Positive sales of medium and heavy rigid trucks (7.5t gvw and above) in India of the first quarter continued into the second, realising growth of 165.8% in the first half (1H) of FY2021-22 to register 70,917 units compared with 26,677 units in same period of 2020-21.

Despite second quarter sales in the light truck segment remaining flat, half year sales of  LCV goods carrier (truck) vehicles (gvw ≤ 7.5t) grew by 36.7% to 179,929 units in first half of FY 2021-22, up from 131,582 units in same period of FY 2020-21. Export sales enjoyed robust growth of 176.7% to 24,445 units, helping to help boost production of light trucks by 57.4% to more than 210,000 units (135,021).

The erratic behaviour of tractor sales in India continued during the second quarter of FY 2021-22 with sales growth of 397% to register 5,710 units compared with 1,149 units in the same quarter of the previous year (FY 2020-21). Tractor production increased by 467.2% overall from 1,046 units to 5,933 units and export sales up by 1115% to 243 units (20).

Sales of medium and heavy rigid trucks (7.5t gvw and above) in India enjoyed robust growth of 102.2% in Q2 of FY2021-22 to register 46,019 units compared with  from 22,764 units in same quarter of the year 2020-21. Export sales of rigid trucks was also spectacularly up during the period by 221.4% to 6,084 units in the second quarter of FY 2021-22 from 1,893 units in the same quarter of the previous year.

Sales of light-duty goods carrier (truck) vehicles (gvw ≤ 7.5t) in India were flat with growth of just 2.3% to 107,584 units in Q2 of FY 2021-22, up from 105,209 units in same period of FY 2020-21. Light truck export sales rose by 128.3% to 14,651 units (6,417) helping to boost output during the period by 7.3% to 122,196.

Ashok Leyland Ltd of Chennai, has built up dedicated teams at its Hosur engine plant to develop and deliver advanced alternative-fuelled engines. It offers fully homologated CNG and LNG powered engines manufactured at the Hosur plant.

Daimler India Commercial Vehicles Pvt Ltd (DICV) of Oragadam, near Chennai, a subsidiary of Daimler Trucks Asia of Japan and Germany’s Daimler AG, has signed a strategic initiative with Shriram Automall India Ltd (SAMIL) to market used commercial vehicles.

Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, a global leader in diversified chemicals, in collaboration with oil marketing company, Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL), is to provide Technical Grade Urea (TGU) for the manufacture of DEF (Diesel Exhaust Fluid) or AUS-32 (Aqueous Urea Solution), which is used in diesel exhaust aftertreatment  systems to reduce nitrogen dioxide (NO2) emissions by over 70% and to comply with Bharat Stage VI (BS-VI) emissions in new vehicles.

Apollo Tyres Ltd of Gurugram has launched the ‘Apollo EnduRace RAT’, an all-wheel position fitment (tyres can be used for drive and non-drive axles) radial tyre for commercial vehicles.

Mahindra Truck & Bus Ltd, a division of Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd of Mumbai launched Furio 71 in the light-duty (3.5 to 7.5t gvw) truck, so expanding the Furio range of trucks.

CV maker,  Tata Motors Ltd of Mumbai, on  October 28, 2021 at its Mumbai  facility unveiled no fewer than 21 new models across all segments including seven new trucks in the medium and heavy duty segments, five new LCV and ICV (4-18 tonne GVW) trucks, four new SCV trucks and five new buses.

Ashok Leyland Ltd of Chennai, has launched an upgraded version of its diesel-powered Star truck in the Intermediate Commercial Vehicle (ICV) 11- to 16-tonne GVW segment.