India’s commercial vehicle (CV) industry is rapidly aligning with global standards, thanks to policy reforms, evolving customer expectations and a robust domestic ecosystem. Automakers and suppliers are making significant strides in cost competitiveness, safety innovations and integrating alternative energy solutions. As the sector continues to evolve, the need for collaboration and strategic discussions has never been more critical.

Recognising this imperative, Motoring Trends, a leading automotive magazine, hosted its inaugural Commercial Vehicles Conference on 21st November 2024, in Pune, India. Themed ‘Moving India Forward’, the event served as a platform for industry leaders, including OEMs, suppliers, technocrats, fleet operators and industry partners, to address challenges and identify opportunities shaping the future of the Indian CV landscape.

By bringing together stakeholders from across the value chain, the conference underscored the importance of collective action in driving innovation, enhancing safety standards, and adopting sustainable practices. As the CV industry transforms to meet global benchmarks, such forums are vital to ensuring India’s leadership in the sector while addressing its unique market dynamics and needs.

Mahindra Truck & Bus, Ashok Leyland and Apollo Tyres supported the event as sponsors, while Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) was the Associate partner, while Asian Trucker and Tyre Trends were the Media partners. The delegates at the event attended from a range of companies such as Tata Motors, MAN Trucks, Continental India, Tyresoles India, and Volvo Trucks among others.

The event kicked off with Dr Seshu Bhagavathula, Director, CityQ and an automotive industry veteran delivering the Keynote address, where he highlighted how urban cities around the world are working to decongest and decarbonise their streets. “This (decongestion and decarbonisation) requires a serious relook and focus on improving urban mobility as well as the role of alternative energy to support the transition,” Dr Bhagavathula.

Rashmi Urdhwareshe, Former Director, Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) shared her perspective on how the automotive industry has been focussing on not just introducing the latest technologies, but also co-developing solutions to meet the India-specific needs. She emphasised  the close cooperation between testing agencies, suppliers and OEMs that is accelerating the transition to the latest technologies.

Making commercial vehicles safer

The commercial vehicle population on Indian roads accounts for a small parc of the total vehicles, but ranks 3^rd when it comes to the vehicles involved in road accidents. In 2022, more than 460,000 accidents took place in India, which resulted in over 168,491 people losing their lives and over 443,366 people being injured.

The first panel discussion of the day focussed on one of the most important aspects pertaining to the CV industry – Safety. The panellists for the session included – Dr Venkat Srinivas, Head Of Business, Mahindra Truck & Bus; Rahul S. Mahajan, Deputy Director, The Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI); Sudeepth Puthumana, Head of Segment – ADAS, Autonomous Mobility, Continental Automotive India and Prashant Kakade, Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH).

The session, moderated by Bhushan Mhapralkar, Editor, Motoring Trends, touched upon various factors ranging from ADAS technology, and road designing to driver training and sensitisation.

SKP Amarnath, Group Head - R&D, Apollo Tyres gave a presentation on ‘Commercial Vehicle (Truck) Evolution In India And Impact On Tyres’. He dwelled into the key developments that have taken place in the CV industry and how tyres can play a key role in influencing vehicle safety and efficiency.

Vijay Shrinivas, Member, TREA - Tyre Retreading Education Association and CEO, Indag, gave a presentation on ‘Driving Sustainability and Circularity in Commercial Vehicle Industry’. He presented his thoughts on how treading not only helps save costs on tyre replacement but also enables higher circularity and thus helps reduce carbon emissions too.

Alternative energy & future of commercial vehicles

The role of alternative energy has been a key topic of discussion globally across vehicle segments. While there has been a focus on electrification in certain vehicle classes, the commercial vehicle segment will need to adopt a mixed approach depending on the application and use case.

The second panel discussion was on the topic of Alternative Energy and the Future of Commercial Vehicle. The panellists – Dr Bhagavathula ; Mahesh Babu, CEO, Switch Mobility; Anil Baliga, President, EKA Mobility; Boddapati Dinakar, Executive Vice-President, Sales & Marketing, Volvo Trucks, VECV; Shailesh Zinge, Director - Marketing, Growth Initiatives and Program Management, Engine Business, Cummins India and A Ramasubramanian, CTO, Blue Energy Motors presented their perspective on the alternative fuel segment.

The session was moderated by Nilesh Wadhwa, Assistant Editor, Motoring Trends.

The discussion focussed on how industry stakeholders were exploring various energy mix ranging from electric, LNG to future fuels such as hydrogen and fuel cells. The panellists agreed that globally too at present there was no single fuel that could completely overhaul the commercial vehicles segment. There was a need to not only focus on the vehicles but the necessary charging/refuelling ecosystem.

Transport ecosystem

The health of the CV industry is one of the key barometers to understand a country’s economic prosperity. While one can discuss the trends, policies and technologies, it is imperative that the views of the key stakeholder – fleet operators – are taken into account.

The third panel discussion of the day was on the topic of ‘Transport Ecosystem’. The panellists for the session were - Bal Malkit Singh, Chairman - the Core Committee, Former President, All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) Prasanna Patwardhan, President, Bus & Car Operators Confederation Of India (BOCI) and Sanjay Sasane, Principal, Institute of Driving Training and Research (IDTR).

The session, moderated by Sharad Matade, Executive Editor, Motoring Trends, had an indepth discussion on how fleet operators continued to face headwinds ranging from increases in operational expenses, driver shortages and road infrastructure among others. At the same time, the revenues had not kept up at the same pace. The panellists also presented their perspectives on the adoption of newer technologies and alternative fuels.

Atul Patil, Vice-President – Marketing, Pin 365 delivered the Vote of Thanks. 

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Balkrishna Industries Ltd. (BKT) has expanded its partnerships in India’s premier men’s T20 cricket league to eight teams, adding Royal Challengers Bengaluru for the upcoming season as it seeks to strengthen its position in the country’s consumer tyre market.

The company said its BKT Tyres brand would continue as Official Tyre Partner to Kolkata Knight Riders, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Rajasthan Royals, Mumbai Indians, Gujarat Titans, Punjab Kings and Lucknow Super Giants, alongside the newly added Bengaluru franchise.

The move comes as BKT advances its entry into India’s consumer tyre segment, using the tournament as a platform to expand visibility and engage a broader customer base, including commercial operators and private vehicle owners.

The partnerships are structured as long-term arrangements, incorporating stadium branding, broadcast integrations, dealer activations and digital campaigns aimed at strengthening fan engagement.

Rajiv Poddar, JMD of BKT, said: “Partnering with sporting institutions has always been central to BKT’s philosophy of Growing Together with communities. Cricket is one of the most influential cultural forces in India, uniting people across geographies, generations and backgrounds. Our continued partnerships as the Official Tyre Partner under the BKT Tyres brand allow us to connect with audiences in a meaningful way while strengthening our presence in the tyre segment. Through this association, we will further amplify our ‘Elevate Your Drive’ campaign featuring Ranveer Singh across broadcast and digital touchpoints, bringing the campaign’s message of ambition, progress and forward momentum to millions of viewers. These collaborations reflect our commitment to building long-term relationships founded on teamwork, performance and shared aspirations.”

Venky Mysore, Chief Executive of Kolkata Knight Riders, said: “BKT Tyres is not just a partner they are a brand that shares our relentless pursuit of performance. This renewed association is a testament to the trust we have built together and the ambition we carry forward. As BKT accelerates its growth in India's consumer market, the Knight Riders brand gives them the platform, the passion, and the global scale to make that journey count. At Knight Riders Sports, we do not build partnerships for visibility alone we build them for impact. This collaboration is precisely that: two performance-driven organisations, aligned in purpose, investing in a future they intend to win together.”

Rajesh Menon, Chief Executive of Royal Challengers Bengaluru, said: “Royal Challengers Bengaluru is proud to welcome BKT Tyres as our Official Tyre Partner. At RCB, we believe in pushing boundaries, embracing ambition, and creating meaningful connections with our fans, values that closely align with BKT’s ‘Elevate Your Drive’ philosophy. Together, we aim to accelerate our shared vision of excellence, resilience, and forward momentum both on and off the field.”

K Shanmugam, Chief Executive of Sunrisers Hyderabad, said: “We are happy to continue our partnership with BKT Tyres as part of this T20 cricket league. This collaboration reflects a strong alignment of values, bringing together a shared focus on excellence, performance, and consistency. Together, we move forward with clear intent, committed to raising standards both on and off the field, while delivering a meaningful and engaging experience for fans.”

Alok Chitre, Chief Operating Officer of Rajasthan Royals, said: “We are delighted to partner with BKT Tyres for the sixth year, with a shared energy and drive for performance that continues to strengthen our association. Their commitment to sport, and cricket specifically, reflects a clear focus on the growth of the game and its fan ecosystem in India. As we advance in scale and influence, we look forward to building on this partnership in a meaningful way this year as well.”

A Mumbai Indians spokesperson said: “BKT Tyres has been a valued long-term partner of Mumbai Indians, and this continued partnership reflects a shared commitment to consistency and performance. We look forward to building on this partnership through the season.”

Colonel Arvinder Singh, Chief Operating Officer of Gujarat Titans, said: “Gujarat Titans are pleased to continue the association with BKT Tyres. Partnerships like these reflect a shared commitment to performance, consistency and long-term growth. Such collaborations provide a strong platform for teams and brands to connect with fans across the world, and we look forward to building on this association while continuing to engage meaningfully with our supporters and striving for excellence both on and off the field.”

Satish Menon, Chief Executive of Punjab Kings, said: “We are very happy to continue our journey with BKT Tyres. They have been a loyal and valued partner for the Punjab Kings over the years. Their commitment to excellence matches our ambitions, and it is always a pleasure to work with a brand that understands the pulse of the sport and its fans so well.”

Vinay Chopra, Chief Executive of RPSG Sports Private Limited, said: “At Lucknow Super Giants, we believe that strong partnerships are built on shared values of performance, resilience, and ambition. Our association with BKT Tyres reflects this synergy, as both brands are committed to pushing boundaries and consistently striving for excellence. As we gear up for another exciting season, we look forward to engaging our fans more deeply and creating meaningful experiences together through this partnership.”

BKT said its sports partnerships form part of a broader global portfolio spanning multiple disciplines, aimed at reinforcing brand visibility and consumer engagement.

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Goodyear India Limited said its board has taken note of the resignation of Abhishek Arora as Director – Human Resources, India, with effect from April 20, 2026, and approved the appointment of Vishal Dhingra as HR Director, South Asia from April 21, 2026.

Arora, who will also cease to be a senior management personnel member on April 20, 2026, resigned to explore external growth opportunities, according to the company.

The board approved Dhingra’s appointment following the recommendation of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee. He will assume the role as a senior management personnel from April 21, 2026.

Dhingra has more than 25 years of experience in human resources. He joined Goodyear in July 2020 as Director HR – India and currently serves as HR Director – ASEANZ. Prior to this, he held roles at PepsiCo, India, GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Limited, Eicher Tractors and Ballarpur Industries Limited.

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India has concluded that imports of emulsion styrene butadiene rubber (ESBR) of the 1500 series from the European Union, Japan, South Korea, Russia and Thailand were dumped, following an anti-dumping investigation initiated in March 2025.

The Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, found that dumping margins across all subject countries were above the de minimis threshold and “significant”.

The investigation was launched after Reliance Industries Limited filed an application alleging injury from imports of the product, which is widely used in tyre manufacturing and other rubber goods. The authority determined that the application met the requirements for standing, with support from Indian Synthetic Rubber Private Limited.

The product under consideration, ESBR-1500, is primarily used in tyres due to its abrasion resistance and ageing stability. The DGTR concluded that domestically produced material is comparable to imported goods and can be used interchangeably.

The period of investigation covered October 2023 to September 2024, with injury analysis spanning four financial years. During this time, imports from the subject countries rose overall and accounted for more than 90 per cent of total imports throughout the period.

The authority found that import volumes were highest during the investigation period and had increased relative to domestic production and consumption.

Dumping margins varied by country. Imports from the European Union and Japan were found to have margins in the range of 10–20 per cent, while Russia showed higher margins of 20–30 per cent. South Korea and Thailand recorded lower ranges, generally between 0–10 per cent for cooperating producers and up to 10–20 per cent for others.

The DGTR conducted a cumulative assessment of imports, concluding that goods from the subject countries compete with each other and with domestic production in the Indian market.

On injury, the authority determined that increased imports had affected the domestic industry through price suppression and declining profitability. It noted that while demand for the product rose steadily, the domestic industry’s financial performance weakened over the same period.

The DGTR also rejected arguments that the injury was caused by internal inefficiencies or raw material volatility, stating that such fluctuations were global and not specific to India.

The authority concluded that dumped imports had caused material injury to the domestic industry, establishing a causal link between import volumes and the deterioration in financial performance.

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Fornnax Technology, a global leader in recycling equipment manufacturing, has officially brought Sushil Upadhyay on board as the new Head of its Service Department, a leadership transition that takes effect immediately. With a professional background spanning over 26 years, Upadhyay arrives with extensive experience drawn from multiple multinational corporations. Throughout his career, he has successfully managed and coordinated large, cross-functional teams comprising more than 300 professionals. Within his new capacity at Fornax, his primary focus will involve steering strategic transformations within the service domain, with the objective of optimising equipment reliability, maximising value across the lifecycle of machinery and elevating the sustained performance of the company’s worldwide installed base of industrial recycling solutions.

In the coming year, the service division under his leadership is set to concentrate on a series of clearly defined operational objectives. Key among these is the effort to curtail instances of unexpected machinery downtime by integrating both preventive and predictive maintenance approaches. The team also intends to roll out measurable performance benchmarks for service delivery, which will include tracking metrics such as speed of response, Mean Time to Repair (MTTR) and overall equipment uptime. Moreover, there will be a concerted push to reinforce the availability of spare components by optimising regional warehousing and distribution processes.

Further developments on the agenda involve the creation and delivery of well-structured training modules targeting technical expertise and workplace safety, aimed at enhancing the capabilities of service personnel. In parallel, the organisation plans to introduce digital tools designed to boost transparency in operations and enable customers to more effectively monitor service activities. These combined efforts underscore Fornnax’s commitment to evolving its service infrastructure in response to growing demands for efficiency and reliability.

Jignesh Kundaria, Director & CEO, Fornnax, said, “Our people are the true engine behind our innovation and execution. As we scale globally and expand our footprint across diverse recycling applications, cultivating a culture of excellence remains central to our strategy. In 2026, we are intensifying our focus on talent development, leadership growth and building a high-ownership, high-accountability environment that drives continuous improvement across engineering, manufacturing, and service. This will set new benchmarks in the industry, and I believe Upadhyay will play a crucial role in this journey.”

Upadhyay said, “Fornnax’s strong positioning in high-capacity shredding solutions and its commitment to sustainable recycling deeply resonated with me. The company’s engineering strength and rapid growth trajectory present a powerful opportunity to build a world-class service organisation. In an industry where machine reliability directly impacts customer profitability, service becomes a direct driver of customer success. I am excited to elevate Service from a support function to a strategic growth enabler, which is specifically focused on uptime, lifecycle value and long-term partnerships.”

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