Commercial trucks come under the N2 and N3 categories.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has issued a notification that states that all trucks manufactured from October 2025 onwards must have factory-fitted AC cabins.

As per the gazette notification, N2 and N3 category vehicles manufactured on or after October 1, 2025, should be fitted with an air-conditioning system. It also mentions that the testing of the cabin fitted with the air-conditioning system will be as per the notified automotive standards.

The ministry had earlier proposed to implement this from January 2025, but the date was revised following consultations with stakeholders.

Commercial trucks come under the N2 and N3 categories. In India, manufacturers offer several configurations including, chassis, chassis+cowl and chassis+cabin. The new regulation will pave the way for OEMs to sell the chassis with the cabin and a factory-fitted AC.

Source: ET Auto

Currently, the test for obtaining an HCV licence is similar to the one for light vehicles.

Getting a driving licence for a heavy commercial vehicle (HCV) may soon get tougher in Maharashtra.

According to senior state transport department officials, the government is mulling a stricter driving test for HCV drivers. There are also plans to undertake meetings with members of transport associations and independent drivers to conduct special refresher sessions for them.

Currently, the test for obtaining an HCV licence is similar to the one for light vehicles. HCV drivers are also required to go through a field efficiency test and drive the vehicle for 5 km in different scenarios within a specific time frame. The department plans to introduce more aspects suited for drivers seeking an HCV licence.

The announcement comes in the wake of a recent accident involving a private bus on the old Pune-Mumbai highway, near Khopoli. The accident claimed the lives of 13 people.

Source: ET Auto

The performance is claimed to be on par with diesel ICE trucks and is said to have “near-zero emissions”.

Ashok Leyland and Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) have unveiled what is claimed to be India’s first hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine (H2ICE) truck at the India Energy Week in Bangalore.

Ashok Leyland had been developing the H2ICE heavy-duty truck in partnership with RIL over the past year. It is based on a conventional diesel engine. The company claims that it would help quicker migration to cleaner energy sources at a relatively lower cost.

The H2ICE truck uses hydrogen as fuel to power a conventional internal combustion diesel engine. The truck is equipped with two large tanks to store hydrogen. The performance is claimed to be on par with diesel ICE trucks and is said to have “near-zero emissions”.

Unlike most hydrogen-powered vehicles, which use fuel-cell technology to generate electricity, Ashok Leyland’s truck has an internal combustion engine that is powered using hydrogen instead of diesel.

Source: The Hindu

The 5528 4x2 long-haul truck is powered by a 6.7-litre engine that runs on LNG.

Blue Energy Motors has launched what it said to be India’s first LNG-powered long-haul truck.

The Blue Energy Motors 5528 4x2 truck uses FPT Industrial multipoint stoichiometric combustion engine. The 6.7-litre, 6-cylinder engine develops 276 BHP @ 2,200 rpm and 1000 Nm @ 1,200-1,900 rpm. It is paired with a 9-speed transmission.

The truck comes equipped with a 1,000-litre LNG tank that is mounted behind the cab. It is said to offer a maximum range of 1,400 km in a single fill.

Blue Energy Motors LNG truck is manufactured at the company’s newly inaugurated plant in Chakan, Pune. It has an installed capacity of 10,000 trucks per annum.

The Tata Prima now comes with Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS).

Tata Motors has announced the launch of a range of CNG-powered medium & heavy commercial vehicles (M&HCV). The company has also introduced Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) on its Prima range of heavy-duty trucks.

Tata Motors has introduced CNG-powered M&HCVs in the 19 and 28-tonne nodes. The Signa CNG trucks are said to be offered in varied wheelbase and load deck length options and are powered by a 5.7-litre engine producing 178 BHP and 650 Nm. They have a driving range of up to 1,000 km.

The Tata Prima now comes with Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS), which includes features such as Collision Mitigation System (CMS), Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS), Driver Monitoring System (DMS), ESC and TPMS.

The Prima and Signa series comes equipped with a 3-spoke steering wheel with mounted controls and Bluetooth connectivity. They get a 7-inch touchscreen head unit with connectivity features and a new instrument cluster.

Tata Motors has also announced the launch of seven new I&LCVs. These include the LPK 610 with high ground clearance and H2LS brakes, LPT 709g XD with 5 sq.ft. added deck area and up to 10% higher fuel efficiency, SK 510 tipper, Ultra T.12g, Ultra K.14, LPT 1512g and the Ultra T.16 Cx.

The ecomet Star 1815 is designed for long-haul applications.

Ashok Leyland has launched the ecomet Star 1815 truck in the 17.5 tonne GVW category.

The ecomet Star 1815 truck comes with an HSD body with a payload capacity of 11.74 tonnes. The truck is designed for long-haul applications.

Powering the ecomet Star 1815 is a 4-cylinder diesel engine that makes 148 BHP and 450 Nm.

The truck is available with 20 feet, 22 feet and 24 feet loading spans with either Day cab or Sleeper cab. It is equipped with a digital dashboard with Advanced Digital Driver Assist (ADDA) and i-Alert Advanced telematics.

The AVTR 2825 is said to be India's first tipper equipped with a 9-speed automated manual transmission.

Ashok Leyland has launched the new AVTR 2825 tipper with a 9-speed AMT. It is claimed to be India's first tipper equipped with a 9-speed automated manual transmission.

The 9-speed AMT has features like a rock-free mode and an integrated Hill-Start Aid. These functions along with the automated and manual transmission modes are said to reduce driver fatigue.

Further, acceleration-based gear shifting is said to improve fuel efficiency. The transmission has automated economy and power modes and is equipped with variable upshift and downshift rpms based on the gradient for smoother gear-shifting.

Prices of Tata M&HCV, I&LCV, SCV and buses will be hiked by 2.5%.

Tata Motors has announced that it would increase the prices of its commercial vehicle range by 2.5% from January 1, 2022.

According to the company, the price hike will affect all segments, including medium and heavy commercial vehicles (M&HCV), I&LCV, SCV and buses, but will vary depending on model and variant.

Prices are being increased due to rising commodity costs, especially that of steel, aluminium and other precious metals.

Out of the 21 new models that Tata Motors has introduced, one is an electric bus called the Starbus 4/12.

Tata Motors has unveiled 21 new commercial vehicles. The new models belong to multiple segments, including Medium & Heavy Commercial Vehicles (M&HCV), Intermediate & Light Commercial Vehicles (I&LCV), Small Commercial Vehicles & Pick-ups (SCV & PU), and Passenger Commercial Vehicles (PCV).

The 7 new models in the M&HCV segment include the Construck, Tractor-Trailer and Rigid truck range. These are the Signa 5530.S, Signa 4623.S, Signa 4625.S ESC, Signa 4221.T, Signa 4021.S, Signa 3118.T and Prima 2830.K.

In the I&LCV segment, Tata Motors has introduced 5 new models of 4-18 tonne GVW with CNG powertrains. These include the Ultra T.18 SL, 407G, 709G CNG, LPT 510 and Ultra T.6.

In the SCV & PU segment, 4 models have been unveiled - Winger Cargo, Ace Petrol CX cab chassis, Ace Gold Diesel+ and Intra V30 High deck.

The PCV segment sees the introduction of 5 new vehicles including an electric bus. There is the Winger 15S, Starbus 4/12 (E-bus), Starbus 2200, Cityride Prime and Magna coach.

The Volvo FMX500 gets a passenger corner camera along with the provision for four additional cameras.

Volvo Trucks has announced the launch of the new generation FM and FMX series of trucks in India.

The range of trucks offers an increased cab volume of up to 1,000 litres. The trucks have a large windscreen, lower door lines and new mirrors that are said to improve visibility by 10%.

There's a new I-shift lever, which comes with updated software and additional drive modes. The trucks come with an engine management system and an I-Roll function that can automatically disengage the engine.

The new FM and FMX series of trucks come equipped with an Electronic Braking System (EBS) as well as downhill cruise control. The FMX500 gets a passenger corner camera along with the provision for four additional cameras. It also comes with a 12-inch driver interface.