Swedish automaker Volvo is no outsider in the Indian markets; in fact, it feels quite at home in the country, said the group’s India MD and President, Kamal Bali.
During an interaction post signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles under the Leadership Group for Industry Transition (LeadIT) framework, Bali said the company is going to build its fourth international manufacturing hub in India.
“We are not new to India. In fact, we’ve been here for 25 years. It has now become like our home market. We’re going to build our fourth international manufacturing hub in India, so it’s becoming very important to us.”
Bali asserted that the Volvo group’s joint venture with Eicher Motors, an Indian company, further reinforces their India connection.
“Eicher Motors is the mainstream brand, Volvo is the premium brand. So, we have enough knowledge about India as a group,” he added.
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Speaking about the company’s commitment to sustainability in India, the group MD said their partnership with Tata Motors, as part of LeadIT, is aimed at developing the broader ecosystem, including infrastructure, regulatory alignment, and talent development.
Both automotive manufacturers pledged, as part of their membership of the LeadIT, to work together on a more sustainable heavy-duty transport eco-system in India.
“MOU is about working together to accelerate decarbonisation of heavy duty trucking industry,” he said, adding that heavy-duty transport contributes 37 per cent to total road emissions.
To achieve net-zero targets, all actors in the ecosystem – vehicle manufacturers, fuel suppliers, infrastructure providers, and policymakers – must work in tandem, Bali said.
In India, the Volvo Group offers trucks, buses, construction equipment and power solutions for marine and industrial applications, financing, and services.
Additionally, through its joint venture with with Eicher Motors, it leads global medium-duty engine production, while hosting the group’s largest R&D and IT hub outside Sweden in India.
Commenting on the MoU, State Secretary Sara Modig said, “The collaboration between Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles and the Volvo Group shows how industry can take the lead – not only in setting goals, but in building the ecosystems, technologies, and infrastructure needed for fossil-free heavy transport that can scale across markets.”
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