Ashok Leyland breaks ground for a greenfield plant to build electric buses

Indian commercial vehicle manufacturer Ashok Leyland has announced the ground-breaking of its new integrated commercial vehicle plant focused on green mobility, which was in talks for quite sometime, in Uttar Pradesh.  

Spread over 70 acres, the primary focus of the upcoming facility shall be on production of electric buses, while also having capability to produce other vehicles including trucks and those powered by existing and emerging alternate fuels, the company added. 

With an initial capacity to produce 2500 vehicles per year, Ashok Leyland is planning to expand the facility's productivity to roll out 5,000 vehicles annually over the next decade, anticipating the growing demand for electric and low-carbon CVs in the coming years.

Dheeraj Hinduja, Executive Chairman, Ashok Leyland commented on the development, "The Foundation Stone laying ceremony marks the beginning of a new chapter for Ashok Leyland in Uttar Pradesh. Once operational, the facility will have a positive impact on our common goals of generating employment opportunities and advancing sustainable mobility in India". 

"We remain committed to driving innovation and setting new benchmarks in the field of green mobility. With this new plant, we are preparing ourselves for the future and take one step further to achieve our Net Zero emissions goals", he noted, at the ground-breaking ceremony.

The facility is to be packed with latest in manufacturing technology, making it the company's most modern and green factory worldwide, delivering world class quality standards.

"This facility will not only address the rising demand for electric vehicles but also play a vital role in the holistic development of the region. Our focus on electric trucks and buses resonates with the evolving landscape of sustainable transportation and pushes us one step further to build a green mobility future", said Shenu Agarwal, MD & CEO, Ashok Leyland.

The manufacturer is making strident progress in the electrification of its trucks and buses for global markets, starting with the rebranding of its UK-based subsidiary as EV-focused 'Switch Mobility' and investments in related technologies.

Ashok Leyland, in the recent years, as unveiled a slew of battery electric trucks and buses in India, most of them in production-ready formats for immediate commercial adoption.