India’s commercial vehicle sector’s evolution

Trucks in India have undergone a change thanks to the tremendous growth in the commercial vehicle sector in India. Most trucks that are manufactured in India in the present time look similar to their counterparts in developed countries. They are no longer the drab and somewhat menacing looking machines that once dominated Indian roads. Well-designed and brilliantly engineered, the trucks that appear on the road today are a different breed.
One of the most significant changes in truck design is the concept of multi-axle trucks. Also known as MATs, these trucks range from 26.2-ton vehicles to 49-ton vehicles and fall under the category of heavy-duty vehicles. Multi-axle trucks can carry more as every extra axle that a truck has increases its capacity by approximately 5 to 7 tons and increases fuel efficiency, thereby increasing profitability. Another factor adding the use of MATs is the highway tolls in India that are almost the same for 2-axle vehicles and MATs.
While MATs are related to heavy-duty commercial vehicles, smaller capacity commercial vehicles could also benefit from using more than one axle. That is why vehicles classified as light commercial vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of 3.5 to 7.5 tons are available with two axles. The same holds true for medium commercial vehicles. However, vehicles with 2-axles are not considered as MATs as the term applies exclusively to heavy-duty commercial vehicles. The need for better and stronger trucks gave rise to multi-axle trucks in India. As the economy grew, so did the need for developments in the freight industry.
As a natural progression, newer trucks rolled out onto the brand new Indian roads well armed to carry rising demand. With foreign truck manufacturers taking interest in the Indian commercial vehicle sector, Indian trucks had to undergo a make over. While Indian Railways remain a trusted route for freight transportation, it cannot cope with the increased demand alone. The high freight charges of the railways do not make it a viable option for many operators; better highways and road networks across the country provide the much-needed alternative.
Furthermore, the MATs come to the rescue with their larger size and cost-effectiveness. In the recent years, there has been a dramatic shift in MAT sales. In the decade ending in 2011, the market share of MATs has surged ahead from a modest 7% to a whopping 68%, while the market for two-axle heavy-duty vehicles dropped considerably from 93% to 31%. Once a rarity on Indian roads, MATs have become an intrinsic part of the Indian commercial heavy-duty vehicle industry.
(March 27, 2013)