Parent company Ashok Leyland has announced that bus manufacturer Optare will now be known as Switch Mobility. The change is said to better reflect the company’s commitment to electrification and the development of new mobility services.
Currently, more than 150 Optare electric buses operate in the UK, with the company currently fulfilling orders for operators that include Tower Transit, London and First York.
Ashok Leyland chairman, Dheeraj Hinduja, said, “Optare is adopting a new identity and logo which signals our strategic ambitions in electric and green mobility. Ashok Leyland is examining various options to bring the entire EV initiatives of Ashok Leyland under Switch Mobility. This reflects the clear growth opportunities in the global LCV and Bus EV market, which is projected to be worth in the region of £37.5bn by 2030.”
The parent company stated that the change will enable Ashok Leyland to focus on the development of new electric vehicle platforms through Switch Mobility, including next-generation buses, PODs and E-LCVs.
