Indian Commercial Vehicle Industry Hits New Highs at the 17th Apollo CV Awards 2026

MUMBAI — The "Oscars of the Commercial Vehicle (CV) Industry" returned to Mumbai on February 26, 2026, marking a historic double milestone: the 17th edition of the Apollo CV Awards and the 20th anniversary of Commercial Vehicle magazine.

Against the backdrop of a sector that crossed the monumental one-million-unit milestone in CY2025, the evening celebrated the resilience of an industry navigating a post-GST 2.0 era and a strategic 2026 Union Budget. With the M&HCV and three-wheeler segments driving growth, the awards underscored India's evolving role in global logistics, further bolstered by recent trade agreements with the US and the EU.

The Big Winners: Tata Motors and VECV Lead the Charge
The night’s top honours reflected a strategic shift back to heavy-duty performance. The Tata Signa 5532.S emerged as the undisputed star, clinching both the M&HCV Tractor-Head of the Year and the prestigious CV of the Year 2026. This win marks a pivot from previous years dominated by small-format electrics, highlighting Tata Motors’ continued dominance in high-tonnage freight.


Individual excellence was also in the spotlight:

• CV Person of the Year: Girish Wagh (MD & CEO, Tata Motors Ltd.) was honoured for his visionary leadership, particularly the transformative Tata-Iveco acquisition and a future-ready product pipeline.
• CV Maker of the Year: VE Commercial Vehicles (VECV) took the title, recognised for its disruptive entry into the SCV pickup segment with the Eicher Pro X and its IoT 4.0-enabled manufacturing prowess.
• Breakthrough Leader of the Year: Anil Mohan Kamat (CMD, MG Group) made history as the first bodybuilder executive to win this category, signalling the rise of sophisticated, brand-agnostic manufacturing solutions.

Beyond the Trophy: AI and Long-Term Vision

The 17th edition wasn't just about past performance; it was a blueprint for the future. Keynote speaker Kavan Mukhtyar (PwC India) addressed "Shaping the Next Era of AI-Led Commercial Mobility," focusing on digital twins, software-defined vehicles, and AI-driven road safety.

This was followed by the unveiling of a landmark White Paper: "Leap Of Commercial Vehicles – From Utilitarian To Intuitive," launched by Hoshang Billimoria (Next Gen Publishing) and Amit Kumar Chhabra (Apollo Tyres).

The evening culminated in a high-powered panel discussion—"Building for the Next 25 Years, Not the Next 5"—featuring captains of the industry from Tata Motors, VECV, Mahindra, and Ashok Leyland. The consensus was clear: the industry is moving beyond mere transportation toward an integrated, AI-driven, multi-modal ecosystem.

The 17th Apollo CV Awards was organised by Commercial Vehicle Magazine (Next Gen Publishing/Shapoorji Pallonji Group) in partnership with Apollo Tyres. Key partners included Avanteum Advisors, MarketsandMarkets, Mazars in India, Metric Global, and The Times Group.