Switch Mobility and Chalo, said to be India’s leading transport technology company, said they had agreed a “strategic collaboration” to deploy 5,000 electric buses across India.
The companies claimed this was “one of the largest commitments for electric buses worldwide” and builds on orders for buses on three continents with established operators in India, continental Europe and the UK.
The Chalo MoU runs for an initial three years and the buses will be used in districts and cities in India where Chalo operates.
Switch will supply variants of its recently launched EiV12 as part of the deal.
Delivery and operation of these EV buses will support India plans to decarbonise public transport.
Under the partnership, Switch and Chalo will jointly invest in electric buses in cities where Chalo operates. Chalo will provide consumer technology such as the Chalo app and card offering live bus tracking, digital tickets and travel plans plus route details, frequency, schedules, and fares.
How well do you really know your competitors?
Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.
Thank you!
Your download email will arrive shortly
Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample
We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form
By GlobalDataSwitch will supply and maintain the buses.
In a statement, Switch Mobility said it was “well placed to meet this demand with its combination of engineering expertise and technological innovation from its manufacturing hubs in India and the UK”.
CEO Andy Palmer added: “The signing of this MoU with Chalo firmly establishes Switch as one of the pre-eminent manufacturers of zero emissions buses globally. Our engineering expertise across the UK, Europe and India and new product range across all three of our key markets leaves us well positioned to continue to grow our order bank and meet the challenges authorities and operators face in decarbonising their bus network.”
Mahesh Babu, CEO Switch Mobility India & COO Switch Mobility, said: “The changing mobility landscape in India is significantly altering the way people travel within cities. We aim to transform the urban mobility in the country by leveraging Chalo’s strong customer connect and operational expertise along with our technologically advanced electric vehicle products. This significant partnership of 5,000 electric buses, will certainly open up access to affordable, comfortable, hassle-free and environment friendly transport solutions while enhancing the overall customer experience.’’
Mohit Dubey, co-founder & CEO, Chalo, said: “Buses make up 48% of India’s daily travel and yet we have just three for 10,000 people. Last year we finalised a project to add 1,000 new buses in three cities. Today, we are glad to partner with Switch on a scale that is five times larger. The travel experience in these buses will be at par with global cities like Hong Kong and Singapore.”