Scania Plans Comeback in India with New Truck Strategy
After halting its bus body production in India seven years ago, Swedish automaker Scania appeared to have quietly withdrawn from the country’s commercial vehicle market. The same year, MAN Trucks also exited India, marking a challenging phase for the Traton Group—formerly known as Volkswagen Truck & Bus AG—which owns both brands. While MAN decided to pull out completely, Scania maintained a minimal and almost invisible presence in the Indian market.
Now, Scania is gearing up for a strong comeback. According to Silvio Munhoz, Managing Director of Scania India Commercial Vehicles, the company’s board has reaffirmed its commitment to establishing a solid foothold in India’s truck segment. Over the last two years, Scania has undertaken key strategic initiatives, identifying India as one of five major global priority markets. Munhoz emphasised that the company’s renewed focus is on building sustainable growth and regaining customer trust through reliable products and consistent service.
To mark this revival, Scania has introduced its latest Super truck range at its plant near Bengaluru. The new series targets India’s booming construction and mining industries, both of which continue to witness massive infrastructure expansion in areas like roads, airports, and ports. The company aims to expand gradually, ensuring the delivery of top-quality products while rebuilding long-term relationships with its customers. Munhoz also acknowledged that past management lapses had affected the brand’s image, but insisted that Scania is determined to “turn the page” and move forward with transparency and a customer-focused approach.
A key element of Scania’s India strategy is its move towards alternative fuels. The Super range is already biodiesel-compatible, and the company plans to introduce a variety of clean fuel solutions, including biodiesel, LNG, CNG, and biogas. As a “fuel-agnostic” company, Scania believes the future of transport will involve multiple fuel types rather than a single global standard. Munhoz highlighted that while LNG offers substantial cost and efficiency benefits, each market will determine its preferred energy source based on local conditions.
Another critical priority for Scania is reducing the total cost of ownership (TCO) for customers. Fuel constitutes about half of a truck’s operational costs, and Scania aims to develop technologies that deliver at least 10–15% better fuel efficiency—an advantage far more significant than marginal price cuts on the vehicle itself.
Though Scania has discontinued bus body manufacturing globally, it plans to expand the sale of bus chassis, possibly extending this model to India. The company is also working to better utilise its plant capacity of 2,000 units per year by localising production, drawing insights from its Chinese operations, where it mastered the art of rapid localisation.
Partnerships will also be key to Scania’s growth strategy in India. Currently, it collaborates with PPS Motors in Hyderabad for the sales and servicing of its mining tippers. However, Munhoz confirmed that Scania aims to bring in more regional partners to ensure a wider and stronger after-sales network. In India, the brand will focus on wholesale operations while leveraging local distributors for service delivery—a model designed to ensure faster, more efficient customer support across the country.