Ashok Leyland Managing Director and CEO Shenu Agarwal on Wednesday outlined three transformative shifts: energy, intelligence and social impact that will reshape the commercial vehicle (CV) industry in the coming years.
Speaking at the CII Commercial Vehicle Summit, Agarwal said that while 2047 may appear distant, the foundations of that future are already being laid in R&D labs, factory floors, policy corridors and customer aspirations.
“For the CV industry, I see 2047 as trillions of tonnes of cargo carried through billions of green km, supporting millions of livelihoods. The industry will not just participate in the journey towards a Viksit India, but it will be one of its key authors,” he said.
Shift in energy
Highlighting energy transition as both the biggest challenge and opportunity, Agarwal stressed the need for energy independence. “Over the last seven decades, the industry has mastered diesel-based vehicles, largely dependent on imported crude. This is a vulnerability we must engineer our way out of,” he said.
He called for a multi-fuel strategy encompassing electric, LNG and bio-CNG, with a strong focus on domestically generated energy.
Green hydrogen
Agarwal also underscored the potential of green hydrogen. “At Ashok Leyland, we often say we have the world’s largest fleet of hydrogen ICE trucks — though it is just 23 vehicles today. But within the next decade, India could become the largest producer of hydrogen-powered long-haul trucks, eliminating dependence on imported crude,” he noted.
Shift in intelligence
On technology, Agarwal said intelligence would become the “nervous system” of the 2047 vision. “A truck will no longer be a mechanical asset; it will evolve into a software-defined entity,” he said.
He pointed to current advances such as AI-driven predictive maintenance and real-time fuel optimisation, adding that the future will see fully autonomous and connected transport ecosystems.
Shift in social impact
Emphasising the human dimension, Agarwal said the sector must address long-standing issues around driver welfare and perception.
“A developed India is one where every profession is treated with dignity. The role of a truck driver has long been associated with hardship and social marginalisation. To overcome the driver shortage, we must make it a profession of choice,” he said.
Published on April 22, 2026