The seventh edition of the Commercial Vehicle Forum (CVF) took place on May 25, 2023, at the JW Marriott Hotel in Pune. As the nation’s premier C-level commercial vehicle and road transport event, CVF brought together senior professionals from the industry for a day of insightful discussions and networking. With over 60 speakers and 500+ attendees, the CVF solidified its position as the largest event in India focused on the commercial vehicle and road transport sector. Rajesh Rajgor, representing MOTORINDIA as the official magazine partner for CVF, shares highlights from the event
The Commercial Vehicle Forum (CVF) held its seventh edition at the JW Marriott Hotel in Pune, India, bringing together senior professionals from the commercial vehicle (CV) and road transport industry. With over 60 speakers and more than 500 attendees, the CVF solidified its position as the largest event in the nation dedicated to the CV and road transport sector. The CVF was honoured to have Nitin Gadkari, Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Government of India, as the chief guest, who graced the occasion with his presence and shared valuable insights, concluding a highly eventful day. At the outset, the event began with an address by Rajendra Petkar, President and CTO of Tata Motors Ltd.
As the chairman of CVF 2023, Petkar shared his vision for the future of the commercial vehicle and road transport industry, highlighting the importance of innovation, sustainability and collaboration. He expressed his admiration for the industry’s strength and resilience in overcoming various challenges. He applauded the passion and perseverance of all stakeholders, including OEMs, component suppliers, fleet owners and drivers, during the pandemic. In his address, Petkar emphasised the industry’s successful adaptation to regulatory changes, such as the transition to BS VI emission norms and further implementation of Phase 2. He also stressed the importance of transitioning to alternate fuels, such as compressed natural gas (CNG), and the need for improved security measures, connected vehicles and shared mobility to enhance safety and efficiency.
Research Presentation: Indian CV and Road Transport Industry
Jinal Shah, Founder and CEO of Expandus Consulting (P) Ltd., delivered a research presentation on the Indian CV and road transport industry. His presentation provided valuable insights into the industry’s current state, trends and future prospects. He highlighted the industry’s journey from the implementation of BS IV to BS VI emission norms, the impact of various drivetrains and proportion of diesel, CNG, LNG and the possibilities of hydrogen. He also acknowledged the challenges posed by the pandemic such as demand issues and shorter turnaround times for trucks but ended on an optimistic note of India being able to produce a million units of commercial vehicles by 2025.
He emphasised that this would be possible as the industry had accelerated localisation efforts and identified new opportunities for growth, both in existing as well as alternate fuels. Jinal Shah’s presentation was followed by a brief presentation by Małgorzata Bieniaszewska, Founder and Sales Director of MB Pneumatics India. She spoke about her transformation from a tyrant to a leader in the industry and for her company MB Pneumatics. The presentation showcased her and the company’s journey and highlighted the lessons learned along the way. One of the highlights of CVF 2023 was the CXO panel discussion on the evolution of the CV and road transport industry.
The panellists included industry leaders such as Sudhir Mehta, Founder and Chairman of EKA Mobility and Chairman and Managing Director of Pinnacle Industries; Reema Kothari Jogani, Director of Reema Transport (P) Ltd; Shankar R, Executive Director (Special Projects) at TVS Supply Chain Solutions; Siddharth Kirtane, Head of Marketing and HQ Operations at DICV; and Kaushik Narayan, CEO of Leaptrucks. Moderated by Jinal Shah, the panel discussed the emerging trends shaping the industry in 2023 and beyond, including connected and digital disruption. The discussions highlighted the industry’s commitment to reducing emissions, adopting clean and sustainable mobility solutions and embracing technological advancements. The speakers emphasised the importance of digitalisation, localisation and collaboration to drive efficiency and address environmental challenges.
Dual Approach for a Comprehensive Experience
Following the successful format of previous editions, CVF adopted a dual approach this year as well. Parallel conference tracks were organised on disruptive innovations and sustainable mobility. These tracks featured presentations and panel discussions by industry experts on topics such as electrification of CVs, decarbonisation, trailer trends and next-generation powertrains and low carbon fuels. The separate rooms allowed participants to delve deeper into specific topics such as disruptive innovations and sustainable mobility. Attendees had the opportunity to choose the track that aligned with their interests and expertise.
CVF 2023 dedicated considerable attention to the electrification of commercial vehicles and the push towards decarbonisation. A panel discussion titled ‘Electrification of CVs and Push towards De-Carbonisation: Clean and Sustainable Mobility’ explored the adoption of clean and sustainable mobility solutions, reducing emissions and promoting environmental sustainability in the road transport sector. The panellists shared insights on the challenges and opportunities associated with the shift towards electric vehicles and low carbon fuels, emphasising the importance of collaboration and innovation in driving the industry forward.
Towards a Safer and Efficient Future
CVF 2023 also addressed critical areas such as trailer trends, safety and efficiency. A fireside chat titled ‘Trailer Trends 2023 and Beyond: Safer, Smarter and Efficient’ provided a platform to discuss advancements in trailer technology, focusing on enhancing safety, optimising operations and improving efficiency. Additionally, a panel discussion titled ‘Beyond Electric: Next Generation Powertrains and Low Carbon Fuels’ explored emerging powertrain technologies and their potential to contribute to a low carbon future. These discussions underscored the industry’s commitment to embracing cutting-edge solutions for a sustainable and efficient future.
The seventh edition of the Commercial Vehicle Forum proved to be a resounding success, gathering industry leaders, professionals and stakeholders to exchange knowledge, insights and ideas. The event showcased the dynamism of the CV and road transport industry, emphasising its resilience in the face of challenges. CVF 2023 shed light on the evolving landscape, disruptive innovations and the pursuit of sustainable mobility. As the largest event of its kind in India, CVF continues to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the commercial vehicle and road transport industry. With its focus on collaboration, innovation and industry-wide engagement, CVF has proven to be a catalyst for transformative change in this vital sector of the economy. It concluded with a sense of optimism about the future of the CV and road transport industry in India, with a superlative address by Nitin Gadkari.