Daimler India Commercial Vehicles has joined the Government of India’s scheme to replace old trucks and buses in the Delhi-NCR region, adding another major commercial vehicle manufacturer to a programme aimed at modernising fleets and reducing pollution in one of the country’s most traffic-heavy urban belts.
The Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and Daimler India Commercial Vehicles, which owns the Bharat Benz brand. Under the agreement, DICV will offer an 8 per cent discount on the ex-showroom price of eligible trucks and buses purchased through the scheme.
For electric vehicles, the discount will be capped at the amount applicable to an internal combustion engine vehicle in the equivalent Gross Vehicle Weight category, the government said.
The scheme combines support from manufacturers, the Centre and participating state governments. In addition to the 8 per cent discount from participating original equipment manufacturers, the Central Government will provide 5 per cent interest subvention and fixed monthly fuel vouchers for five years.
Participating state governments will offer up to 100 per cent concession on motor vehicle tax for ten years, along with a waiver of registration fees for eligible beneficiaries. For fleet operators juggling fuel bills, finance costs and regulatory pressure, that is a rare moment when the spreadsheet may briefly smile back.
DICV’s entry follows similar agreements signed earlier by Ashok Leyland, Switch Mobility, Tata Motors, Mahindra and Mahindra, and SML Mahindra. According to the government, these companies together account for 85 per cent of the truck and bus market, giving the scheme significant coverage for implementation.
The Delhi-NCR region has long faced concerns over vehicular emissions, especially from older commercial vehicles that continue to operate across freight, passenger and last-mile transport networks. By encouraging replacement with newer vehicles, the scheme seeks to accelerate fleet renewal while easing the financial burden on owners.
The addition of Daimler India Commercial Vehicles broadens the programme’s reach and gives transport operators more options under the replacement initiative. As Delhi-NCR continues to balance mobility needs with air-quality concerns, the scheme could become a key test of how policy, industry participation and financial incentives can work together to clean up commercial transport without bringing business to a halt.
