KATHMANDU: Ashok Leyland is expanding its electric vehicle plans after its EV subsidiary, Switch Mobility, reported a profit in the first half of financial year 2025-26 (FY26).
The company says the turnaround came from shared manufacturing, tighter cost control, and better operational synergies within the group.
As part of its cost-optimization strategy, Ashok Leyland will shift Switch bus production from the UK to the UAE. The relocation, estimated at under 3 million dollars, will support both GCC and European markets from the new Ras Al Khaimah facility.
Ashok Leyland is also preparing to enter EV battery manufacturing. The proposed battery plant will be built in two phases with an investment of about approximately 563 million USD.
The first phase will focus on battery pack assembly in India, while cell manufacturing will be added in the next phase. The company expects to finalize the plant location by late December or early January.
The commercial vehicle maker is investing in battery technology and charging infrastructure as well. Plans include fast-charging systems with up to 1 MW capacity and a pilot project for battery swapping to improve uptime for heavy-duty EVs.
Ashok Leyland will also begin commercial production at its new Greenfield plant in Lucknow within two months. The facility will manufacture CNG, electric, and diesel vehicles, according to ET.
