Theme VI: Developments in Commercial Vehicles 2025—Voice of Industry Thought Leaders

Economic recovery post the pandemic, increased demand for freight, and replacement of aging truck fleets will all provide a boost to commercial vehicle (CV) sales in 2021. The shift in last mile delivery will be the most significant trend impacted by COVID-19, resulting in the emergence of tailored last mile delivery solutions that address dynamic customer/business requirements. Increasingly stringent GHG regulations, improved total cost of ownership (TCO), declining battery prices, and ultra-low NOx regulations will add impetus to electrification initiatives. Autonomous technologies will revolutionize traditional freight transportation business models by optimizing shipping times, asset productivity, and truck ownership/ shipping costs. Meanwhile, digital freight brokerage solutions will maximize CV capacity utilization across light, medium and heavy duty trucks. Another hot buzz topic will be hydrogen fuel cell mobility that will fast-track the shift to an era of clean energy transportation. Cost competitiveness will determine the degree to which hydrogen will play a role in driving the trend forward