Rajesh Rajgor represented Motorindia Magazine at the 8th edition of the Commercial Vehicle Forum (CVF), a pivotal gathering where industry leaders converged to map out the future of commercial vehicles. Satyakam Arya, MD & CEO of Daimler India Commercial Vehicles, warmly welcomed attendees to Pune, emphasizing the city’s growing prominence as a hub for automotive engineering and manufacturing. Against the backdrop of India’s projected rise as the world’s 3rd largest economy by 2027 and with significant infrastructure investments slated to reach $1.6 trillion by 2030, Arya set the stage for discussions on India’s pivotal role in the global commercial vehicle landscape.
The highly anticipated 8th edition of the Commercial Vehicle Forum (CVF) took place on June 4, 2024, at the J.W. Marriott in Pune, bringing together industry leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders to discuss the future of the Indian Commercial Vehicle, Off-Highway, and Road Transport sectors. The event featured Mr. Satyakam Arya, MD & CEO of Daimler India Commercial Vehicles, as the Chairman, and Dr. T. Surya Kiran, Executive Director of ASRTU, as the Chief Guest, adding significant value to the discussions with their expertise and leadership.
With over 60 speakers, 500 attendees, and 30 exhibitors, the 8th edition of CVF provided a platform for knowledge sharing, insightful conversations, and fruitful networking opportunities.
Attendees gained valuable insights into the current state of the commercial vehicle and off-highway industry, emerging trends, and the path forward for sustainable and efficient road transport growth in India. Prominent speakers and industry experts delivered compelling presentations on topics such as the future of the CV & Road Transport Industry, Off-Highway Equipment Market Trends, Digital Transformation, EV & Alternative Fuel Trends, and Regulatory Updates, including a special session on Women Shaping the Future of Logistics, CV & Off-Highway Industry.
Notable speakers at the event included Prasanna Patwardhan, Chairperson & Managing Director, Prasanna Purple Mobility Solutions; Mr. Malind Kapur, Executive Vice President & Business Head – Spare Parts, Piaggio Vehicles Pvt Ltd; Ms. Reema Kothari, Director, Reema Transport Pvt. Ltd; Mr. Sukumar Kameswaran, CEO, TVS Supply Chain Solutions India; Mr. Surya Khurana, Managing Director, FlixBus India; Zoeb Karampurwala, Chief Product Officer, EKA Mobility; Sharwan Agnihotri, Head – Mining & International Business, Hyundai Construction Equipment India Pvt Ltd; Mr. Puneet Kumar Vidyarthi, Head – Marketing & Business Development – India & SAR, Case New Holland Construction Equipment; G S Grewal, Managing Director, Kubota Agricultural Machinery India Private Limited; Dr. Lokesh Agrawal, CTO, NBC Bearings; Mr. Anurag Naidu, Group Manager – Vehicle Technology, Volvo Group Trucks Technology; Mr. Aniruddha Kulkarni, Vice President and Head of Engineering, Tata Motors; Ms. Harinder Pal Kaur, Head of Logistics, Northern Cargo Service, JIS Group; Mr. Uday Narang, Chairman, Anglian Omega Group and Omega Seiki Mobility; Mr. Makrand Lad, Assistant General Manager – Powertrain Engineering, Volvo Group India Private Limited; Ms. Yogita Raghuvanshi, Owner, Rajhans Transport Company & Female Truck Driver; Ms. Ishani Pandit, Manager, John Deere Pvt Ltd; Mr. Bal Malkit Singh, Former President & Chairman – Core Committee, All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC); Mr. Abhijeet Sinha, National Program Director – Ease Of Doing Business, and many more.
Economic Ambitions and Infrastructure Momentum
At CVF 2024, key themes included reducing logistics costs through the National Logistics Policy, emphasizing India’s political stability, infrastructure investments, and growth projections. Satyakam Arya discussed Daimler’s safety initiatives like European-standard cabin upgrades and driver monitoring systems, alongside advocating for better driver training and air-conditioned cabins. On sustainability, Arya pushed for decarbonizing transportation via battery electric and hydrogen technologies, aligning with India’s energy independence and net-zero emissions goals. The forum also highlighted India’s digital infrastructure leadership, with digital transactions projected to rise significantly by 2024. Panels explored regulatory compliance, sustainability, and digital transformation, emphasizing the industry’s commitment to achieving 50% renewable power generation by 2030 through initiatives like FAME, PLI, and the National Hydrogen Mission.
Engaging Panel Discussions
Jinal Shah, Founder and CEO of Expandus Consulting Pvt Ltd, highlighted India’s optimistic growth trajectory driven by urbanization, a growing millennial workforce, and rising per capita income. He emphasized the automotive sector’s role in sustainable economic development, advocating for competitiveness, localization, and indigenous technology development. Shah discussed the industry’s shift towards greener transportation solutions, including electrification and hydrogen fuel cells, and advancements in autonomous vehicles, supported by Expandus Consulting’s data intelligence platform. In the panel “The Future of Commercial Vehicle & Road Transport: Emerging Trends and Market Dynamics,” industry leaders discussed technological advancements, market dynamics, and the role of collaborative efforts and proactive government policies in enhancing public transport services. Another panel, led by Kinjal Shah from ICRA Limited, focused on the adoption of electrification, smart technology, and sustainability in off-highway vehicles, emphasizing safety features and the integration of greener fuels and electric equipment.
Digital Transformation and Connectivity
The panel on “Digital Transformation in Commercial Vehicles & Off-Highway,” moderated by Harshvardhan Sharma from NRI, emphasized the crucial role of connectivity, IoT, and AI in reducing operational costs and enhancing customer benefits, vehicle intelligence, and maintenance efficiency. Another panel, “Sustainability for Mobility: EV & Alternative Fuel Trends,” moderated by Hemal Thakkar from CRISIL Limited, highlighted the industry’s shift towards alternative fuels and electric vehicles, noting IPLTECH Electric’s success in this sector despite infrastructure and financing challenges. Additionally, the panel on “Regulatory Compliance and Government Policy Updates,” also moderated by Sharma, discussed the impact of regulatory frameworks on industry operations, focusing on emission standards, the transition to electric and hydrogen vehicles, and the need for infrastructure to support sustainable operations, emphasizing measures like CEV and TRIM norms and advancements in toll collection automation.
Championing Diversity and Innovation:
The panel on “Women Shaping the Future of Logistics, Commercial Vehicle & Off-Highway Industry,” moderated by Girish Mirchandani from Trans India and TRANSTOPICS, highlighted the growing influence of women in traditionally male-dominated sectors. Industry leaders discussed advancements in connectivity, digital transformation, and the potential of autonomous trucks to improve safety and efficiency. They also emphasized educational initiatives to empower women in transportation, promoting industry diversity and inclusive growth.
Notable presentations included Kunal Sharma’s discussion on TAP-Re (Tyre Air Pressure Monitoring and Regulator), an Indian innovation aimed at enhancing safety and efficiency in commercial vehicles by reducing downtime, improving fuel efficiency, and lowering operational costs.
At this year’s CVF, another highlight was the CV Tech Synergy Initiative by Daimler Truck Innovation Center India (DTICI). This initiative sought innovative ideas to improve ECU Software Architecture for Software Defined Vehicles, culminating in a 15-Minutes-to-Win challenge on stage. The top three solutions impressed industry leaders, with winners receiving INR 4 Lakhs. This initiative, alongside active participation from attendees and speakers, played a key role in advancing discussions on transforming India’s commercial vehicle and off-highway sector.
The eighth Commercial Vehicle Forum was a success, uniting industry leaders and stakeholders to exchange insights. It highlighted the industry’s dynamism, resilience, and commitment to innovation and sustainable mobility. As India’s largest event of its kind, CVF drives transformative change and fosters collaboration, playing a pivotal role in addressing challenges and promoting industry growth.