systems, and all the material used for bodybuilding is fire retardant. We also ensure best-in-class performance from our batteries.”

EC

EM

engines in their pavilions to gain a better understanding. Likewise, JBM for its E-Verse displayed aggregates Ecobolt BMS, a highpower battery pack, advanced telematics sensors, and actuators.

JBM Green Energy Systems Pvt. Ltd. manufactures the BMS. The company also displayed two EV chargers, one a 360 kW ultra-fast DC charger and the other a 240 kW super-fast DC charger.

FuturE ProsPECts

JBM is banking on its R&D team of approximately 500 plus employees in India and Europe that drive its product and integrated strategy. Since its inception in 2014, JBM is claimed to have constantly refreshed its range to align with the market needs. A 24x7 afters ales network has helped it assure a high uptime to operators, said Arya. The new product range that includes the intercity coach is aimed at penetrating deeper into the competitive segment. Arya revealed that the company is also working on an alternative drivetrain that will be unveiled soon. As of current, private fleet accounts for over 50 per cent of the OEM sales with STUs accounting for ~23 per cent. The company is also expected to grow its exports.

osyst

Manufacturers used to display their

e-BIZLife for staff bus duties.

e-skooLife for school bus duties.

Industry Talk

up ScalinG The elecTric BuS and coach oFFerinGS

JBM wants to meet the requirements of its customers. In an industry talk session, Nishant Arya, Vice Chairman at the JBM Group shared with Prateek Pardeshi the road map to upscale the business.

Q. What makes the JBM fleet of buses and coaches stand out?

A. We are showcasing the JBM E-Verse, which comprises of JBM E-mobility ecosystem platform. Here we have launched four new products that have India’s first indigenously developed electric coach. In terms of customer comfort, we have the best legroom on offer, luxurious interiors, and best-in-class and nextgeneration batteries on offer. Most recently we have also launched a 500 kW ultra-fast charging the first in the history of India. Through the Eco-life city bus, we are catering to intracity requirements. The e-BizLife caters to staff applications. The school bus application is ultra-safe, comfortable and affordable too. As part of the ecosystem, we have displayed Li-ion batteries and our BMS systems with high-performance chargers.

Q. How does your fleet customer stand to benefit?

A. This year we have added an indisputable luxury element where we have addressed utilities and the need for a low TCO. We want to ensure every single customer should enhance his profitability backed by our 24x7 after sales network.

Q. How does the order book for

buses and coaches look like?

A. Currently, we have more than 50 per cent market share in a nonSTU segment which is meant for the private segment. More than 23 per cent in the STU market. Going forward, in my opinion, at a base consideration of ~ 80-90 thousand buses per annum, in a steady state excluding the Covid-period, we expect electric to account for over 50 per cent by FY27.

Q. Has the school bus segment reached the pre-Covid levels?

A. Yes the market has recovered. We launched the school bus on day one of the Auto Expo 2023 - The Motor Show, and we could align our launch timing where it is becoming imperative for educational institutions to buy such kind of bus. Moreover, we have equipped the bus with fire detection systems, and all the material used for bodybuilding is fire retardant where we also ensure best-in-class performance from our batteries. The seats are luxurious and comfortable, reducing fatigue too.

Q. Are you looking at alternative drivetrains apart from BEVs?

A. So we have been producing CNG products for the last eight years, and we are definitely working on other alternate drivetrains about which you will hear on from us soon.

Q. What are the growth drivers?

A. We have a strong order book and delivery plans for more than 5000 buses in the next Financial Year (FY23-24). If the government pilots trial lending and mandates the transition, we have the facility to scale up and are also in discussions for exports and currently evaluating the demand in emerging markets.

We have a strong order book and delivery plans for more than 5000 buses in the next financial year (fy23-24).

ExhibtS at auto Expo- The MoTor Show 2023

JuPItEr ELECtrIC MoBILIty

Jupiter Electric Mobility (JEM) the subsidiary of Jupiter Wagons Ltd. unveiled two electric CVs aimed at last-mile mobility. The 2.2-tonne GVW Small Commercial Vehicle (SCV) JEM TEZ and the seventonne STAR CC. The TEZ is claimed to run 180 km on a single charge with the STAR CC offering 250 km. JEM is banking on a strategic alliance with North America-based GreenPower Motor Company specialising in commercial electric vehicles in the people mover and freight transport segments. The strategic partnership with Log 9 Materials for EV batteries and Xavion Mobility for vehicle design and development is expected to benefit the company too. The company is targeting Mumbai, Delhi-NCR, Pune, and Bengaluru initially. Elated at the new breakthrough achieved by the company, Vivek Lohia, Managing Director at Jupiter Wagons Ltd. said, “Looking at the cost benefits of EVs and sustainable approach, the segment will eventually take over the ICE market. The government’s vision of creating a green future and favourable policy support will only boost this segment further.” According to the Centre for Energy Finance (CEEW-CEF) study, the EV segment is estimated to reach Rs.50,000 crore in India by 2025, he is known to say.

toyotA KIrLosKAr Motor

Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) displayed a range of products to interest tours and travel operators. In line with the idea of the thrill and joy of moving together, three distinct themes— the technology zone, the emotional zone, and the sustainability zone were conceptualised. The manufacturer piqued visitor interest with display of advanced electrified and green alternative fuel technologies including the HFCEV used on the Mirai. The company also showcased the Innova Hycross, Camry Hybrid, Mirai FCEV, and highlighted the Fuel Cell System Module. It also demonstrated the progress made on Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles. Through the crosssection of Innova Hcross, the company drew attention to high-performance aggregates like the e-motor and HEV battery. All aggregates put together and still maintaining a flat floor without a hump was testimony to the design prowess. For 4x4 enthusiasts, TKM unveiled an adventure extreme, off-road variant of the Hilux with add-ons like lift kit, off road tyres and bumpers, and an all LED light setup.

Statiq made an impression with its sophisticated charging network. In order to support faster adoption of e-mobility, the company executed its nationwide plan to install 20,000 EV charging stations in FY23. Visitors got a firsthand look at the technology that powers Statiq’s extensive EV charging network. This included EV charging mobile apps., and a range of Statiq Chargers. In India, the company claims to have over 7000 public, semi-public, and captive chargers. According to Statiq, over 1000 charging stations have fast-charging technology and are located in strategic locations such as malls, highways, airports, residential and commercial complexes, hotels, and office complexes.

Shriram Automall India Ltd. (SAMIL) is the largest phygital (Physical + Digital) marketplace in India for used vehicles and equipment. The company demonstrated next-generation phygital auction technology at the Auto Expo 2023 via the ‘MySAMIL’ mobile app. The company’s physical presence is handled by 120+ Automalls across India, while online auction services are provided by CarTradeExchange.com, bids.samil.in, and the MyBlueJack mobile app. At Auto Expo, the company drew attention to allied services such as Documentation, Logistics, Financial Assistance, Insurance Assistance, Parking, and FASTag services aimed at retaining and satisfying customers. Consumers, Banks, NBFCs, Insurance Companies, OEMs & Dealers, Leasing, Rental & Aggregator Companies, Brokers, Transporters, and Contractors are claimed to benefit from the company’s B2B business model. Sameer Malhotra, Director and Chief Executive Officer, SAMIL said, “As the economy is reviving post Covid, the market sentiments have turned positive across all the industries and we are seeing the rise in the pre-owned vehicles and equipment market as well.”

SML Isuzu Ltd. displayed four products, three of which belonged to the bus segment and one for the cargo segment. The company showcased the SML Executive LX CNG Turbo in the alternative fuel segment. The 9.6m bus in a school guise draws power from a 107 hp turbocharged (TCIC) CNG engine mated to a five-speed manual transmission. The bus is offered in multiple seating configurations in both a 2x2 and 3x2 layout. The wider gangway and full length school bag hat racks are among the USPs. SML Isuzu also displayed the 6.8m Executive LX powered by a 100 hp CRDi diesel engine. This bus can be had in both a 2x2 and 2x1 configuration. It also expanded its school bus offerings with the 10.5m Hiroi School Bus 5300 on a CRDi diesel engine with an upto 62+D seating capacity in a 3x2 layout. The Samrat GS 24ft MS Container powered by a 3.4-litre CRDi diesel 113 hp engine comes with strong aggregates. Operators

BrakeS IndIa

could appreciate the flexibility of carrying higher payload in the 24 ft. long container with a 1.4 mm corrugated thickness. A ladder on side wall, steel hinges, cam type locking on the rear door and an anti skid MS chequered sheet floor are among the key features on offer that add to the appeal of the Samrat series. Hiroshi Ota san, Senior Vice President - Marketing at SML Isuzu

explained the thought process behind the display and powertrain choices. He said, “The company is focusing on medium duty trucks and buses. BEVs can be a part too to cater to SCVs but largely the choice will be conventional ICE in the case of M&HCVs.” “Hydrogen and LNG are good alternatives too but due to lack of infrastructure, adoption will be gradual. On the other end of the spectrum, hydrogen has limitations too as it is highly flammable in its composition while holding promise for the future.” he concluded.

WheeLS IndIa

At the Auto Expo, a locally developed motor on drum brake with a driverindependent park brake feature was unveiled. The e-booster for vacuumfree brake actuation electric vehicles was also on display. For the CV range, Brakes India brought in the complete air actuation solution and air disc brakes. D Sridharan, President & Head, Heavy Vehicles Business, Brakes India said, “Our product range will span all the way from nine-tonne LCVs going up to 60-tonne tractor trailers.” “With our vast field experience, we have made several patented improvements to the reliability and performance of these products. As the global market has limited choices today, Brakes India has a strong value proposition in this space,” he stated.

Wheels India Ltd. displayed their recently released, cast flow form wheel. One of the manufacturing techniques in the wheel industry is flow forming, which is used in the production of cast alloy wheels. Using the technology, pressure is applied to the wheel both while it is spinning and after it has been cast. The aluminium is stretched and compressed during this process, improving its mechanical qualities. This process characteristics are comparable to the forging process. Compared to a conventional cast wheel, the finished product is significantly more shock-resistant, lighter, and stronger (of the same design). By the end of this year, the flow form wheel should be made available for both the domestic and international markets.

a capex inTenSive BudGeT

The pre-election Union Budget 2023-24 turned out to be CapEx-intensive. Ashish Bhatia looks at the leeway for green mobility and infrastructure over the next fiscal.

The Union Budget 2023 turned out to be CapEx intensive despite being a pre-election year. At 3.3 per cent of the GDP, the capital investment outlay was raised for the third year in a row to rupees 10 lakh crore. The increase is pegged at 33 per cent. Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, in her fifth budget presented to the parliament, pointed at the 3x raise over 2019-20. Calling it the “first budget in Amrit Kaal” she set out to reflect an empowered and inclusive economy. Building on the foundation laid last year (with Union Budget 2022-23), she hailed the seven per cent growth rate as the highest among world economies. Admitting to

the Covid-19 and war-induced slowdown, she put across her firm belief that the nation was on the right track. She spoke highly of India’s global profile due to several accomplishments under the BJPled government and weaved the budget aimed at building a worldclass infrastructure with a focus on green mobility and integrated transport.

Setting out to achieve climaterelated goals the National Hydrogen Mission plan has the country aiming for a production of Five MMTA of hydrogen and bolster its energy independence agenda. The action plan for establishing a Green Hydrogen ecosystem and catalysing a systemic response to the opportunities and challenges

of this sunrise sector is in line to achieve net zero emissions by 2070. Calling the budget “people-centric”, aimed at offering a better quality of life, and one offering a conducive environment for business, it circled back to progress on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The FM began the speech by stressing the need to promote and tap the large potential in the tourism sector that should rekindle hopes for the tours and operators ecosystem of the Covid-19 battered sector. To realise this potential, the government invoked the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model.

To further the “Green Growth” agenda, the FM emphasised the need to pay due attention to ‘Green Fuel’, “Green Energy’,

@atashishbhatia

Vinod Aggarwal, President, sIAM and Md & CEo, VECV Ltd.

A 33 per cent increase in capital outlay with an effective provision of Rs.13.7 lakh crore will spur growth in the economy resulting in a positive impact on the auto sector. The industry is fully aligned with the initiatives on sustainability and decarbonisation and increased focus on hydrogen, ethanol blending, biogas, EVs and battery storage. All in all, this is a growthoriented budget with a positive impact on the auto sector.

P B Balaji, Group CFo, tata Motors Ltd.

The well-rounded and pragmatic Union Budget 2023 provides further impetus to the auto industry. Overall, the confident, finely balanced budget will spur consumption, will crowd in investments without raising inflationary fears and build further confidence amongst global investors in India’s sustainable growth story and take rapid strides towards achieving ‘Amrit Kaal’.

‘Green Farming’ and ‘Green Mobility’ with ‘Green Infrastructure’. She called upon the need to reduce carbon intensity in each of the spheres, and urged the need to look at “inclusive development” right up to the last mile.

FArM MECHAnIsAtIon And FArMEr WELFArE

Under inclusive development, the need to put in place a digital infrastructure and establish farmer-centric solutions found mentioned. The agricultural economy of the nation finds itself with a big void if the farmer did not have better access to farm inputs, she implied. To address this, she announced an agri-fund to encourage startups in the sector. This would be made possible with better collaboration between the farmer, state and

the government at the centre. The Union Budget 2023-24 earmarked an Rs.2000 crore outlay for horticulture, to begin with. With India leading the millet movement, linked to farmer welfare, the agriculture credit target was capped at Rs.20 lakh crore. Sugarcane farmers got a relief of Rs.10,000 crore. The budget set aside Rs.6000 crore for the fisheries sector and committed to setting up fishery and dairy cooperative societies over the next five years in uncovered regions. Admitting to upskilling being the need of the hour, FM announced last-mile welfare schemes in her budget too.

tHE MuLtIPLIEr EFFECt oF InFrAstruCturE

Admitting to infrastructure development has a multiplier effect on the economy, FM

dheeraj Hinduja, Executive Chairman,

Ashok Leyland Ltd.

The budget emphasises comprehensive national infrastructure development and expands on the digitisation of the economy. The road transportation sector plays an important role in national development and would have an even more impactful role, going forward, in supporting the Government’s vision. This budget also echoes our sentiment and commitment to clean energy vehicle.

Mahesh Babu, Chief Executive officer, switch Mobility Ltd.

The government’s focus on infrastructure with enhanced cap ex of Rs.2.7 lakh crore for roads and highways and the budgetary allocation for vehicle scrappage, will certainly accelerate the growth of the CV market in India. Meanwhile, in the EV sector, the government’s move to provide customs duty exemption for the import of specified capital goods and machinery required for the manufacture of lithium-ion cells for batteries is a welcome move, that will play a vital role in making local cell manufacturing cost competitive in the long run. Additionally, green growth is one of the top seven priorities, with an allocation of Rs.35,000 crore, which is a step in the right direction.

Sitharaman, hailed the growing private sector investments. The government announced an extension of the support to state governments for an additional year in a bid to spur investments in infrastructure. The outlay was capped at Rs.1.3 lakh crore. Citing the importance of public resources for the road, rail and infrastructure development, railways were granted Rs.2.40 lakh crore at its highest outlay ever. This is estimated to be 9x of the 2013-14 outlay. The budget had the government identifying 100 critical infra and transport projects with an Rs.75,000 crore outlay in comparison. Regional air connectivity was given a boost too with the announcement of new infrastructure.

FM Sitharaman encouraged states and cities to undertake urban planning in a bid to make them sustainable cities of tomorrow.

Indian economy has increased in size from being 10th to 5th largest in the world in the past nine years.

₹20 lakh crore agricultural credit targeted at animal husbandry, dairy and fisheries

This, the FM stressed, entails better urban land utilisation. Prioritising desludging, is an important move, with the budget committed to 100 per cent mechanisation being a strong focus area. To live up to its motto of ease of doing business, FM announced the reduction of 39,000 compliances to rid the businesses of the compliance burden often referred to. Three Centres of Excellence (CoE) will further be built in partnership with the industry to leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI) through ‘Make AI In India’ to ‘Make AI Work For India’. The state support extended to the govt. think tank Niti Aaayog would also continue to give it the desired effect. In a shift from Aadhaar, PAN was made the common business identifier. To leverage 5G, the budget committed to setting up 100 5G labs in engineering institutions for realising

satyakam Arya, Managing director & CEo, daimler India Commercial Vehicles

Our overall view of the FY 2024 budget is that it is expansive and pragmatic. The budget clearly indicates a penchant for sustainable growth with the potential of aligning with long-term objectives. While the infrastructure push is a fiscal multiplier, it also gives the CV industry plenty of projects to look out for in the medium term. However, we were also expecting more on the National Logistics Policy, and its strategy which was drafted exceptionally and we were eager to see it get implemented or at least have an outlay. A more specific mention of the continuity of the Scrappage Policy would have given a direction to the industry, not just for preparing to replace phased-out vehicles with new ones but to encourage the proliferation of scrappage companies to expand their businesses. The FY 2023-24 Budget shows consistency but the near-term capital inflow is worth monitoring and improvising on in order to transform consistency into healthy momentum.”

and state governments will be replaced as part of the vehicle scrapping policy presents a significant opportunity for fleet modernisation. This budget also echoes our sentiment and commitment to clean energy vehicles for a cleaner and greener future, as part of a national mission to achieve the net zero carbon emission goal.

sunil Puri, Managing director - India & sAArC operations–CAsE C onstruction Equipment

The bolstering of infrastructure development is among the seven priority areas in the union budget’s proposal. With 50 new airports being targeted, Rs.2.7 lakh crore being allocated for road infrastructure and Rs.2.4 lakh crore for railways, the government is placing the right onus on infrastructure development, as it has in recent years. We are also enthused by the announcement of an urban infrastructure development fund and the opportunities presented for private investment in infrastructure through the newly established Infrastructure Finance Secretariat.

suresh KV, President & regional Head, ZF India

This budget highlights significant positive initiatives for the automobile industry through a slew of announcements supporting state government and municipalities in scrapping pollution-causing vehicles. The scheme makes way for faster electric vehicle adoption and helps transition to cleaner mobility in the long run. The national green hydrogen mission will help the economy transition to low carbon intensity and reduce reliance on fossil fuel imports which would help guide the industry’s services toward smart logistics of the future. The increased outlay for infrastructure will also assist the transportation sector as a whole.

Pratik Kamdar, Co-Founder, neuron Energy

The customs duty exemption on capital goods and machinery to manufacture li-ion will be a facilitator for the country to transition to sustainable and eco-friendly mobility. The exemption will have a domino effect on the overall sector with a substantial decrease in the overall cost of the finished products wherein the battery packs are likely to reduce by five per cent coupled with lower initial investments. Additionally, the vehicle scrapping policy will also be beneficial if the old vehicles are replaced by electric vehicles. This will further aid in the country’s vision of mass EV adoption by 2030.

Jayadev Galla, Chairman & Managing director, Amara raja Batteries Pvt. Ltd.

With a total outlay of Rs.35,000 crore for the energy transition segment, custom duty exemptions on the import of capital goods and machinery for lithium-ion batteries and the National Green Hydrogen Mission will provide a fillip to the EV and allied industries. The support through a viability gap funding to set up a battery storage capacity of 4,000 MWh will create a critical infrastructure that makes renewable energy storage a reality.

Pankaj sharma, CoFounder & director, Log9 Materials

The government’s decision to extend the concessional duty on lithium-ion cells for batteries for another year is welcoming as it would sustain the ongoing momentum within the Indian EV sector. Considering EV batteries account for ~ 60 per cent of the EV cost, this relaxation will make EVs more affordable and hence enhance the EV adoption rate.

ALLoCAtIon For sPECIFE MInIstrIEs

new business opportunities and employment.

₹10 lakh crore capital investment, a steep increase of 33% for third year in a row

GrEEn

GroWtH

To reduce the nation’s dependence on fossil fuel imports and reach the maximum potential of the sunrise sector, energy transition was deemed crucial. The budget set aside Rs.35,000 cr as priority capital to accelerate the transition by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. Rs 3,500 crore was set aside to offer Viability Gap Funding (VGF) for Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) with a total capacity of 4,000 MWh. The FM highlighted renewable energy evacuation as crucial to overcoming a big hurdle in the lack of infrastructure for renewable energy development. The government set aside Rs.19,700 crore for the National Hydrogen Mission.

On the scrappage policy mentioned in the budget 202122, the FM made provisions for allocation and support for states. The replacement of old state vehicles and ambulances would be prioritised. Under the Gobardhan scheme, 500 new waste-to-wealth plants were announced. A sum of Rs.10,000 cr to set up 200 Compressed Biogas plants was also set aside to boost the green growth vision plan. GIFT city gained Rs.10000 crore per year city urban infra fund. An Rs.9000 corpus fund was set up for MSME credit. The Budget, to further support

green mobility, called for the need to avoid cascading of taxes and exemption of excise duty. The FM gave the green signal to customs duty extension on the import of capital goods and lithium-ion battery packs. It further announced a customs duty reduction on the ethanol blending programme. On compounded rubber, it was announced that circumvention on duty would be curbed to bring it to part with natural rubber.

To further ease the compliance burden, under direct taxes, the FM committed to maintaining continuity and further simplification. She hailed the MSMEs as the growth engines of the nation. Micro enterprises with a turnover of two crores and up to 50 lakhs crores received an enhancement on limits up to three crores and 75 lakhs crore where cash receipts are no more than five per cent. Acknowledging the contribution of startups, the FM deemed entrepreneurship as vital to the third largest ecosystem, globally and a growing economy and extended a 10-year tax holiday. In her concluding statement, the FM informed the house that states would be allowed a fiscal deficit of 3.35 per cent of GSDP. The overall fiscal deficit was pegged at 5.9 per cent of GDP with the government claiming to spend in tune with the macroeconomic developments. It has set a target to reach below 4.5 per cent by 2025-26 on the path of fiscal consolidation.

Pranav Goel, CEo & CoFounder, Porter

The investment plan for 100 critical transport infra projects including the capital outlay for railways will enhance the multimodal logistics ecosystem, aiding the sector to be more streamlined. We are elated with the move to expand the scope of Digilocker. With this, the KYC process will be simplified and the move to use a Permanent Account Number (PAN) as a common identifier for all digital systems of specified government agencies will encourage an efficient maintenance system. The tax benefits for the startup community will play a pivotal role in shaping the high growth sector.”

stefano sanchini, Managing director, Bridgestone India

The Government’s proposal to increase the capital expenditure outlay by 33 per cent is a welcome move as this will directly impact the logistics and mobility sectors. These sectors would also grow as they expand to serve the enhanced demand for goods generated by new infrastructure projects. The Finance Minister’s statement on replacing old government vehicles will increase the demand for new vehicles and we are committed to supporting the OEMs to meet this demand.

BeYond pluG and pl aY

Denso International India is developing automotive solutions with sustenance and societal responsibility at the core of its strategy. Ashish Bhatia cites the mix of AI and software led MaaS capabilities disposal.

Denso International India Pvt. Ltd. is committed to the green and sustainable development of advanced automotive technologies. At the Auto Expo 2023 - The Components Show, the company showcased a wide range of solutions. It gave a sense of the strides made in electrification and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, for instance. The company has Joint Venture (JV) tier1 entities like Subros Ltd., Denso Ten Mindia Pvt. Ltd. (TNMI) and TDS LithiumIon Battery Gujarat Pvt. Ltd. (TDSC) which holds it in good stead. It also showcased a cold chain solution - MRF Mobile

Refrigerator to tap into logistics trends and needs. The cold chain product addresses the need for alternative solutions as a result of growing ecommerce, overcoming restrictions on large vehicles and addressing the growing demand for cold chains.

The company plans to counter these developments with the facilitation of small and diversified packages, smaller vehicles for the gig economy and enhancing cold chain for medical products. The capabilities include offering different temperatures in the same vehicle. The company claims it can be do so without carrying out any modification. The value add for businesses is claimed to be offered with an

easy installation process. The reefer box is offered in capacities ranging from 40 litres to 110 litres. The added benefits include data traceability through cloud integration and temperature control and monitoring facilitated on a smartphone.

Under the ‘Global Safety Package 3’, the company showcased a ‘millimetre-wave radar’. The radar senses the position and speed of vehicles and objects on the road. It also brings in a ‘vision sensor’ that detects the forward environment of the vehicle using a camera. Claimed to enhance the safety performance of the vehicle and the drive ability of the pilot itself as a formidable combination. The company has developed the

@atashishbhatia

third generation of GSP. It is claimed to play a significant role in the event of an intersection collision of a car, pedestrian or cycle before turning, assist in deceleration of a curve and cautions on a red traffic signal. The radar detection is claimed to be 156m or more with an angle of 51.6 degrees. The company has also enhanced velocity resolution besides succeeding at reducing components to less than half in comparison to conventional products. The company can down size by ~40 per cent and also has

improved its mounting capability.

In November 2022, Denso International India Pvt. Ltd. (Denso India) signed an Rs.400 crore sustainability loan from Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC). The two entities back then committed to a bound, sustainabilitylinked loan to meet the working capital requirements of three Indian Denso Corporation subsidiaries linked to achieving voluntary and predetermined sustainability performance objectives. Aimed

at contributing to India’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the company had announced that the move was a step in the direction to secure necessary financial resources to facilitate and support environmentally and socially sustainable economic activity and growth. The company is committed to net zero carbon emissions with a long-term goal to achieve carbon neutrality without the use of carbon credits by 2035. By 2025, the company aims to attain carbon neutrality with carbon credits in the manufacturing operations of three of its Indian subsidiaries. The focus will be on using renewable energy to run the factories and deploy energy conservation measures. According to a statement by Yasuaki Matsunaga, Chairman and Managing Director, of Denso India, the company is leading the industry toward realising an environmentally neutral manufacturing industry, thereby creating a sustainable society.

Committed to contributing even when the business environment is uncertain, notably, the SMBC loan, India’s first ESG loan will have the latter monitor the progress through achievements on pre-agreed milestones of sustainability set by Denso. If the targets are achieved, there is an incentive too. The margins could be reduced (lower interest rate). The company going forward is also looking at diversification into offering increased fuel efficiency of ICE to EVs, HCVs, and FCVs. The company will also develop systems for collecting and reusing CO2, in the atmosphere. to cover emissions from mobility products.

under the ‘Global safety Package 3’, the company showcased a ‘millimetre-wave radar’.

yukihiko noda, deputy Managing director, r&d and shinya Watanabe, deputy Managing director and Chief strategy officer, sales and Marketing at denso International India Pvt. Ltd.

Industry Talk

MaKinG a diFFerence

In an Industry Talk session, Yukihiko Noda, Deputy Managing Director, R&D and Shinya Watanabe, Deputy Managing Director and Chief Strategy Officer, Sales and Marketing spoke to Ashish Bhatia on making socially relevant solutions, specifically for India.

Q. How do you look at the Indian market and what’s the sentiment on growth prospects?

A. India is the third largest mobility country in the world. The government is giving a strong push to electrification and safety. For us, it is the priority country. We would like to make our contribution in building a safe, secure and sustainable society. The products are related to Connected Autonomous Shared and Electric (CASE). We are here to change the brand perception of Denso from an erstwhile powertrain and hardware-related products-only company. We are here to introduce social solutions beyond just hardware but Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) that combine hardware and software. We are introducing the cold reefer chain as one of the examples. In the future, we will work with our partners to contribute to an even greater extent.

Q. How do you plan to enhance the MaaS bouquet?

A. I’d like to say that MaaS at this moment is just a buzzword! Our products will be optimised in that direction. We are concentrating on the cold chain business and going forward we will penetrate deeper into the mobility segment with

electrification is a big opportunity. adas is Where by 2028, We expect the indian government to at least mandate the installation of some functionalities. at that point, We expect demand to Witness a spike and shoW our product portfoliodriven competence.

our offerings. We understand that innovation is very important to us. We are studying the Indian market to look at the social issues and areas where we can contribute in the future. The engineering department is looking at the Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) and electrification including MaaS and solutions like Advanced Drive Assistance Systems (ADAS). We are active globally on

these fronts. We collaborated with insurance companies and used our solutions to study driving patterns to enhance efficiencies in line with the Indian government’s vision to attain a ‘zero-accident’ level. Going beyond ADAS, drivers will be able to use our solutions to enhance their driving itself. Our R&D centre is developing multiple solutions and we are looking at ways of leveraging this capability at our disposal. We will understand India-specific needs together with OEMs to understand the unique set of requirements for custom solutions over just offering plug-and-play solutions. We expect to leverage internal mechanisms for a quick goto-market strategy.

Q. What are the growth and challenge areas as the market evolves at an unprecedented pace?

A. Electrification is a big opportunity. ADAS is where by 2028, we expect the Indian government to at least mandate the installation of some functionalities. At that point, we expect demand to witness a spike and show our product portfolio-driven competence. Until then we will leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI) and software-led MaaS functions.

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