The Indian Commercial Vehicle (CV) industry came together to celebrate success at the Apollo CV Awards 2017 on February 09, 2017, in Mumbai. The eight edition of the awards, which were jointly founded by Commercial Vehicle magazine (belonging to Next Gen Publishing Pvt. Ltd.) and Apollo Tyres, adjudged products, OEMs, CV components manufacturers, CV application builders, and transporters. Held every year, the 2017 edition took into consideration developments that took place in the 2016 calendar year. Accordingly nominations were called from OEMs, CV components manufacturers, CV application builders and fleet operators in a process that lasted over two months before culminating into 24 awards and a plaque honouring the contribution of the CV man of the year.

The five member jury of the Apollo CV awards 2017 comprised of Dilip Chhabria, Founder, DC Design, Rajat Kataria, Divisional Head – Marketing (Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa), Commercial Vehicles, Apollo Tyres, V G Ramakrishnan, Managing Director, Avanteum Advisors, Kaushik Madhavan, Director – Automotive & Transportation, Frost & Sullivan, and Bhushan Mhapralkar, Editor, Commercial Vehicle magazine. The jury scrutinised close to 50 ‘non-fleet’ nominations received. This involved long debates, a deep exploration of domain knowledge and experience. Parameters like fitness for application, quality of aggregates, fuel efficiency and top speed, option to have vehicle better suited for the purpose, price and sales were considered. Over 622 ‘fleet’ nominations were received. These were scrutinised by Metric Consultancy Ltd. by using the Journey of Excellence parameter derived from the British Quality Foundation.

The Mahindra Blazo 37 won the CV of the year award. Volvo Eicher Commercial Vehicles Ltd. won the CV maker of the year. Nalin Mehta, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Mahindra Trucks and Buses Ltd. won the CV man of the year. The ‘Best practice adopter of the Year’ award was won by NTC Logistics India (P) Limited. CV dealer of the Year award was won by Cargo Motors Pvt. Ltd. Tata Armored Personnel Carrier and Force Traveller First Responder were joint winners of the Special CV application of the Year award. MCV tipper of the Year award was won by Tata Prima 2528.K. Spheros Motherson’s Revo E roof-top AC for hybrid and electric buses won the CV component of the Year award. Tata DLT double-deck tractor (trailor) carrier won the CV application builder of the Year award. Volvo 8400 Hybrid city-bus won the Promising debut of the Year award. Volvo FMX440 won the HCV tipper of the Year award. BharatBenz 1617R won the MCV cargo carrier of the Year award. Eicher Pro 1110XP Hexadrive won the ICV cargo carrier of the Year. SML Isuzu Executive LX Coach won the LCV people mover of the Year award.

Orange Tours & Travels won the Private sector bus fleet operator of the Year award. The School bus of the Year award was bagged by Ashok Leyland Sunshine school bus. The ICV people mover of the Year award was won by BharatBenz 917 Tourist. The Fleet application of the Year – Niche award was bagged by Schedulers Logistics India Pvt. Ltd. Tata Signa 4923.S tractor won the HCV tractor cargo carrier of the Year. Mahindra Blazo 37 won the HCV rigid cargo carrier of the Year award. Gujarat Logistics won the Small fleet operator of the Year award. The Large truck fleet operator of the Year award was won by Inland World Logistics Pvt. Ltd. Eicher Pro 1049 won the LCV cargo carrier of the Year. Mahindra Imperio was judged the Pick-up of the Year.

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