In a country racing towards its Viksit Bharat vision, where highways, tunnels, and megaprojects are reshaping the landscape, Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV) has chosen its moment. With a bold new lineup under the BharatBenz badge—the HX and Torqshift series—the company is stepping firmly into India’s booming construction and mining sectors. These are not just new trucks; they represent DICV’s ambition to lead a segment expected to surge from $16 billion to $45 billion by 2030. For the OEM, it’s more than product expansion—it’s about raising the bar in vehicle performance, durability, and smart engineering, all while cementing its role as a serious contender in India’s industrial growth story.
“Mining is resurging, and this sector demands serious innovation. We are challenging old paradigms with products that this industry truly deserves,” said Satyakam Arya, MD & CEO, DICV. The newly introduced trucks are not just refinements—they deliver a substantial 15–20% leap in performance over existing market offerings, he pointed out.
Having seeded 200 units of the HX range across demanding terrains, the trucks have already proven their mettle in real-world conditions. More significantly, DICV’s Torqshift Automated Manual Transmission (AMT), “built on the globally trusted Mercedes-Benz platform with over a million units sold worldwide, is re-scripting India’s commercial vehicle narrative,” he said. Where AMTs once faced scepticism over cost and performance, early field deployment of 80 mining trucks has led to a dramatic shift—65% of current mining truck sales are now AMT-equipped Torqshift models. What was once a hesitation is now a revolution in motion, anchored in German engineering and adapted to India's toughest applications, he mentioned.
Configuration
Built for durability and efficiency, the trucks come equipped with Hill Hold Assist, unitised front axle bearings, wind deflectors, and driver state monitoring—ensuring confident, fuel-efficient performance in the most demanding conditions.
The BharatBenz 2828C HX is powered by the OM 926 BS-6 OBD-II engine, delivering 281 hp (210 kW) at 2200 rpm and a peak torque of 1100 Nm between 1200 and 1600 rpm. It features a 6-cylinder, 7200 cc configuration. The transmission setup includes a G131 or G131HD (O) gearbox with 9 forward and 1 reverse gear, equipped with synchromesh gears. It uses a single dry plate organic clutch with a diameter of 430 mm and comes with a standard power take-off. The front axle is the IF 7.0 type with unitized bearings, while the rear axle is the IRT 440-11, featuring inter-axle and inter-wheel differential lock. The rear axle ratio stands at 4.875.
On the other hand, the BharatBenz 3532C HX is powered by the same engine, tuned to deliver 316 hp (236 kW) at 2200 rpm and 1250 Nm of torque between 1200 and 1600 rpm. It features a G131HD gearbox with 9 forward and 1 reverse synchromesh gears. The rear axle ratio is 4.778, while all other specifications remain unchanged.
The Mercedes-Benz TorqShift transmission, used in BharatBenz heavy-duty trucks, is a globally proven AMT engineered for high-performance in demanding conditions like mining and construction. It automates gear shifts with sub-400 millisecond transitions, ensuring smooth, uninterrupted power delivery—especially critical on inclines. Integrated with the engine brake, it enhances downhill control and reduces reliance on service brakes. The system eliminates clutch misuse, extending component life and lowering operating costs. Based on Daimler’s international AMT platform, TorqShift offers improved fuel efficiency, ease of use, and car-like comfort even under full load.
Rajiv Chaturvedi, Satyakam Arya and Pradeep Kumar Thimmaiyan
Engineering Grounded In Reality, Refined Through Innovation
According to Pradeep Kumar Thimmaiyan, President & Chief Technology Officer, DICV, “the development of the BharatBenz HX and Torqshift AMT range was not born in a lab—it began on India’s roads. The team travelled across States, starting from Kerala, to gather first-hand insights from customers and bodybuilders. This on-ground feedback shaped a complete bumper-to-bumper re-engineering of the HX range, with real-world utility as its core.”
The HX trucks received a comprehensive overhaul—higher ground clearance, maintenance-free unitised bearings, robust axles, redesigned suspension that balances ride comfort with durability, and a new heavy-duty transmission—all designed to enhance productivity, reduce ownership costs, and extend lifespan. “More than 200 trucks were tested across diverse applications, each logging over 1,000 hours, cementing confidence in their readiness,” he noted.
Meanwhile, the Torqshift AMT emerged from an internal innovation push. Sparked by an employee’s idea, the concept vehicle was trialled in Indian mines, earning swift executive backing. Tuned over multiple field iterations, the AMT reduces driver fatigue by 40%, improves uptime, and boosts fuel efficiency. Built on Daimler’s global transmission platform, it shifts gears swiftly, enhancing hill-climb power and protecting aggregates from wear due to clutch misuse. “The market has responded swiftly,” Thimmaiyan explained.
Passenger-Car Comfort, Built For The Pit
Test-driving the new trucks on DICV’s proving track reveals just how refined these machines are. Despite being fully loaded to their gross vehicle weight, the Torqshift AMT delivered smooth, car-like ease behind the wheel—especially notable in the demanding CV segment. The HX series, though equipped with a firmer, heavy-duty gear shifter typical for high-capacity trucks, still offered a balanced driving feel. Inside the cabin, the interiors were well designed, and the air-conditioning proved impressively efficient—critical for mine operations where temperatures can climb by 2 to 2.5°C for every 100 metres of depth due to geothermal rise.
If the mine has poor ventilation, it can feel even hotter due to trapped heat and humidity. Besides, the enclosed space also makes engine noise and other sounds louder, which can affect safety and health. However, Thimmaiyan said, “Our cabin is among the quietest in the country, with effective insulation to minimise heat and noise intrusion.”
Managing Gradients
Mines often have steep slopes of 8–12%, which makes it hard for heavy vehicles to move, especially when carrying loads. Climbing uphill needs strong torque and powerful brakes. Some mines, like marble mines, have narrow roads and sharp turns, making it harder to turn or reverse safely. Space is tight, visibility is low, and the ground can be wet, muddy, or loose, which affects grip and control. To address these issues, the HX series comes equipped with a ‘Variable Ratio’ steering system as standard, offering enhanced manoeuvrability. The turning circle has been slightly reduced, and the braking system has also been upgraded for improved control and safety. In the Torqshift, the engine brake is integrated with the AMT, allowing the software to optimise engine braking performance and reduce reliance on foundation brakes, he said.
These enhancements aren’t just for comfort—they help keep operators alert, safe, and productive, even in the most punishing environments. Therefore, both models are suitable for surface mining, and RMC (ready mix concrete) applications as they can handle mines and the surface transport to deliver cargo to even longer distance.
Empowering Profitability In A Demanding Logistics Landscape
Once marked by slower pace and simpler expectations, the life of an Indian truck operator has transformed dramatically. Today’s fleet owners face relentless pressure—on costs, timelines, and performance—amid a fast-evolving logistics and infrastructure environment. Rajiv Chaturvedi, President & Chief Business Officer at DICV, observed that operators now adapt swiftly to an increasingly competitive marketplace.
For over 15 years, DICV’s strategy has been rooted in long-term customer value—not through cost-cutting, but by engineering solutions built on safety, technology, and profitability. The HX and Torqshift models exemplify this philosophy. The HX range maximises payload capacity and boosts turnaround time, enabling 10–15% more trips per day. Its drivetrain and chassis are purpose-built for rugged terrain, delivering improved cost per tonne or cubic metre, he clarified.
The Torqshift AMT, meanwhile, offers a step-change in mining operations: smoother performance, reduced fuel consumption, and extended aggregate life—attributes critical to high-load applications. Together, these vehicles offer best-in-class lifecycle economics, thanks to high fuel efficiency, reduced downtime, and elevated driver comfort, he mentioned.
Years ahead of regulation, DICV introduced air-conditioned cabins to prioritise driver wellbeing—a commitment that continues in the HX’s refined cabin. Backing this product excellence is DICV’s expanding support infrastructure. With over 385 dealer touchpoints nationwide and workshops equipped with advanced diagnostics, the company ensures swift service and minimal disruption for operators.
For DICV, the HX and Torqshift are more than trucks—they're profit engines and strategic tools for fleet owners tackling modern logistics, infrastructure, and mining challenges. With nearly 50% share in shallow mining (up to 80 metres depth), the truck maker now aims to raise the bar further, using these new models to expand its presence and redefine performance benchmarks in the segment.
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Turning Fleet Struggles Into Smart Solutions, DICV Unveils HX, Torqshift Series