Autocar Professional - Latest Articles

Rethinking Farm Mechanisation for a Sustainable Future

Autocar Professional Bureau — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 17:11:32

Agriculture remains central to India's economy and livelihoods, employing over 46% of the population while feeding the whole of the country. But farmers today face mounting challenges—shrinking labour availability, unpredictable climate conditions, and the need to produce more from limited land. Addressing these pressures will require smarter mechanisation that improves not only farm productivity but also the durability, efficiency and sustainability of agricultural equipment.

However, only about 47% of farming in India is mechanised, trailing powerhouses like Brazil and China. Since most Indian farmers work small plots, providing access to high-endurance, high-performance farm machinery is no longer a convenience; it is essential to sustaining agricultural productivity and improving farm incomes.

Why tractor design matters
When discussing agricultural mechanisation, tractors occupy a unique position. They account for the majority of farm power used across Indian agriculture (over 80%) and support a wide range of activities.

Because tractors perform such an important role, their operational efficiency directly influences farm productivity and the total cost of ownership. Every component affects the materials, energy and maintenance a machine requires over its lifecycle. Longer-lasting components reduce replacement, transportation and disposal, lowering both lifecycle costs and resource consumption. In that sense, durability itself becomes an important sustainability metric.

The transition to smarter friction systems
As India accelerates its transition towards sustainable agriculture, attention must extend beyond the visible aspects of farm machinery to the engineering systems that determine its long-term efficiency and sustainability. While discussions around mechanisation often focus on horsepower, fuel efficiency and automation, friction technologies, particularly brakes and clutches play a pivotal role by directly affecting reliability, maintenance requirements, machine uptime, operating costs and lifecycle sustainability.

The Indian tractor industry has already undergone a significant transition from conventional dry braking systems to oil-immersed wet brakes. Dry braking systems generate higher operating temperatures and greater component wear under demanding agricultural conditions, leading to more frequent maintenance, increased downtime and higher lifecycle costs. In addition, brake wear particles have attracted growing attention for their potential environmental and occupational health implications.

Unlike conventional dry brakes, wet friction systems operate within an oil-lubricated environment that improves heat dissipation while protecting critical components from dust, moisture and contamination. This helps reduce wear, extend service life and deliver more consistent performance under demanding agricultural conditions. The enclosed design also helps contain friction-generated wear particles, reducing particulate emissions and contributing to improved lifecycle sustainability.

Today, a similar evolution is underway in clutch systems, as OEMs increasingly seek solutions that improve durability while lowering lifecycle costs.

To withstand the demanding conditions of modern farming, wet friction systems rely on specialised friction materials and intermediate plates designed for high-load agricultural applications. For farmers, this translates into equipment that requires less maintenance, fewer replacement parts and lower operating costs over the machine's lifetime, while supporting more reliable day-to-day operations.

Engineering the future of farm mechanisation
The future of sustainable agriculture depends not only on how crops are grown, but also on how agricultural machinery is engineered. As mechanisation evolves, the focus must extend beyond raw horsepower to include durability, lifecycle performance and resource efficiency. Decisions that extend component life, minimise maintenance and reduce resource consumption will define the next generation of farm equipment. Wet friction technologies, such as wet brakes and wet clutches, exemplify this engineering shift.

Looking ahead, advances in agricultural machinery will continue to be driven by automation, connectivity, precision farming and smarter engineering. Combined with durable, high-efficiency friction systems, these innovations will enable farm equipment that is more productive, reliable and resource-efficient, helping farmers meet future demands while supporting a more sustainable agricultural ecosystem.

E Madhavan is Managing Director at JM Frictech India Pvt. Ltd. Views expressed are the author's personal.

Escorts Kubota to Spend up to Rs 900 Crore in FY27 as Greenfield Plant Breaks Ground

Anurag Chaturvedi — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 15:00:00

Escorts Kubota has budgeted Rs 850 crore to Rs 900 crore of capital expenditure for FY27, split between a new manufacturing site and its existing operations.

The greenfield project takes Rs 450 crore to Rs 500 crore this year, most of it accounted for by the land, which has been allotted and paid for. Groundbreaking is due this month. Regular capex across the rest of the business takes the remaining Rs 350 crore to Rs 400 crore.

The project will cost around Rs 2,000 crore in total, and the schedule is demand-led.
"If we have expedited construction, then maybe the spend will be more," Bharat Madan, whole-time director and chief financial officer, told analysts on the Q1 FY27 earnings call on 3 August, adding that it was too early to fix an FY28 figure. Regular capex will stay in its current band.

The commitment follows a quarter of records at both businesses. Domestic tractor sales rose 22.9 percent to 35,457 units, while construction equipment volumes rose 27.4 percent to 1,344 machines.

Captive finance

The second call on capital is the company's own lending arm. Escorts Kubota Capital reached 10-12 percent penetration during the quarter and crossed 15 percent in July, running through around 250 onboarded dealers across a limited set of states. Southern states open this year to support new launches there. Madan expects 40-50 percent of the network covered by FY27 and a pan-India rollout by FY28.

The unit is pointed at markets the company has struggled to reach rather than at the ones it already leads.

"In the stronger market, the financing is not an issue," Madan said. Management is targeting an incremental volume gain of 20-25 percent in the territories where the unit operates.

Buyback

With that spending still modest against the balance sheet, an analyst put the company's cash surplus at close to Rs 10,000 crore, a figure management did not contest, and asked whether revised rules opened the way to a buyback.

"The scope for further buyback is very limited. You can't go beyond 5 percent if you continue to be listed," Madan said.

Promoters hold about 68 percent, and promoter and non-public shareholding together come to around 70 percent, which leaves little room under minimum public shareholding requirements. A buyback remains part of the capital allocation strategy but would need both promoters to align, and the mechanics favour public shareholders over promoters looking to hold or raise their stake.

Escorts Kubota Raises FY27 Tractor Industry Forecast to Mid-Single-Digit Growth

Anurag Chaturvedi — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 11:10:35

Escorts Kubota forecasts mid-single-digit growth for the domestic tractor industry in FY27. The guidance it issued three months ago allowed only for a swing of two to three percent in either direction, which put a flat year at the centre of its expectations.

The June quarter overturned that. The industry sold a record 3.39 lakh units, up 18.6 percent. Escorts Kubota outpaced the industry growth with its domestic volumes rising 22.9 percent to 35,457 units, the best first quarter in its history, and it added 36 basis points of market share. Momentum then carried into July, when domestic sales rose 23.7 percent to 8,194 units. Across April to July, including exports, the company has sold 45,593 tractors.

"The last quarter and especially the last 45, 50 days have been very, very positive," Neeraj Mehra, chief officer of the tractor business division, told analysts on the company's Q1 FY27 earnings call. He expects Escorts Kubota to keep outgrowing the industry and to add further share.

Regional mix

The upgrade rests heavily on a region where the company has been thinly represented. Industry volumes in southern India rose about 33 percent during the quarter, well ahead of the 19 percent recorded nationally. Escorts Kubota gained 50-60 basis points of share there, lifting its combined Farmtrac, Powertrac and Kubota position to around 6 percent.

"South, which has traditionally been our weak geography, the industry growth has been highest over there," Mehra said.

Its established northern and central markets also outpaced the rest of the country, growing about 22 percent, against 15.4 percent elsewhere. Two state-level questions were put to management on the quality of that growth. Uttar Pradesh, Mehra said, grew organically with no subsidy involvement.

Gujarat did draw on a state subsidy, but he described it as an annual programme that varies only in timing and quantum rather than a one-off intervention.

Portfolio gaps

Product has done much of the work. The Powertrac Shaurya range, launched for southern markets late in Q4 FY26, has driven much of the regional gain, helped by dealer additions filling white spaces in the network. Farmtrac Promaxx, the four-wheel drive model, now accounts for over 20-22 percent of Farmtrac sales. Digitrac contributes 23-25 percent of Powertrac volumes after a 4x4 variant was added to the range.

There’s a gap that remains in the same configuration.

"A major gap is in the 35 to 50 HP segment in the four-wheel drive. The four-wheel drive market is actually growing across the country," Mehra said. "There are certain states which are highly driven by the four-wheel segment. So there we have not done well."

Powertrac models in that band are due over the coming months. Under the Kubota brand, launches are planned in two areas: the 20 hp to 30 hp orchard and compact category and the 41 hp to 50 hp segment, which between them account for 77-78 percent of the industry.

Exports

Escorts Kubota shipped 1,405 tractors in the quarter, down from 1,733 a year earlier, at a time when industry exports rose 17.7 percent to 29,778 units. Suggesting exports moved the other way.

The divergence is structural. Industry growth came almost entirely from the above-40 hp band, which expanded around 30 percent and where the company's presence is limited. Its own strength lies in compact tractors below 40 hp, and that segment contracted about 8 percent. Vessel availability tied to the West Asia situation delayed shipments on top of that. The Kubota global network absorbs roughly 61 percent of what the company exports.

Management expects exports to finish FY27 flat, recovering the shortfall over the remaining quarters, with FY28 growth contingent on the North American market opening up. Component exports, worth Rs 160-170 crore last year, were flat in the quarter and are expected to more than double in value within two years.

Costs and pricing

Mehra declined to project volumes quarter by quarter, pointing to the number of variables still in play. "It will not be very prudent for me to estimate at a quarterly level or a monthly level because of the shift of seasons and high base and GST last year," he said.

The festive season begins in October, later than usual. Inventory at the company's dealers stands at around 30 days, a level he called comfortable, and will rise as the season approaches, though he rejected the framing put to him.

"I'll not say push stock into the system. I'll articulate it as build stock," he said.

Costs are the counterweight. Input costs on the tractor business rose about 5 percent during the quarter. Roughly one percentage point of that came from higher minimum wages for contract labour in Haryana, a burden specific to Escorts Kubota, leaving an industry-wide commodity impact of about 400 basis points. A further 1-2 percent is expected in the second quarter.

That pressure shows in the margins rather than the top line. Agri-machinery revenue rose 26.8 percent to Rs 2,766.5 crore, but segment EBIT margin narrowed to 10.8 percent from 12.6 percent.

The pattern repeats at the company level, where standalone operating revenue from continuing operations rose 28 percent to Rs 3,178.9 crore while EBITDA advanced only 9.4 percent to Rs 355.4 crore. The EBITDA margin fell to 11.2 percent from 13.1 percent. Reported profit is not comparable year on year, the base carrying both the railway equipment divestment and a Rs 76 crore gain on land and buildings.

April's price rise of 1-1.5 percent will be followed by another, said Bharat Madan, whole-time director and chief financial officer, with quantum and timing unsettled and no expectation of recovering the full cost increase. It will also not be withdrawn once conditions ease.

"No one will take price increase only for three, four months and disturb the market," Madan said. "Whatever we do will be something which will continue in future."

He expects the reversal in commodity costs to begin in the fourth quarter.

TVS Vehicle Mobility Solutions Enters Electric Trucking with Montra Electric Fleet

Dev Vadchhedia — Fri, 07 Aug 2026 15:48:18

TVS Vehicle Mobility Solutions (TVS VMS) has entered the electric trucking sector by deploying a fleet of Montra Electric's Rhino heavy commercial vehicles for its freight operations.

TVS VMS–Montra Electric Deployment Details

The deployment began with the flag-off of 57 Montra Electric Rhino 5538 EV 4x2 TT electric heavy commercial trucks at Manesar. TVS VMS will operate the fleet for commercial freight along a 190 km lead route in Chhattisgarh, supported by three dedicated charging stations. The companies target deploying more than 300 electric trucks during FY 2026–27.

"For a partner like TVS VMS, with seven decades of experience to put our electric trucks into live freight operations is exactly the validation India's logistics industry needed. This is proof that our technology is ready for commercial scale," said Jalaj Gupta, Managing Director, Montra Electric.

Madhu Raghunath, CEO of TVS VMS stated, "This strategic partnership marks a decisive step in advancing India's green logistics infrastructure."

India EV Retail Sales Cross 3.27 Lakh Units in July as Two-Wheeler, Three-Wheeler Segments Set New Records

Autocar Professional Bureau — Fri, 07 Aug 2026 14:03:42

Electric vehicle (EV) retail sales in India reached an all-time high of 327,901 units in July 2026, registering a 66.2 per cent year-on-year increase from 197,298 units a year earlier, according to the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA). The performance lifted EV penetration across the overall automotive market to nearly one in eight vehicle sales, supported by record volumes in the two-wheeler segment and higher adoption across commercial and passenger vehicle categories.

The two-wheeler segment remained the largest contributor to EV volumes, while electric three-wheelers continued to dominate their category with more than 65 per cent market share. Passenger vehicle EV sales also recorded strong growth, although dealer body FADA said supply constraints on popular models continue to limit demand.

“India has never bought more electric vehicles in a month than it did in July'26 — 3,27,901 units, up over 66% YoY — with nearly one in eight vehicles retailed now electric. Every category told the same story in its own way. Two-Wheelers crossed the two-lakh mark for the first time, at a record 11.2% share. Three-Wheelers, at 65.1%, have made electric the default, not the alternative. Commercial Vehicles nearly tripled to a record 3.57% share — fleet electrification has moved from pilots to purchase orders. And Passenger EVs grew 83% over last year, held back only by supply of in-demand models — which we urge OEMs to resolve before the festive rush. The EV transition has stopped being a forecast. It is now a showroom reality — and Bharat is driving it,” said Sai Giridhar, Vice President, FADA.

Electric Two-Wheelers Cross 2 Lakh Units

Electric two-wheeler retail sales crossed the 200,000-unit milestone for the first time, rising 88.3 per cent year-on-year to 204,362 units, compared with 108,516 units in July 2025. EV penetration in the segment increased to 11.2 per cent, up from 7.7 percent a year earlier and 10.6 percent in June.

TVS Motor retained the top position with 55,499 units, followed by Bajaj Auto at 45,613 units and Ather Energy with 30,357 units. Hero MotoCorp retailed 22,900 units, while Ola Electric recorded 14,106 units during the month.

Electric Three-Wheelers Maintain Majority Share

Electric three-wheeler retail sales increased 25.3 per cent year-on-year to 87,055 units, taking the segment's EV market share to 65.1 per cent, up from 60.3 per cent a year earlier.

Mahindra Group led the category with 14,191 units, narrowly ahead of Bajaj Auto, which retailed 13,442 units. TVS Motor followed with 4,473 units, while YC Electric Vehicle and Dilli Electric Auto completed the top five.

Passenger EV Sales Rise 83% Amid Supply Constraints

Passenger EV retail sales rose 83.1 per cent year-on-year to 32,928 units, compared with 17,981 units in July 2025. However, volumes declined marginally by 1.8 per cent from June. EV penetration in the passenger vehicle market remained at 7.9 per cent, unchanged from June but higher than 5.1 per cent in July last year.

Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles remained the segment leader with 13,678 units, followed by Mahindra & Mahindra at 7,742 units and JSW MG Motor India with 5,689 units. Maruti Suzuki, VinFast, BYD and Hyundai also featured among the leading manufacturers.

Electric Commercial Vehicles Continue to Expand

Electric commercial vehicle retail sales nearly tripled year-on-year, increasing 168.6 per cent to 3,556 units from 1,324 units in July 2025. The segment's EV penetration improved to 3.57 per cent, compared with 1.65 per cent a year earlier.

Tata Motors led the segment with 1,306 units, followed by Euler Motors at 777 units and Mahindra Group with 362 units. Switch Mobility, Olectra Greentech and Tivolt Electric Vehicles also recorded higher sales during the month.

The July performance underscores continued growth in EV adoption across all vehicle categories, with two-wheelers accounting for the largest share of volumes and three-wheelers maintaining the highest level of electrification among mainstream vehicle segments.

NueGo Expands Electric Intercity Bus Network With Seven New Routes

Autocar Professional Bureau — Fri, 07 Aug 2026 13:34:50

NueGo has expanded its electric intercity bus network with the launch of seven new routes across India, taking its network footprint to more than 150 cities. The new services are aimed at improving connectivity across business, tourism and pilgrimage corridors.

NueGo New Routes: Full List

The newly introduced routes include Chennai–Tirupati, Hyderabad–Guntur, Mussoorie–Delhi, Mussoorie–Gurugram, Gurugram–Haldwani, Coimbatore–Madurai and Tirupati–Puducherry. According to the company, the additions are intended to strengthen links between regional economic centres and popular travel destinations while expanding access to electric intercity transport.

The expansion comes as electric bus operators continue to widen their networks beyond metro-to-metro corridors into regional routes with higher passenger demand. NueGo said the latest additions form part of its broader network expansion strategy.

"The addition of several new intercity routes aligns with our mission of transforming bus travel in India through sustainable, technology-enabled mobility solutions. With our continued route development, we remain focused on expanding connectivity across the country," said Devendra Chawla, Managing Director and CEO, GreenCell Mobility.

NueGo Electric Bus Safety Features & Amenities

The company said its electric buses undergo 25 safety checks before every departure and are equipped with features including Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), CCTV surveillance, GPS tracking, Driver Monitoring Systems (DMS), breath analyser tests for drivers and speed limiters capped at 80 kmph. It also offers women-focused initiatives such as Pink Seat bookings and a dedicated helpline.

India PV, CV Sales Rebound in FY2026 as SUVs Gain Further Ground: Rubix Report

Autocar Professional Bureau — Fri, 07 Aug 2026 12:59:40

India's passenger vehicle (PV) and commercial vehicle (CV) industry returned to growth in FY2026 following a slowdown in the previous year, with stronger domestic demand, higher exports and a continued shift towards utility vehicles, according to a new industry report by Rubix Data Sciences.

The report states that domestic passenger vehicle sales rose around 8% year-on-year in FY2026, while commercial vehicle sales increased about 12.5%. It attributes the recovery to the implementation of GST 2.0, which reduced the tax burden on vehicles, and lower RBI repo rates that improved vehicle financing conditions.

PV, CV Production and Sales Rise Over Five Years

India's passenger vehicle production increased from 3.06 million units in FY2021 to 5.54 million units in FY2026, while domestic sales grew from 2.71 million to 4.64 million units over the same period. Commercial vehicle production rose from 0.62 million to 1.17 million units, with sales increasing from 0.57 million to 1.08 million units.

SUVs Now Drive 65% of India's PV Sales

The report also highlights an ongoing shift in consumer preference towards utility vehicles. Their share of passenger vehicle sales climbed from 39% in FY2021 to 65% in FY2025, driven by growing demand for SUVs and crossovers. In the commercial vehicle segment, medium and heavy commercial vehicles expanded their share of sales from 28% to 39%, supported by demand from infrastructure projects, mining and long-haul freight transport.

India's Vehicle Exports Hit Record Highs, Led by Maruti Suzuki

On the export front, passenger vehicle exports reached a record 0.77 million units in FY2025, growing at a 17% CAGR. Saudi Arabia emerged as the largest destination for Indian truck exports, while the UAE led bus exports. Maruti Suzuki recorded exports of 4.47 lakh units during FY2025-26.

ADAS and EV Adoption Rising, but Challenges Remain

The report identifies policy support, including the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, expanding vehicle financing, growth in the pre-owned vehicle market and replacement demand under the Vehicle Scrappage Policy as key drivers for the sector. It also notes increasing adoption of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), with penetration rising from 6.2% in the first half of 2024 to 8.3% in the first half of 2025. Battery electric vehicle penetration in passenger vehicle registrations increased from 1% in 2022 to 4% in 2025, while overall four-wheeler EV penetration reached 5.35% in 2026.

However, the report cautions that the industry continues to face challenges including supply chain disruptions linked to West Asia, higher compliance costs from stricter emission norms, increasing engineering complexity and volatility in raw material prices.

EVs Smash Records in July With 330,000 Units Sold

Ajit Dalvi — Fri, 07 Aug 2026 11:47:19

July 2026 was a record-breaking month for India Auto Inc, which saw retail sales of 2.59 million vehicles (up 26% YoY), with the 2- and 3-wheeler, passenger and commercial vehicles, as well as tractors and wheeled construction equipment hitting all-time highs. The electric vehicle (EV) industry was a key contributor to this growth with a record 329,848 EVs across four segments delivered to buyers.

This translates into handsome 67% YoY growth (July 2025: 197,340 units) and 10,640 EVs sold on each of the 31 days of July! Last month was the second month in a row that EV sales crossed the 300,000 milestone after June 2026 (310,340 units) and registered a 6% month-on-month increase.

This record-breaking performance comes on the back of two of the four sub-segments – electric 2Ws and commercial vehicles – registering their highest monthly sales, while the passenger vehicle and e-wheeler segments achieved their second highest monthly retail sales.

Electric Two-Wheelers Lead With Record 2 Lakh+ Monthly Sales

As a result of the record retails in July 2026, the EV penetration level rose to around 12.7% versus 9.6% in July 2025. One of the catalysts for accelerated EV buying is costlier petrol, diesel and CNG after the multiple fuel price hikes in May this year, as well as consumer hesitation around the E20 transition, which is nudging buyers towards EVs and CNG. While the share of e-2Ws jumped to 62% from 55% a year ago last month, e-PV share rose to 10% from 9% in July 2025, and e-CV share grew to 1% for the first time. The share of e-3Ws, though, fell to 27% from 35% a year ago.

Powered by record e-2W sales of 204,833 units, July 2026’s record EV retail sales of 329,848 units translate into 67% YoY growth and 10,640 EVs sold on each of the 31 days.

With market leader TVS Motor Co selling record 55,000-plus e-scooters and Bajaj Auto over 45,000 Chetaks, the electric 2W segment – the largest volume provider to India EV Inc – raced past the 200,000 sales milestone for the first time in a single month. Deliveries of 204,833 e-scooters, e-motorcycles and e-mopeds marked stellar 89% YoY growth (July 2025: 108,515 units) and accounted for 62% of the 329,848 EVs sold in India last month.

Electric Three-Wheeler Sales Hit Second-Highest Ever at 87,753 Units

The electric 3W segment, where the transition to e-mobility continues to be the highest, saw retail sales of 87,753 units, up 26% YoY (July 2025: 69,477 units). This is the second highest monthly score for e-3Ws after December 2025 (88,699 units) and ahead of November 2025 (84,168 units). These are the three months when the segment has crossed 80,000 units. Mahindra Last Mile Mobility topped the OEM sales chart with 14,372 units – its highest monthly sales – and a 16% e-3W market share. Bajaj Auto also notched its highest monthly sales – 13,787 units and 15.71% – which beat its previous best of 12,420 units in May 2026. Expect the battle between these two e-3W market leaders to intensify in the coming months. Third-ranked TVS Motor Co also registered its highest monthly sales – 4,671 units – in July to mark two consecutive months of 4,000-plus sales after May (4,061 units).

Electric Passenger Vehicle Sales Cross 30,000 Units for Second Straight Month

The electric passenger vehicle segment too was on a roll in July, surpassing retail sales of 30,000 EVs for the second month running. As per the latest Vahan data (August 7), a total of 33,374 units were sold last month, up 87% YoY (July 2025: 17,823 units). This sees the e-PV share of total India EV sales rise to 10% from 9% in July 2025. While Tata Motors delivered a record 13,851 units, Mahindra & Mahindra (7,849 units) posted its second-highest monthly sales after June (8,186 e-SUVs). Maruti Suzuki crossed 2,000 EV sales for the first time with deliveries of 2,001 e-Vitaras, and Vinfast India also hit a new high with 1,495 units comprising the Green Limo, VF7, VF6 and MPV 7.

Electric Commercial Vehicle Sales Scale New High of 3,479 Units

The electric commercial vehicle segment, which comprises passenger-transporting buses, cargo-carrying LCVs and SCVs, also scaled a new high in July: 3,479 units. This is a 207% YoY increase (July 2025: 1,222 units) and marks the second month (after June 2026’s 3,367 units) that e-CVs have surpassed 3,000 sales in a single month. Tata Motors led the charge with retails of 1,312 units and a 38% e-CV market share, followed by Euler Motors (782 units / 22% share), Mahindra Last Mile Mobility (363 units / 10% share), Switch Mobility (192 units), Switch Mobility (192 units) and Olectra Greentech (133 units).

With 1.89 million EVs sold in January-July and already 80% of CY2025 sales, CY2026 will see record retail sales of over 3.25 million units.

India EV INC Charges Towards Record 3.4 Million Sales in CY2026

The EV industry’s record retail sales in July have taken the cumulative first seven-months’ total to 1.83 million (18,93,241 units). This is a remarkable 48% YoY jump (January-July 2025: 12,83,426 units) and is already 80% of CY2025’s 2.3 million units.

With five months still to be counted this year, including the upcoming festive season, and having averaged 305,000 units a month since May 2026, expect India EV Inc to add another 1.5 million EVs to its current 7-month sales. If the same high growth momentum continues in the remaining part of this year, it can be surmised that not only will EV sales surpass the 3 million milestone for the first time in a calendar year, but they could even charge past 3.25 million units in CY2026.

EKA Mobility Appoints Prashant Kumar Banerjee as Group Head of Government and Corporate Affairs

Dev Vadchhedia — Thu, 06 Aug 2026 16:35:43

Commercial EV manufacturer EKA Mobility has announced that it has appointed Prashant Kumar Banerjee as Group Head of Government and Corporate Affairs.

Banerjee's Mandate: Government Relations, Policy and CSR at EKA Mobility

In his new role, Banerjee will oversee government relations, corporate affairs, public policy, and corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives across EKA Mobility and its group entities, the company said. He will focus on stakeholder engagement, regulatory advocacy, and strategic partnerships with government agencies and industry bodies.

Prashant Kumar Banerjee's 36-Year Automotive Career: From SIAM to Tata Motors and JLR

Banerjee brings more than 36 years of automotive industry experience, having previously served as Executive Director at the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM). His prior career includes leadership roles across product engineering, regulations, and policy at Tata Motors, Jaguar Land Rover, Daewoo Motors, Toyota, and IIT Bombay. Since 2003, he has represented India at the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) WP.29 forums and chairs India's GRSG working group on vehicle construction regulations under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

CV Sales Reaches 99,666 Units on Rural Freight Momentum: FADA

Dev Vadchhedia — Thu, 06 Aug 2026 15:46:31

Commercial vehicle retail sales grew 24.04% year on year in July 2026 to 99,666 units, nearing the one-lakh mark in its best-ever July performance, according to the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA). Sequentially, registrations rose 4.94% over June 2026.

Rural Freight Demand Drives LCV and HCV Growth

Growth was led by rural markets, which grew 29.37% year on year compared to 19.36% in urban regions. Light commercial vehicles expanded 27.65% to 61,634 units, medium commercial vehicles rose 25.00% to 9,925 units, and heavy commercial vehicles climbed 16.72% to 28,070 units. Heavy commercial vehicles recorded a 13.00% sequential rise over June, supported by core sector transport in steel, cement, and mining.

Tata Motors Leads CV Market Share Ahead of Mahindra, Ashok Leyland

Tata Motors led the commercial vehicle segment with 34,733 units and a 34.85% market share. Mahindra & Mahindra followed with 26,055 units for a 26.14% share, while Ashok Leyland recorded 17,691 units to capture 17.75% of the market

Truck Rentals Steady in July Despite Weak Freight Demand

Arunima Pal — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 17:02:33

Truck rentals across India's key trunk routes remained largely stable in July despite continued global economic uncertainty, uneven monsoon conditions and localised disruptions caused by flooding, according to the latest Shriram Mobility Bulletin published by Shriram Finance. The report said the logistics sector is now looking towards the festive season as the next major driver of freight demand.

The bulletin noted that global market uncertainty continued to weigh on demand for goods and vehicles during the month. Poor monsoon rainfall affected agricultural freight movement in several regions, while flooding in parts of Gujarat, Kerala and the Himalayan region disrupted trucking operations.

On a month-on-month basis, truck rental trends remained largely unchanged across major freight corridors. Bengaluru–Mumbai–Bengaluru recorded the highest increase of around 2.1%, followed by Kolkata–Guwahati–Kolkata at approximately 1.9%. Rentals on the Delhi–Hyderabad–Delhi and Mumbai–Kolkata–Mumbai routes rose by around 1%, while Delhi–Chennai–Delhi and Delhi–Bengaluru–Delhi posted marginal increases of about 0.9% and 0.4%, respectively. Rentals on the Delhi–Mumbai–Delhi, Delhi–Kolkata–Delhi, Bengaluru–Kolkata–Bengaluru and Guwahati–Mumbai–Guwahati routes remained unchanged, whereas Mumbai–Chennai–Mumbai recorded a marginal decline of around 0.6%.

Compared with July last year, truck rentals were higher across all major routes tracked in the bulletin. Delhi–Kolkata–Delhi registered the strongest increase at around 15%, followed by Bengaluru–Mumbai–Bengaluru at approximately 11% and Kolkata–Guwahati–Kolkata at about 9%. Delhi–Mumbai–Delhi and Mumbai–Chennai–Mumbai also recorded year-on-year increases of around 8% and 7%, respectively.

Vehicle sales trends during July were mixed on a sequential basis. Agricultural tractor sales increased by around 14% month-on-month, while goods carrier sales rose by approximately 8% and earth-moving equipment sales by around 6%. Sales of three-wheeler goods vehicles and construction equipment vehicles each increased by about 3%, while maxi cab sales were higher by around 17%.

On a year-on-year basis, however, all major vehicle categories recorded growth. Three-wheeler goods vehicles rose by around 47%, followed by earth-moving equipment at approximately 35% and maxi cabs at about 34%. Agricultural tractor sales increased by around 31%, goods carriers by approximately 29%, motorcycles and scooters by about 28%, and passenger cars by around 20%.

Electric vehicle sales continued to grow during the month. E-two-wheeler sales increased by around 7% month-on-month, while e-three-wheeler sales rose by approximately 16%. Electric passenger car sales declined marginally by around 1% compared with June. On an annual basis, electric passenger car sales increased by around 148%, e-two-wheelers by approximately 114% and e-three-wheelers by around 97%.

Sudarshan Holla, Joint Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer, Commercial Vehicles, Shriram Finance, said freight rates across key trunk routes remained broadly stable, indicating a relatively steady operating environment for transporters. He added that the upcoming festive season is expected to be an important demand driver for the logistics sector, with truck rentals likely to remain at current levels, although stronger cargo movement during the festive period could result in a modest increase in freight rates.

The bulletin also highlighted mixed trends in fuel consumption and highway toll collections. Petrol consumption increased by around 1% month-on-month, while diesel consumption declined by approximately 6%. Compared with a year earlier, petrol consumption was higher by around 8.6% and diesel consumption by approximately 9.4%. The report attributed the higher annual diesel consumption partly to increased use of diesel-powered irrigation pump sets in regions affected by poor rainfall and water shortages.

FASTag collections declined during July, with transaction volumes falling by around 4% month-on-month and collection value declining by approximately 1%. On a year-on-year basis, transaction volumes were lower by around 6%, while the value of collections increased by about 7%.

Epsilon Carbon Reports 10% Reduction in Upstream Logistics Emissions in FY2026

Autocar Professional Bureau — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 13:16:05

Epsilon Carbon said its electric and LNG-powered freight fleet helped reduce carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e) emissions from its upstream transportation operations by 10% during FY2025-26, as the company expands the use of lower-emission logistics across its supply chain.

According to the company, the emissions reductions have been independently verified by a third party and are equivalent to planting around 29,000 trees. It added that the verified reductions can support supply chain partners in their Scope 3 emissions reporting and sustainability disclosures under recognised ESG reporting frameworks.

Epsilon Carbon said it plans to expand its electric and LNG fleet during FY2026-27 as part of the next phase of its logistics decarbonisation programme. The company stated that it has established a diversified low-carbon freight model with independently certified emissions reductions.

"Decarbonising logistics is central to our climate strategy. What makes this milestone meaningful is that the results are independently verified with a 10% reduction in CO₂e emissions within the upstream transportation category over a single financial year, driven by the adoption of Electric and LNG fleets," said Gaurav Mathur, Chief Executive Officer, Epsilon Carbon.

Belrise Industries Buys Hyva India Tipper Business for $5.65 Million

Dev Vadchhedia — Tue, 04 Aug 2026 14:46:21

Belrise Industries Limited has acquired the Tipper Body Business of Hyva India Private Limited, a subsidiary of JOST Werke SE, for a total consideration of approximately USD 5.65 million.

The transaction values the business at an enterprise value to EBITDA multiple of approximately 3.60x. The acquired unit reported an EBITDA of approximately USD 1.57 million for calendar year 2025, alongside a return on average capital employed of around 20%. The deal includes three manufacturing plants located in Pune, Jamshedpur, and Bangalore.

The acquisition integrates Hyva India's design and manufacturing capabilities into Belrise's commercial vehicle portfolio, expanding its client reach to the top five commercial vehicle original equipment manufacturers in India and adding a key European commercial vehicle manufacturer to its customer base. Following the transaction, Hyva will retain and continue operating its Tipping Kits and Hydraulic Systems business independently in India.

AI Alone Isn’t Enough for Future Trucks, Says Daimler Innovation India Chief

Mukul Yudhveer Singh — Tue, 04 Aug 2026 11:24:14

Artificial intelligence alone will not define the future of commercial vehicles, which will instead depend on combining AI with engineering and domain expertise, according to Radhakrishnan Kodakkal, Managing Director and CEO, Daimler Truck Innovation Center India.

Speaking at Siemens Realize LIVE APAC 2026, Kodakkal said the next generation of commercial vehicles will be defined not by AI alone, but by the ability to combine digital intelligence with domain expertise across the entire product lifecycle.

“The future belongs to organisations that can combine domain expertise with digital intelligence,” he said.

Commercial Vehicles Are Becoming Software-Defined Products

Kodakkal said commercial vehicles are increasingly becoming software-defined products that continue to evolve long after they leave the factory. Commercial vehicles typically remain in operation for 10 to 14 years, or even longer, making continuous software upgrades, cybersecurity updates, and new digital features essential throughout their lifecycle.

Why AI and Data Alone Can't Deliver Predictive Maintenance

He said connected vehicles, digital twins, and AI-driven analytics are enabling manufacturers to move beyond scheduled servicing towards condition-based and predictive maintenance. Instead of simply alerting drivers after a failure occurs, future systems will be able to diagnose issues remotely, determine their severity, and recommend the most appropriate course of action, whether that is continuing the journey, visiting the next workshop, or dispatching a service vehicle.

According to Kodakkal, however, data and AI alone cannot deliver such capabilities.

“It is not just the data and AI. The real difference comes from combining real-world data with domain expertise,” he said, adding that understanding vehicle physics, customer applications, and operating environments is critical to developing meaningful digital solutions.

Digital Twins Set to Reshape Commercial Vehicle Development

He also stressed the growing importance of integrated digital twins in product development. By bringing together requirements engineering, design, simulation, manufacturing, and validation into a single digital workflow, manufacturers can identify issues much earlier, reduce physical prototyping, and shorten development cycles.

Kodakkal argued that manufacturing simulation should begin during the design stage itself, since manufacturing processes often influence product design decisions. Advances in photorealistic rendering, augmented reality, and virtual reality are also allowing OEMs to validate products with customers even before the first physical prototype is built.

The Road Ahead: Daimler's Formula for Future Trucks

Looking ahead, he said organisations must build the capability to rapidly adopt emerging technologies while responding to changing regulations, customer expectations, and geopolitical developments.

For commercial vehicle manufacturers, he said, the winning formula will be a combination of software-defined engineering, AI-enabled digital intelligence, simulation-driven development, and deep domain expertise, rather than reliance on AI alone.

Sonalika Tractors Posts July Sales of 11,442 Units

Autocar Professional Bureau — Mon, 03 Aug 2026 18:16:17

Sonalika Reports Highest-Ever July Sales of 11,442 Units

Sonalika Tractors has reported overall sales of 11,442 units for July 2026, marking its highest-ever volume performance for the month.

Domestic Growth of 27.2% Driven by Rising High-HP Tractor Demand

The company recorded a 27.2% growth rate in the domestic market, outperforming the domestic industry growth trajectory by 1.3 times and registering the highest market share gain in the domestic tractor segment. Operational momentum was supported by a shift in farmer demand toward higher horsepower tractors, aimed at increasing farm productivity during the ongoing kharif sowing season and ahead of the national festive period.

Commenting on the sales figures, Raman Mittal, Joint Managing Director of International Tractors Limited, stated that the company's product line remains aligned with demand shifts as growers prioritize operational efficiency and equipment dependability.

Keto Motors Enters Electric Bus Segment With Urbanova KE9

Autocar Professional Bureau — Mon, 03 Aug 2026 11:59:18

Keto Motors Enters Electric Bus Segment With Urbanova KE9

Hyderabad-based Keto Motors has entered India's commercial electric bus market with the launch of the Urbanova KE9, a 9-metre battery-electric bus developed for urban and institutional transport. The company also handed over the first vehicle to its operating partner during the launch event.

The launch marks Keto Motors' expansion into the commercial electric bus segment as it broadens its portfolio of commercial EV offerings. The company, founded in 2018, said it is leveraging the experience of its founding team, which was involved in the early development of India's electric bus ecosystem.

₹300 Crore Telangana Expansion To Boost Bus Production

Keto Motors is also expanding its manufacturing footprint in Telangana. Under a memorandum of understanding signed with the state government in December 2025, the company plans to invest around ₹300 crore to expand its existing Jadcherla facility and establish a greenfield plant at Telangana EV Mobility Valley. The investment is expected to support production of 9-metre electric buses and create more than 2,000 direct jobs over the next three years.

Urbanova KE9 Specifications: Range, Seating And Safety Features

The Urbanova KE9 is a 9-metre electric bus with seating for up to 31 passengers. It offers a certified operating range of over 150 km under fully loaded conditions and a top speed of up to 80 km/h. The bus is equipped with electro-hydraulic power steering, anti-lock braking system (ABS), regenerative braking and disc brakes.

Fleet Tech Partnerships And GARC Certification

Alongside the vehicle, Keto Motors has introduced KETO Connected, a digital fleet management platform developed with ROQIT. The platform provides real-time vehicle health monitoring, battery analytics, remote diagnostics and predictive maintenance features. The company has also partnered with Taiwan-based TRON Energy Technology for battery systems, powertrain technologies and chassis engineering.

The Urbanova KE9 has received CMVR Type Approval certification from the Global Automotive Research Centre (GARC), validating compliance with statutory safety and performance standards.

"The launch of the Urbanova KE9 represents much more than the introduction of a new electric bus. It marks the beginning of Keto Motors' next phase of growth as we work towards building a comprehensive commercial mobility ecosystem for India," said Venkatesh Challa, Director, Keto Motors.

Ashok Leyland's July Sales Rise 30% as Truck Demand Drives Growth

Autocar Professional Bureau — Mon, 03 Aug 2026 09:52:59

Ashok Leyland July Sales Jump 30% to 19,590 Units

Ashok Leyland reported total vehicle sales of 19,590 units in July, up 30% from 15,064 units in the same month last year, driven by higher truck and light commercial vehicle (LCV) volumes.

Truck Segment Leads Growth, Bus Sales Under Pressure

Domestic sales rose 33% year-on-year to 17,980 units from 13,501 units in July 2025. Cumulative domestic sales for the April-July period increased 17% to 64,282 units, compared with 54,728 units a year earlier.

In the medium and heavy commercial vehicle (M&HCV) truck segment, domestic sales increased 43% to 9,323 units, while total M&HCV truck sales, including exports, rose 47% to 9,809 units.

Overall M&HCV and LCV Volumes Post Double-Digit Growth

Domestic M&HCV bus sales grew 6% to 1,727 units during the month. However, total M&HCV bus sales, including exports, declined 14% year-on-year to 2,461 units.

Overall M&HCV sales, including domestic and exports, stood at 12,270 units in July, up 29% from 9,529 units in the corresponding month last year. On a cumulative basis, M&HCV sales increased 11% to 41,694 units during the April-July period.

The LCV segment also recorded growth, with total sales rising 32% to 7,320 units in July, while cumulative volumes increased 23% to 26,659 units during the first four months of the financial year.

VECV Sales Rise 15.8% In July As Domestic Truck Demand Remains Strong

Autocar Professional Bureau — Sat, 01 Aug 2026 11:52:39

VE Commercial Vehicles (VECV) reported total sales of 8,241 units in July 2026, up 15.8% from 7,115 units in the corresponding month last year. The growth was led by the domestic market, where Eicher-branded truck and bus sales increased 18.2% year-on-year, while exports declined during the month.

Sales of Eicher trucks and buses, including electric vehicles, stood at 8,045 units, compared with 6,940 units in July 2025, registering a 15.9% increase.

Within the domestic business, small commercial vehicles and light and medium-duty (LMD) trucks below 18.5 tonnes recorded the strongest growth, rising 28.9% year-on-year to 4,394 units. Domestic heavy-duty trucks (18.5 tonnes and above) increased 13.2% to 1,916 units.

In the bus segment, LMD bus sales remained largely stable at 1,145 units, compared with 1,148 units a year earlier. However, heavy-duty bus volumes declined 25.5% year-on-year to 120 units. Overall domestic sales reached 7,575 units, up 18.2% from 6,410 units in July 2025.

Exports were lower across most segments during the month. Total exports fell 11.3% to 470 units from 530 units a year earlier. Export sales of SCV/LMD vehicles declined 2.2%, heavy-duty trucks were down 3.2%, while bus exports dropped 43.5%.

Sales of Volvo Trucks and Buses increased 12% year-on-year to 196 units, compared with 175 units in July 2025.

For the financial year to date, VECV's total sales rose 15.1% to 33,056 units, while Eicher trucks and buses recorded 32,262 units, up 14.8% over the corresponding period last year. Domestic sales increased 16% to 30,342 units, while exports were marginally lower at 1,920 units, down 2.3% year-on-year. Volvo Trucks and Buses reported 794 units, an increase of 29.7% during the period.

CASE India Sets Out to Double Revenue by 2030 Despite a Slowing Start to FY27

Shahkar Abidi — Sat, 01 Aug 2026 11:44:49

CASE Construction Equipment expects to double its India revenue by 2030, from a base of roughly Rs 2,700–2,800 crore in FY25; a target that implies growing well ahead of the market.

Organic and Inorganic Growth: CASE's Two-Pronged Plan
"For the first story and in general, I told that the CE industry should grow 1.5 to 2x over next 5 years, and with some incremental share gain and new product lines, we can grow faster than industry to be nearly 2X, as my gut feeling", Shalabh Chaturvedi, Managing Director of CASE Construction Equipment India and SAARC, told Autocar Professional.

The construction business sits within CNH India's operations of approximately $1 billion (about Rs 9,570 crore), which span agricultural machinery under the New Holland brand alongside CASE's construction lines. Precise FY26 figures are expected in early August, once the company exits its results blackout period.

Chaturvedi split the doubling plan into two components. "By organic, I mean the current product lines that we already have, gaining more volumes, more market share, as the overall size of the market grows in India," he said. "By inorganic, I mean product lines that we are today not manufacturing and selling in India. Once we start bringing them in, they are also going to generate incremental revenue share."

Pithampur Plant to Power Localisation and Exports
The organic leg builds on a claimed record of consistent market-share gains in backhoe loaders and vibratory compactors: CASE's two core segments — even through last fiscal's downturn, which allowed the company to hold revenue roughly flat while the domestic industry declined 7 percent, according to figures from industry body ICEMA. In excavators, CASE remains what Chaturvedi called "a very, very marginal player," meaning industry swings in that segment barely register on its results, but also that any share gained is pure addition.

The inorganic leg runs through Pithampur. The Madhya Pradesh plant, which built roughly 7,500–8,000 machines last year, is targeted to cross 10,000 units within a couple of years, partly by localizing skid steer loaders and compact track loaders, compact machines suited to confined urban worksites — along with additional excavator ranges. About half of Pithampur's output is exported, so the capacity case does not rest on Indian demand alone; industry exports grew 32 percent last fiscal, per ICEMA.

19% Annual Growth Needed as FY27 Outlook Softens
The ambition is aggressive relative to the market's own trajectory. In its May 2026 annual data release, ICEMA pegged the Indian construction equipment sector; the world's third largest, at about $10 billion in FY25, projected to reach $14.76 billion by 2030 at a compound annual growth rate of 8.3 percent. Doubling revenue over roughly four years implies growth of about 19 percent a year, more than double the market rate, making the localization pipeline and share gains the load-bearing assumptions.

The near-term backdrop has meanwhile softened. Chaturvedi has trimmed his FY27 industry growth expectation from double digits to single digits, citing the West Asia crisis and its knock-on effect on bitumen prices and road construction. The 2030 target, in other words, is being set from a slower starting line.

Whether CNH's global restructuring: the group is exploring a partner for its construction business rather than a spin-off, alters the plan, Chaturvedi was categorical: "The investment, the capacity, the new product lines — they are all coming to Pithampur, regardless of what may or may not happen as a corporate structure."

Escorts Kubota Reports 22% Growth In July Tractor Sales, Construction Equipment Volumes Up 49.2%

Autocar Professional Bureau — Sat, 01 Aug 2026 11:33:32

Escorts Kubota Limited (EKL) reported a 22% year-on-year increase in tractor sales for July 2026, while its construction equipment business recorded a 49.2% rise in volumes during the month.

The company's Agri Machinery Business sold 8,731 tractors in July, up from 7,154 units in the corresponding month last year. Domestic tractor sales increased 23.7% to 8,194 units, while exports edged up 1.3% to 537 units.

Escorts Kubota said improved rainfall during July reduced the cumulative rainfall deficit to around 14-15%, while kharif sowing gathered pace, supporting demand across wholesale and retail channels. The company, however, said that monsoon progress and kharif crop, input cost pressures, a delayed festive season in the third quarter, and a high base in the coming months remain factors to monitor.

For the April-July period of FY27, the company sold 45,593 tractors, an increase of 20.8% over 37,735 units in the same period last year. Domestic sales rose 23.1% to 43,651 units, while exports declined 14.2% to 1,942 units.

The Construction Equipment Business sold 534 machines in July, compared with 358 units a year earlier. Escorts Kubota attributed the growth to a lower base following the implementation of BSV emission norms in the corresponding period last year, along with sustained infrastructure activity, continued government capital expenditure, a robust project pipeline and increasing export opportunities.

Construction equipment sales for the April-July period stood at 1,878 machines, up 32.9% from 1,413 units in the year-ago period. The company added that geopolitical developments remain an area to watch as they could impact market sentiment, commodity costs and overall business conditions.