Mahindra is targeting a significant increase in its heavy commercial vehicle market share, aiming to rise from the current 3-3.5% to 5% over the near term. According to reports from Business Standard, the company plans to achieve this through new product launches, network expansion, and a technology-led strategy. At its current market share, Mahindra's annual heavy truck sales total approximately 6,000-7,900 units, which would increase to around 10,000-11,250 units annually if the target is achieved. The company's board approved the transfer of the Truck & Bus Division to listed subsidiary SML Mahindra on a slump-sale basis for about ₹525 crore in July, with completion targeted by January 2027. As reported by ETAuto, the integration of SML Mahindra into Mahindra's truck and bus business is progressing ahead of internal plans, with the combined structure expected to enable greater platform sharing and cost synergies.
The company has launched the new Blazo i-TRK heavy truck range, featuring India's first AI-enabled automatic drive mode in the heavy commercial vehicle segment. The truck's on-board edge-AI system decides power mode selection without driver intervention, using real-time road and gradient data from a GPS antenna. The system infers vehicle load and combines accelerator pedal position, engine speed, and selected gear with additional parameters to automatically shift between low, medium, and turbo modes. The system can also detect whether the truck is empty, carrying its rated payload or is overloaded, and uses these inputs along with road and engine parameters to determine the appropriate drive mode. Mahindra claims up to 10% better fuel efficiency through the new AI-powered iFuelSmart automatic drive mode, TurboMaxx turbocharger and OptiFuel air compressor. This represents an evolution from Mahindra's 2016 Blazo's 48-hour service guarantee, which carried a ₹1,000 per day penalty for breakdowns, to the current ₹10,000 per day penalty under the 48-hour uptime guarantee. The company backs this with a 250-component parts commitment, supplying free parts if delivery exceeds 24 hours. According to ETAuto, the improvement could translate into up to ₹15 lakh of additional profit per truck over five years, depending on operating conditions.
The Blazo i-TRK range gets advanced connected technology features including remote immobilisation, predictive diagnostics, and over-the-air capabilities through its connected technology platform. These features can help identify issues before they result in a breakdown. The truck uses an onboard dual-core AI chip with 10 nanometer technology, doing computing onboard rather than on cloud servers to maintain cybersecurity. As reported by ETAuto, the company is offering an industry-first 48-hour uptime guarantee, with a ₹10,000-per-day compensation if the truck is not returned to the road within the committed period. The technology is protected by intellectual property rights, with Sahay claiming it represents an industry gold standard that competitors will find difficult to replicate. Fleet owners benefit from iMaxx 2.0, Mahindra's latest connected vehicle platform that offers real-time vehicle monitoring, predictive diagnostics, driver behaviour analysis and remote functions like ignition lock and AC management.
The Blazo i-TRK range focuses on driver comfort with features such as a suspended driver's seat, factory-fitted air-conditioned cabin, Bluetooth-enabled infotainment system and cruise control. The truck is powered by Mahindra's 7.2-litre mPower diesel engine that develops 320 bhp and 1,100 Nm of peak torque, paired with a wide torque band designed to improve drivability, reduce gear shifts and deliver better fuel economy during long-haul operations. Mahindra has further strengthened its ownership package with extended warranty options, annual maintenance contracts, nationwide service support and the Now24x7 mobile app for service requests, spare parts ordering and roadside assistance. With its focus on intelligent technology, fuel savings and fleet connectivity, the Mahindra Blazo i-TRK aims to set a new benchmark in India's heavy commercial vehicle segment.
The company plans to add 15 dealerships over the next 12 months, primarily in eastern and western India regions where it is currently underrepresented. As reported by Business Standard, Mahindra currently operates 88 Mahindra Truck and Bus dealerships and 103 SML Mahindra dealerships. The company will convert some SML outlets into heavy truck dealerships while creating common workshops for both brands to strengthen its presence in heavy trucks. This expansion supports the company's broader strategy to achieve 10-12% market share by fiscal 2031, rising above 20% by fiscal 2036. The combined truck and bus business currently has around 6% market share and ₹6,000 crore revenue, with the company targeting 10-12% market share and ₹12,500 crore revenue by FY31.
