Mahindra Adds AI Drive Mode to New Heavy Truck
The BLAZO i-TRK automatically adjusts its driving mode to road gradients and payload, while Mahindra claims up to 10% better fuel efficiency.
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Mahindra Truck and Bus has rolled out the BLAZO i-TRK, a heavy commercial vehicle that uses artificial intelligence to automatically adjust driving modes based on road conditions, payload and operating requirements.
The patented iFuelSmart system is intended to reduce reliance on drivers manually changing modes. Mahindra describes it as India’s first AI-enabled automatic drive mode for heavy commercial vehicles.
Mahindra says the truck can deliver up to 10% better fuel efficiency.
The company attributes the improvement to a wider package that also includes its TurboMAXX turbocharger and an OptiFuel compressor designed to reduce power losses. It has not separated the savings produced by iFuelSmart or disclosed detailed testing methodology.
The company estimates that fuel savings and other operating efficiencies could generate up to ₹15 lakh in additional profit per truck over five years compared with competing heavy commercial vehicles. It did not disclose the assumptions behind the calculation.
The BLAZO i-TRK range is powered by Mahindra’s 7.2-litre mPOWER engine, producing 320 horsepower and 1,100 Nm of torque.
The feature automates drive-mode selection rather than driving the truck, positioning AI as a fuel-management tool rather than an autonomous-driving system.
The launch brings AI into a part of the transport industry where small improvements in fuel consumption can materially affect fleet economics.
Mahindra Truck and Bus President Vinod Sahay said technology and operating efficiency were becoming increasingly important in India’s freight and logistics market.