Switch Mobility

Switch Mobility is the electric-vehicle business of Ashok Leyland, with roots in the British bus manufacturer Optare. The company is headquartered at Sherburn-in-Elmet in North Yorkshire and develops and manufactures electric buses, electric light commercial vehicles, charging-related solutions, and mobility-as-a-service offerings. Its operating structure combines the former UK bus engineering and manufacturing capability of Optare with Ashok Leyland’s Indian electric-vehicle operations. The business traces its industrial history to February 1985, when Russell Richardson, a former director at Charles H. Roe, helped establish Optare after Leyland Bus closed Roe’s Leeds bodywork operation. Optare initially survived in a difficult British bus market shaped by deregulation and impending privatisation. Early work included completion and bodying of buses for Yorkshire-area public transport bodies, followed by purpose-built minibuses and bus bodies. The company developed a broad portfolio that included the CityPacer, StarRider, MetroRider, Delta, Vecta, Spectra, Excel, Solo, Tempo, Versa, and other models. The low-floor Solo, introduced in 1997, became particularly important because its compact layout and accessibility-oriented design addressed short urban and community routes. Optare went through several ownership changes. It joined the United Bus group in 1990, returned to independent ownership after that group collapsed in 1993, and was acquired by North American Bus Industries in 2000. Financial problems at NABI led to a management buyout in 2005. In 2008, Optare was acquired by the Darwen Group through a reverse takeover, creating Optare plc and combining Optare’s single-deck and midibus expertise with East Lancashire Coachbuilders’ double-deck portfolio. Ashok Leyland acquired an initial minority stake in 2010, raised it to a controlling interest in 2011, and subsequently increased its holding to near-total ownership. Optare was delisted from London’s Alternative Investment Market in 2015. Ashok Leyland announced the rebranding of Optare as Switch Mobility in November 2020. The new identity positioned the company as the group’s dedicated electric-mobility platform, while Ashok Leyland continued to focus primarily on conventional commercial vehicles and alternative propulsion technologies such as compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas, and hydrogen. In 2021 and 2022, Switch announced plans and programmes spanning India, the United Kingdom, and Spain, including electric-bus deployments, an Indian manufacturing base, and a proposed manufacturing and technology centre in Castilla y León. The company’s Indian structure includes Switch Mobility Automotive Ltd, which brings together Ashok Leyland’s Indian EV operations with the UK bus business, and OHM Global Mobility Private Ltd, which develops electric mobility-as-a-service solutions. Its projects have included electric buses for Bengaluru and Chandigarh and plans for electric light commercial vehicles. In March 2025, a consultation was reported concerning the possible closure of the Sherburn-in-Elmet factory, attributed to the slower-than-expected adoption of electric buses by public transport operators. This development illustrates the commercial and policy challenges facing the company even as it remains positioned around the long-term electrification of public and commercial transport.

Switch Mobility developed from Optare, a British bus manufacturer formed in 1985 after Leyland Bus closed the Charles H. Roe bodywork operation in Leeds. The new company was backed by former Roe personnel and regional enterprise interests. Its first work involved completing and building buses for public transport organisations in Yorkshire. During the second half of the 1980s, Optare expanded into minibuses, launching the CityPacer in 1986 and StarRider in 1987. It subsequently entered larger vehicle markets with the Delta single-decker in 1988 and the MetroRider after acquiring the MCW Metrorider design in 1989. Optare joined United Bus in 1990 and worked with DAF on the Spectra double-decker, while also developing the Vecta midibus. The collapse of United Bus in 1993 returned Optare to independent ownership. The company broadened its range through products such as the Excel low-floor single-decker, the low-floor DB250LF-based Spectra, and the Solo. Introduced in 1997, the Solo used an unusual axle-forward layout to provide a low floor in a compact vehicle and became one of the company’s most successful designs. Optare also expanded into specialist and luxury minicoaches, including the Nouvelle 2 and imported Solera. North American Bus Industries acquired Optare in 2000. During this period, Optare introduced the Alero low-floor minicoach, longer and narrow-body Solo variants, and the full-size Tempo. NABI encountered financial difficulties, and Optare was acquired by its management in 2005. In 2008, Jamesstan Investments acquired Optare and completed a reverse takeover involving the Darwen Group. The enlarged business became Optare plc, combining Optare’s single-deck and midibus range with East Lancashire Coachbuilders’ double-deck products. Manufacturing was rationalised, including the closure of the Rotherham site and discontinuation of some inherited models. Ashok Leyland bought 26 percent of Optare in 2010 and increased its holding to 75 percent in 2011. Optare opened a new 13,000-square-metre factory at Sherburn-in-Elmet in 2011, replacing its Leeds facility; the former East Lancashire site later closed, consolidating manufacturing in North Yorkshire. Ashok Leyland raised its ownership to approximately 98 percent in 2017 and 99 percent in 2018. Optare left the Alternative Investment Market in 2015. In November 2020, Ashok Leyland announced that Optare would be rebranded Switch Mobility. The rebrand reflected a strategic division of responsibilities: Switch would lead the group’s electric-vehicle activities, while Ashok Leyland retained its core commercial-vehicle business and work on other alternative fuels. In 2021, Switch announced plans involving electric buses and light commercial vehicles in the UK and India, together with a proposed Spanish manufacturing and technology centre. Its Indian operations were organised through Switch Mobility Automotive Ltd and OHM Global Mobility Private Ltd, the latter focused on electric mobility-as-a-service. The company announced a 300-bus electric programme for Bengaluru in 2021 and deliveries or deployment of 40 electric buses in Chandigarh in 2022. It also developed plans for a Valladolid-area facility in Spain. In March 2025, a consultation about the possible closure of the Sherburn factory was reported. The stated context was the slower-than-expected transition to electric buses among public transport operators, highlighting the dependence of electric-bus manufacturing on procurement cycles, charging infrastructure, subsidy regimes, and fleet-renewal decisions.

1. 2025Sherburn closure consultation reported

   A consultation begins regarding possible closure of the UK factory.

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2. 2022Chandigarh electric-bus deployment announced

   Forty Switch electric buses are announced for Chandigarh public transport.

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3. 2021Electric-bus and Spanish expansion plans announced

   Switch outlines plans for electric vehicles in India and the UK and a manufacturing and technology centre in Spain.

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4. 2020Switch Mobility name adopted

   Optare is rebranded as Switch Mobility under Ashok Leyland.

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5. 2015Optare delisted from AIM

   Optare leaves London’s Alternative Investment Market.

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6. 2011Ashok Leyland becomes controlling shareholder

   Ashok Leyland increases its stake in Optare to 75 percent; a new Sherburn-in-Elmet factory also opens.

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7. 2008Darwen reverse takeover completed

   Optare and Darwen combine, creating Optare plc and bringing their respective bus portfolios together.

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8. 2000NABI acquisition

   North American Bus Industries acquires Optare.

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9. 1997Solo launched

   The compact low-floor Solo is introduced and becomes a significant Optare product.

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10. 1990Optare joins United Bus

    Optare becomes part of the United Bus group and begins its DAF-related product collaboration.

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11. 1988Delta enters production

    The Delta becomes Optare’s first full-size product and establishes a position in the single-deck bus market.

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12. 1986CityPacer introduced

    Optare launches the CityPacer minibus, its first major purpose-designed minibus product.

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13. 1985Optare is formed

    Optare is established in February after the closure of Charles H. Roe’s Leeds bus-body operation.

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A specialist electric-mobility platform within Ashok Leyland, focused on zero-emission public transport, commercial vehicles, and integrated fleet services.

• CityPacerMinibus1986

  Introduced in 1986, the CityPacer was a compact Optare minibus based on a modified Volkswagen LT50-derived chassis. Its relatively integrated styling, large sloping windscreen, and capacity for roughly 25 seated passengers targeted the late-1980s minibus market. It achieved notable sales to London Regional Transport and other operators before production ended in the early 1990s.

• SoloLow-floor midibus1997

  The Solo was introduced in 1997 as a short, low-floor bus designed for urban, community, and low-volume routes. Its axle-forward configuration created a level entry layout in a compact vehicle, while kneeling suspension supported accessibility. Later versions included longer bodies, the narrow SlimLine derivative, and the restyled Solo SR. The model became one of Optare’s best-known products.

• TempoFull-size single-deck bus2004

  Launched in 2004, the Tempo was Optare’s first entirely new bus model after the Solo. It was a full-size single-decker with a distinctive contemporary exterior and was developed for scheduled urban and interurban services. The model formed part of Optare’s effort to compete in the increasingly design-conscious low-floor bus market.

• Switch electric busesElectric buses2020

  Switch’s electric-bus range represents the company’s current strategic focus. These vehicles are intended for zero-emission urban and public-transport operations and are supported by associated charging and fleet solutions. Publicly described programmes include twelve-metre buses for Bengaluru and electric buses for Chandigarh.

• Electric light commercial vehiclesElectric commercial vehicles2021

  Switch Mobility is developing electric light commercial vehicles as part of Ashok Leyland’s broader electrification roadmap. The programme extends the brand beyond buses into urban delivery and commercial transport, although specific production models and launch details are not fully established in the supplied reference material.

• OHM mobility-as-a-serviceMobility services

  OHM Global Mobility Private Ltd is Switch Mobility’s Indian mobility-services subsidiary. It focuses on electric mobility as a service, combining vehicle deployment with operational and fleet-service concepts rather than selling vehicles alone.

• 2022Chandigarh zero-emission bus deployment

  India

  Switch announced that 40 electric buses would operate with the Chandigarh Transport Undertaking, supporting the city’s transition toward zero-emission public transport.

  Outcome. The reference confirms the announced deployment but does not provide a later performance assessment.

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• 2021Bengaluru electric-bus programme

  India

  Switch announced plans to supply 300 twelve-metre electric buses and charging infrastructure to Bengaluru’s metropolitan transport system. The programme was framed as a public-transport decarbonisation initiative.

  Outcome. The supplied material does not establish the final delivery and operating outcome.

  Source

• 2025Consult possible Sherburn-in-Elmet factory closureOther

  The reported consultation was attributed to slower-than-expected adoption of electric buses by public transport operators.

  What changed. Switch began a consultation process concerning the potential closure of its Sherburn-in-Elmet factory.

  Aftermath. The supplied reference does not state the final decision or its effect on manufacturing.

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• 2021Plan international electric-vehicle manufacturing expansionStrategy

  Switch aimed to combine UK bus expertise with Ashok Leyland’s Indian EV operations and establish additional capacity in Europe.

  What changed. The company announced plans involving India, the UK, and a proposed manufacturing and technology centre in Castilla y León, Spain.

  Aftermath. A subsequent announcement identified Valladolid as the proposed Spanish site, while the supplied material does not confirm completion.

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• 2020Rebrand Optare as Switch MobilityStrategy

  Ashok Leyland sought a distinct identity for its electric-vehicle operations while retaining its conventional commercial-vehicle business under the parent brand.

  What changed. Optare was renamed Switch Mobility and positioned as the group’s electric-mobility platform.

  Aftermath. The new brand pursued electric-bus, electric-light-commercial-vehicle, and mobility-as-a-service programmes across several markets.

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• 2025Consultation begins over possible Sherburn factory closure

  A consultation process was reported concerning closure of the Sherburn-in-Elmet factory, with slower-than-expected electric-bus adoption by operators cited as the reason.

  Other
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• 2022Switch Mobility reports plans for Valladolid site

  Switch announced plans for a greenfield manufacturing and technology centre in the Soto de Medinilla area of Valladolid, Spain.

  Other
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• 2022Switch electric buses enter service in Chandigarh

  Forty zero-emission buses were announced for operation with the Chandigarh Transport Undertaking.

  Product launchOther
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• 2021Switch Mobility announces electric-vehicle expansion plans

  The company outlined plans to roll out electric buses and electric light commercial vehicles from facilities in the United Kingdom and India.

  Product launch
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• 2021Switch Mobility plans Bengaluru electric-bus supply

  Switch announced an agreement or plan to supply 300 twelve-metre electric buses and charging infrastructure to Bengaluru’s metropolitan transport system.

  Product launchOther
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• 2021Switch Mobility announces Spanish manufacturing and technology centre

  The company announced a planned Castilla y León facility intended to support manufacturing and technology development for electric mobility.

  Other
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• 2020Optare rebranded as Switch Mobility

  Ashok Leyland announced that its British bus subsidiary Optare would adopt the Switch Mobility name and become more closely associated with the group’s electric-vehicle strategy.

  Leadership change
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1. Switch Mobility