VE Commercial Vehicles Limited (VECV), a joint venture between Volvo Group and Eicher Motors, recently hosted H.E. Jan Thesleff, the Swedish Ambassador to India, at its manufacturing plant in Pithampur. The visit marked the 17th anniversary of the partnership between Volvo and Eicher. Accompanying the Ambassador were Markus Lundgren, Counsellor and Head of the Trade Section at the Swedish Embassy, and Sofia Högman, Swedish Trade Commissioner for Business Sweden.
During the visit, Ambassador Thesleff praised the long-standing relationship, noting that over 280 Swedish companies are active in India across multiple sectors including automobiles, healthcare, and defense, creating over 240,000 jobs. He highlighted the potential for growth and innovation in the Eicher-Volvo joint venture, emphasizing the benefits of Sweden-India collaboration in advancing technology and sustainability. He also commended VECV for its cutting-edge technology and eco-friendly manufacturing practices.
Vinod Aggarwal, Managing Director and CEO of VECV, welcomed the delegation and expressed appreciation for the opportunity to showcase the company’s facilities. He reflected on the success of the joint venture, which has been instrumental in modernizing India’s commercial vehicle industry and enabling Volvo Group to source engines and components from India for its global operations. He attributed the venture’s success to a blend of Volvo’s technological expertise and Eicher’s deep understanding of the Indian market.
Since its inception in 2008, the VECV partnership has played a pivotal role in transforming India’s commercial vehicle sector, offering world-class technology tailored to local requirements. The VE Powertrain plant, which is central to the collaboration, has been a model of India-Sweden cooperation, producing Euro 6 (BS VI) compliant engines that are exported to over 40 countries and supporting Volvo’s global operations since 2013.
VECV has also made significant strides in sustainability, integrating smart manufacturing techniques at its Bhopal plant, which follows Industry 4.0 standards to boost efficiency and minimize environmental impact. The company continues to lead in green technology with a growing lineup of electric, CNG, and LNG-powered vehicles under the Eicher and Volvo brands. Notably, VECV launched the Eicher Pro E electric bus in 2022 and India’s first 5.5-tonne electric truck, the Eicher Pro 2055 EV, in 2023, furthering its commitment to electromobility.
To enhance fleet performance, VECV provides digital solutions such as the MyEicher app and a fully connected fleet management system. These innovations, alongside the company’s Uptime Center, help improve productivity, operational efficiency, and reduce the carbon footprint of its fleet.
