Ahmedabad: Daimler India Commercial Vehicles has expanded its BharatBenz bus portfolio with the unveiling of the Torqshift 1926 heavy-duty bus chassis, equipped with an automated manual transmission, and the BharatBenz 917, an eight-metre fully built bus aimed at school and staff transportation.
The company said the two products were developed to address rising demand for intercity, feeder and employee transportation while helping fleet operators improve driver productivity, fuel efficiency, passenger comfort and vehicle operating costs.
Daimler India Commercial Vehicles, or DICV, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Daimler Truck AG.
India currently operates about 24 buses for every 100,000 people, compared with a target of 60 buses, according to figures cited by the company. BharatBenz said this gap, combined with urbanisation and demand for last-mile and intercity connectivity, provides considerable room for expansion in the passenger-commercial-vehicle market.
Torqshift 1926 targets intercity operations
The BharatBenz Torqshift 1926 has been positioned primarily for intercity and staff transport routes, particularly journeys of up to 500 kilometres.
Its central feature is the globally used Torqshift automated manual transmission, paired with a German-engineered 260 hp engine. The system automatically selects gears according to driving conditions, eliminating the need for continuous clutch and gear operation.
BharatBenz said the technology could reduce driver fatigue, produce more consistent driving performance and improve fuel efficiency, particularly in congested traffic and on difficult terrain. For drivers spending long hours behind the wheel, fewer gear changes may be less of a luxury and more of a welcome occupational truce.
The company also said the bus could reduce the need to deploy two drivers on routes of up to 500 kilometres, depending on operational requirements.
India’s overall bus industry grew 5% year-on-year in calendar year 2025 and is expected to expand further in 2026, supported by replacement demand and increased passenger mobility, according to DICV.
Fleet operators are increasingly adopting automated transmissions as driver availability, staff turnover, vehicle uptime and operating expenses become more prominent concerns, the company said.
The Torqshift 1926 is equipped with an intelligent tyre-pressure monitoring system that also tracks tyre temperature. It also receives a five-stage electromagnetic retarder intended to provide additional braking support.
Other features include intelligent Eco Roll for coasting, multiple driving modes, indigenous glide air suspension, cruise control, Hill Start Assist, clutch-overload monitoring and maintenance-free unitised hub bearings.
Speaking during the unveiling, Andamuthu Ponnusamy, Head of Bus Business, Daimler India Commercial Vehicles, said, “Fleet operators run on tight margins, and every hour a bus is off the road costs money. The BharatBenz Torqshift 1926 gives drivers an easier, more consistent ride while cutting downtime and lifecycle costs —this kind of improvement shows up directly for fleet operators margins.”
BharatBenz 917 enters compact-bus segment
The BharatBenz 917 is an eight-metre fully built bus designed for school, staff and institutional transport.
Medium-duty buses account for nearly two-thirds of industry volumes, according to the company, with demand supported by schools, factories, special economic zones, institutions and information-technology corridors.
Compact buses are commonly preferred for such operations because they combine passenger capacity with greater manoeuvrability on narrow urban and semi-urban roads. They can also offer lower acquisition and operating costs than larger buses.
The 917 has been developed to operate on roads where full-size buses may be difficult to use, while retaining safety and passenger-comfort equipment expected in dedicated school and employee transport vehicles.
Commenting on the new BB 917, Ponnusamy said, “For a school bus, safety is vital and is the reason a parent feels comfortable putting their child on board every morning. The BharatBenz 917 fully built bus is built to fit into roads a larger bus cannot enter, while still ensuring safety and comfort.”
Safety and passenger features
Safety equipment on the BharatBenz 917 includes an Anti-lock Braking System, Electronic Vehicle Stability Control and seat belts for all passengers.
The company also claims the bus offers a high rollover angle for improved stability and the largest emergency door in its segment. A fire-alarm and fire-protection system is included, while a PM2.5 air-purification system with a premium HEPA filter will be available as an option.
Passenger-comfort features include a retractable lower footstep, ergonomic seating, air-conditioning, anti-skid flooring and under-seat storage.
The retractable step is intended to make entry and exit easier, particularly for younger passengers and people who may find a conventional bus step inconvenient.
Sales, service and financing
Both products will be offered through more than 420 authorised BharatBenz sales and service locations across India. The company says this network enables customers to reach a service facility within two hours.
BharatBenz has also partnered with more than 20 banks and non-banking financial companies to provide vehicle financing. Interest rates will start at 7.5% per annum, subject to the lender’s terms, borrower eligibility and other applicable conditions.
The company did not announce prices or detailed market-launch timelines for the two products in the statement.
The new models arrive as bus operators face pressure to carry more passengers, find and retain drivers, improve safety and keep vehicles on the road for longer. For BharatBenz, the Torqshift 1926 and 917 represent an effort to address both ends of that equation: longer intercity journeys and shorter, increasingly important daily trips to schools and workplaces.
