Electric trucks are taking a bigger role in India’s commercial vehicle conversation, with Ashok Leyland, the flagship of the Hinduja Group and one of India’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturers, partnering with the Centre of Excellence for Zero Emission Trucking (CoEZET) at IIT Madras for a nationwide ‘GET ZET – Electric Truck Awareness to Acceptance’ initiative. Launched from Chennai, the programme will reach 40 cities between September 2026 and February 2027, bringing together key stakeholders from the commercial vehicle ecosystem to build awareness, strengthen confidence and support the adoption of zero-emission freight transportation.
The programme will take electric trucks to key logistics hubs and industrial corridors across Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. By taking the initiative to major freight and industrial centres, Ashok Leyland and CoEZET aim to bring the conversation around electric trucking closer to the businesses and professionals who will play a key role in its adoption.
The 40-city programme will bring together fleet owners, logistics operators, financiers, load providers, infrastructure partners, policymakers and industry experts. Through interactive sessions and demonstration events, participants will be able to explore the opportunities and challenges associated with electric commercial vehicles, while gaining a clearer understanding of the infrastructure, financing and operational ecosystem needed to support the transition to zero-emission freight.
As part of the programme, participants will get an opportunity to experience Ashok Leyland’s electric mobility solutions and gain first-hand insights into battery-electric commercial vehicles and the evolving zero-emission transportation landscape. The BOSS Electric truck, along with its charging setup, will be showcased at the events, offering stakeholders an opportunity to experience the vehicle and understand how the different elements of an electric commercial vehicle ecosystem come together.
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Mr. Shenu Agarwal, MD & CEO, Ashok Leyland said: “The transition to zero-emission mobility will be defined not just by the maturity of technology, but by the confidence of the users to adopt it at scale. At Ashok Leyland, we believe the best way to build that confidence is by taking electric trucking closer to the people who will use and enable it. Through ‘GET ZET – Electric Truck Awareness to Acceptance’, in collaboration with Centre of Excellence for Zero Emission Trucking (CoEZET), IIT Madras, we are bringing the electric truck technology to 40 cities, creating opportunities for customers and stakeholders to experience its real-world potential first-hand. This is a step towards making electric mobility more accessible, practical and ready for the future of India’s freight ecosystem.”
Prof. Manu Santhanam – Dean (ICSR), Indian Institute of Technology, Madras said: “CoEZET, IIT Madras has been working towards the adoption of zero-emission trucks since 2022, with a vision of achieving 100% ZET penetration by Viksit Bharat 2047. Our work spans policy, technology, skilling and outreach. The current Outreach Acceptance Initiative builds on our earlier awareness activities across hundreds of locations and focuses on enabling stakeholders to experience, evaluate and build confidence in battery electric trucks, as we move towards the next phase of adoption.
Through in-depth interactions and hands-on trial rides, we aim to demonstrate the quieter, smoother and more comfortable experience of electric trucks, while helping address driver concerns and build greater acceptance among the trucking community. We are glad to collaborate with industry partners such as Ashok Leyland in this effort and look forward to engaging with a wider range of stakeholders to strengthen acceptance and enable the wider adoption of zero-emission trucks in India.”
