Scania SUPER resets heavy-duty efficiency by altering the TCO math for mining, construction and long-haul fleets, writes Ashish Bhatia.
In September 2025, Scania Commercial Vehicles India officially introduced SUPER, its most advanced heavy-duty truck and powertrain platform for the Indian market. Designed around a new-generation 13-litre engine architecture, SUPER is engineered to deliver measurable improvements in fuel efficiency, torque, uptime and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), parameters that directly influence profitability in mining, construction and long-haul operations. Silvio Munhoz, Managing Director, Scania Commercial Vehicles India Pvt. Ltd., stated, “SUPER is built around what matters most to our customers—over 10 per cent fuel savings, higher uptime, and clear cost advantages that strengthen the bottom line. To ensure customers realise the full benefit, we have designed a complete 360-degree package that includes innovative service solutions and flexible funding options. SUPER is engineered and tested for Indian conditions, delivering the performance and reliability operators can count on, day after day.”
More than a product launch, SUPER represents Scania’s sharpened focus on application-specific engineering for India, combining global powertrain expertise with local operating insights. As infrastructure build-out, mining activity and freight movement gather pace, the SUPER platform is positioned as a productivity enabler for fleets operating in India’s most demanding conditions.
Silvio Munhoz, Managing Director, Scania Commercial Vehicles India Pvt. Ltd.
At the heart of SUPER lies Scania’s new 13-litre powertrain, developed to address the twin pressures of rising operating costs and stricter efficiency expectations. Compared to previous generations, the SUPER powertrain delivers over 10 per cent fuel savings, translating directly into lower cost-per-tonne and improved operating margins for fleet owners. Fuel efficiency gains are achieved through a combination of advanced combustion technology, optimised driveline integration and intelligent fuel management, ensuring consistent performance across varied duty cycles, from stop-start construction haulage to high-utilisation long-haul corridors. Notably, these gains are achieved without compromising performance. The new powertrain is capable of delivering torque outputs ranging from 2,800 Nm to 3,800 Nm, offering strong gradeability and pulling power for high-load applications such as mining and infrastructure projects.
A key highlight of the SUPER platform is its state-of-the-art gearbox, designed to complement the high-torque characteristics of the new engine. The transmission is claimed to enable smooth, precise gear shifts, reducing driveline stress and extending component life, which in turn is a crucial consideration in heavy-duty applications where vehicles operate under sustained loads. Higher torque availability at lower engine speeds improves driveability, cycle times and fuel efficiency, particularly in challenging terrain. For fleet operators, this is expected to translate into faster turnaround times, reduced driver fatigue and more predictable vehicle performance across operating conditions.
One of the more distinctive features of the SUPER platform is Scania’s fuel optimisation system, which increases usable fuel volume to 97 per cent of tank capacity, claimed to be a first-of-its-kind offering in the segment. By enabling longer drive times between refuelling stops, SUPER reduces unproductive downtime and supports higher daily utilisation. For long-haul fleets and remote mining operations, this capability enhances route flexibility while improving overall operational efficiency.
Reliability and uptime form a core pillar of the SUPER proposition. The platform has been engineered and tested specifically for Indian operating conditions, accounting for factors such as high ambient temperatures, variable fuel quality and demanding duty cycles. Scania’s approach extends beyond the vehicle itself. SUPER is offered as part of a complete 360-degree solution, integrating the powertrain with service support, maintenance planning and flexible funding options. This solution-oriented approach is to ensure that customers are not merely investing in a truck, but in a comprehensive system designed to support long-term business performance.
SUPER has been specifically targeted at mining, construction and long-haul segments, where efficiency per tonne and turnaround time directly impact profitability. By combining higher fuel efficiency, increased torque capability and extended operating range, SUPER enables fleets to reduce cost-per-tonne while improving cycle times. The platform is fully customisable, allowing customers to configure vehicles based on specific application requirements and operating environments. This flexibility ensures that SUPER can be adapted to a wide spectrum of fleet needs without compromising on performance or efficiency.
A Strategic Step in Scania’s India Roadmap
The launch of SUPER underscores Scania’s continued commitment to the Indian heavy-duty truck market, even as powertrain strategies evolve globally, asserted Munhoz. By introducing its most advanced internal combustion platform at a time when fleets are balancing productivity, sustainability and cost pressures, Scania is positioning SUPER as a bridge technology, delivering immediate efficiency gains while supporting long-term emissions reduction objectives. With infrastructure investment, mining output and freight demand expected to remain structurally strong, SUPER arrives at a critical juncture for India’s heavy commercial vehicle ecosystem.
Scania is quietly executing a multi-layered strategy that blends global scale with regional precision. From its newly inaugurated industrial hub in China to the launch of its most advanced SUPER powertrain in India, the Swedish OEM is reinforcing a core belief. Future competitiveness will be defined not just by products, but by how efficiently engineering, manufacturing, service and localisation are stitched together.
In 2025, Scania marked a historic milestone with the inauguration of its third global industrial hub in Rugao, Jiangsu Province, China and notably, the first wholly owned truck manufacturing facility by a Western OEM in the country. The Euro two-billion facility spans nearly 800,000 sq. m., is designed for an annual capacity of up to 50,000 trucks, and employs around 3,000 people. More than just a manufacturing footprint, Rugao is positioned as a full-scale industrial ecosystem, integrating production, procurement, R&D and supplier localisation that will trickle down to India over the next year. For Scania, Munzo explained, China is not merely a volume market, it is a strategic hedge. Local manufacturing sharply reduces exposure to tariffs, logistics disruptions and long lead times, while improving responsiveness to Asian markets and export destinations across the region. Crucially, the Rugao hub operates on Scania’s modular production philosophy, enabling multiple configurations of common architectures, an approach that underpins cost efficiency, faster industrialisation and service commonality. With half of its output earmarked for exports over time, the plant strengthens Scania’s ability to serve Asia-Pacific markets with competitive lead times and stable supply chains. This strategy increasingly influences Scania’s other growth markets, India included.
