The 10th edition of the Commercial Vehicle Forum (CVF), presented by JK Tyre and held at Conrad Pune, brought together more than 500 delegates and 60 speakers from across India’s commercial vehicle and road transport ecosystem. Discussions focused on freight transformation, vehicle technologies, alternative fuels, fleet operations, safety, connectivity, and the future direction of the sector.
The forum opened with a research presentation by Jinal Shah, founder and CEO of Expandus Consulting, titled India’s Freight Transformation Decade: Reimagining Commercial Mobility for Viksit Bharat. Shah outlined projections for India’s economic and infrastructure growth, including GDP expansion from approximately USD 4 trillion to nearly USD 30 trillion; urbanisation increasing from 37 per cent to 65 per cent; and estimates that nearly 70 per cent of the country’s future infrastructure remains to be built. He noted that heavy commercial vehicles account for roughly 25 per cent of industry volumes but transport approximately 83 per cent of India’s freight. He also highlighted the growing role of replacement demand and projected a significant increase in the adoption of alternative-fuel vehicles over the coming decade.
Delivering the Chairman’s Address, Aniruddha Kulkarni, Vice President and Head of Engineering at Tata Motors, discussed four areas shaping the future of commercial mobility: decarbonisation, safety, software-defined vehicles, and value creation. He noted that commercial vehicles contribute more than 40 per cent of global road transport emissions and outlined the company’s net-zero target for 2045. Kulkarni also pointed to the growing role of over-the-air software updates in commercial vehicles.
Sanjeev Sharma of JK Tyre discussed developments in tyre technology and fleet services, including EV-specific tyres, AI-assisted roadside support services, and connected fleet management platforms. He noted the increasing adoption of pay-per-kilometre tyre models among large transport operators and the growing deployment of RFID-enabled smart tyres across commercial fleets.
During a panel discussion on the industry’s outlook over the next decade, Rajiv Chaturvedi of Daimler Trucks Asia highlighted the importance of ensuring that infrastructure development and operational readiness keep pace with technological advances.
The powertrain discussion focused on the role of multiple fuel pathways in the transition toward lower-emission transport. Vinayak Thalange of Volvo Trucks argued that commercial vehicle economics should be evaluated through vehicle lifetime productivity rather than conventional total cost of ownership metrics alone. Dr S.S. Thipse of ARAI discussed the evolving regulatory framework for hydrogen, while representatives from the Bureau of Indian Standards outlined ongoing efforts to develop hydrogen-related standards aligned with international benchmarks.
A session on safety and emissions examined the effectiveness of emerging safety technologies, including panic buttons and fire suppression systems, and the need for India-specific real-world emissions testing as the industry prepares for future emission norms. Dr Sanjoy Biswas of Volvo highlighted driver training as a critical factor in the successful deployment of advanced safety systems.
Connected vehicle technologies and data governance were also key themes. Lakshmi Rao of Daimler Truck Innovation Center India highlighted the contribution of engineering teams in India to global Daimler truck programmes. Rwittick Kumar of Volvo Group discussed developments in vehicle data accessibility and the potential implications of international regulatory frameworks such as Europe’s Data Act.
Case study presentations covered a range of industry developments. LightMetrics presented its video-based safety platform currently deployed across commercial fleets. Hindustan Petroleum discussed the expansion of its Bazaar Lubricants network, while Bharat Petroleum outlined its capital expenditure plans and developments in hydrogen fuelling infrastructure. Schaltbau India examined the role of air-insulated DC switchgear in electric vehicle battery systems.
At the Pitlane session, participants discussed changes in the trailer market and the role of telematics in improving fleet uptime and operational efficiency. Suppliers noted growing trailer penetration within the heavy commercial vehicle segment and the increasing use of data-driven fleet management tools.
Discussions on electric mobility highlighted differing rates of adoption across vehicle categories. Representatives from Piaggio Vehicles and Olectra Greentech noted that electric three-wheelers have reached significant market penetration due to favourable operating economics, while government procurement programmes have supported growth in the electric bus segment. Adoption among private and school bus operators, however, remains limited.
A supply chain session featuring representatives from SML Mahindra, Ford Motor Company, Cummins and Volvo Group examined localisation trends within the automotive sector. Panellists estimated localisation levels of approximately 90 per cent for conventional internal combustion engine vehicles, with imported electronics remaining a key dependency. Electric vehicle localisation was estimated to be lower, particularly when battery cells are excluded from calculations.
The forum concluded with the Commercial Vehicle & Fleet Awards 2026, which recognised organisations across the commercial vehicle, fleet management, technology and alternative fuels ecosystem. Companies honoured during the ceremony included SPAL, Blue Energy Motors, Allcargo Gati, ZF Commercial Vehicle Solutions, LightMetrics, Accolade Electronics, Chetak Logistics and Let’s Transport for their contributions in areas ranging from operational efficiency and connected technologies to software innovation and fleet transformation.
The event provided a platform for industry stakeholders, policymakers, technology providers and fleet operators to exchange perspectives on the opportunities and challenges facing India’s road transport ecosystem while also recognising organisations driving innovation and operational excellence across the industry.
