India's mineral hunger for coal, iron ore, and marble is forcing a descent from shallow pits into the more demanding realm of deep mining. Tata Motors, the country's largest commercial vehicle maker, is eyeing making a mark in this space with the introduction of its Prima 3540.K AutoShift.
The company showcased these products during the recently concluded EXCON 2025 event held in Bengaluru. Global giants such as Scania and Volvo are among other prominent players operating in this space.
Rajesh Kaul, Vice President and Business Head – Trucks, Tata Motors Ltd., highlighted that as mining operations in India transition from shallow to "deeper and deeper" pits, the mechanical and operational requirements for vehicles change significantly. He explained that the deep mining requires more force to move heavy loads out of steep, deep pits. To address this demand, the company is shifting its focus toward high-performance, technologically dense solutions.
The Prima 3540.K AutoShift is powered by a Cummins 8.5L engine; it delivers 375 hp and 1800 Nm torque for deep-mining operations. It offers 12-speed AMT and advanced safety features for demanding heavy-haulage applications. These machines, Kaul noted, have been tested and validated in real-time conditions in various mines, including the ones in Odisha and other geographies.
Exploration in India usually happens in the shallow depths of 50-100 metres, as against the global practice of up to 300 metres, on account of regulatory and technical challenges. The approval process for mining projects presents a major bottleneck, with permits and environmental clearances taking four to five years in India versus six months in leading mining economies.
This results in poor efficiencies directly limiting access to deep-seated deposits, including the critical minerals. The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR Act), and subsequent amendments establish the regulatory framework, while the recent Mineral Conservation and Development (Amendment) Rules, 2024, aim to relax mining plan requirements for certain categories.
Moreover, the development should be seen in the context of projections by Credence Research, which expect India's underground mining equipment market to grow from $1.88 billion in 2023 to $3.33 billion by 2032, a 6.53% CAGR, but this growth is concentrated in specific sectors and geographies, not across all operators.
In addition to the product for deep mining, Tata Motors also showcased Prima E.28K, a 28-tonne battery-electric tipper, for applications across shallow mining, mineral movement, bulk cargo movement, and port applications. Furthermore, the company also displayed the Signa 2820.TK CNG tipper in the 28-tonne category, ideal for construction operations.
Additionally, Tata Motors also showcased Signa 4832.TK, a 48-tonne, 5-axle tipper equipped with a 32m³ load body designed for coal movement, and Prima 3532.TK offers 26 m³ – the most voluminous load body in the segment, which is targeted at construction aggregates surface transportation. Also, on display was Prima E.55S: Battery, an electric prime mover targeted at logistics operations.