Switch Mobility

Switch Mobility
FormerlyOptare (1985–2020)[1]
Company typePublic
Optare Group Limited
ISININE208A01029
IndustryAutomotive
FoundedFebruary 1985 (1985-02) (as Optare)
HeadquartersSherburn-in-Elmet,
England
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Dheeraj Hinduja (Chairman)
Products
RevenueIncrease $4.88 million (31 March 2020)
Number of employees
325
ParentAshok Leyland
Websiteswitchmobilityev.com

Switch Mobility (originally called Optare)[1] is an English bus builder founded in 1985 in Sherburn-in-Elmet, North Yorkshire. In 2020 Ashok Leyland bought the company and renamed it to Switch Mobility.[2] to Switch Mobility in November 2020,[3] In 2021 they announced they were building diesel-powered vehicles and work on alternative fuels like compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied natural gas (LNG) and hydrogen.[4]

Products

Buses

Transdev in Burnley & Pendle Optare Versa in July 2012
Optare Tempo SR in July 2012
Switch E1 at the European Mobility Expo in June 2022
BEST Switch EiV 22 in January 2024
Current
  • Solo SR; Solo SR EV (2007–present)
  • Metrocity; Metrocity EV (2012–present)
  • Metrodecker; Metrodecker EV (2014–present)
  • E1 single decker (2022–present)[5]
  • EiV 12 single decker (2022–present, for the Indian market)[6]
  • EiV 22 double decker (2022–present, for the Indian market)[7]
  • EiV 7 (2023–present, for the Indian market)[8]
Discontinued
  • CityPacer minibus (1985–1992, replaced by the MetroRider)
  • StarRider minibus (1987–1994, replaced by the MetroRider)
    • ColumboRider integral variant for export to Sri Lanka (1987–1994, replaced by the MetroRider)[9]
  • Delta single decker (1988–1999)
  • MetroRider minibus (1989–2000, replaced by Solo)
  • 9000-series minibus on Renault chassis for Leeds City Council (1990, replaced by the MetroRider)[10]
  • Spectra double decker (1991–1997, low floor 1997–2005)
  • Vecta midibus (1991–1997)
  • Sigma (1994–1996, single-deck version of the Spectra)
  • Prisma (1995–1998) single decker, Mercedes front
  • Excel (1995–1999) (Excel 2 1999–2004, replaced by Tempo)
  • Solo low floor midibus (1997–2012, replaced by restyled SR model)
    • (Solo+ (2008) Concept only)
    • (Solo EV 2009–2012 Replaced by restyled SR EV model)
  • Alero low floor minibus, (Alero 2001–2006, Alero Plus 2006–2008)
  • Irisbus Agora Line ((2002–2007) right-hand-drive version bodied by Optare, 23 were built for the UK)
  • Tempo single decker (2004–2012)
    • Tempo SR (2011–2020, Oceanian market only since 2017)
  • Versa, midibus between Solo and Tempo (2007–2018)
  • Esteem single decker (formerly East Lancs Esteem) (2008–2009)
  • Olympus double decker (formerly East Lancs Olympus) (2008–2011)
  • Visionaire open-top double decker (formerly East Lancs Visionaire) (2008–2011)
  • OmniDekka double decker (formerly East Lancs Omnidekka) (2008–2011, only adopted by Nottingham City Transport)
  • Rapta double decker ((2009) Concept only)

Coaches

Discontinued

Pick-up trucks

Current

  • eLCV Dost[11]
  • IeV Series (IeV 3/IeV4)[13]

References

  1. 1 2 "Switch Mobility Limited". Companies House. UK Government. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
  2. ↑ "URI". data.companieshouse.gov.uk. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  3. ↑ "Optare Group Limited renamed as Switch Mobility Limited". Optare. 30 November 2020. Archived from the original on 15 March 2021. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  4. ↑ "Ashok Leyland to transfer complete electric vehicles business to new arm Switch Mobility - The Economic Times". The Economic Times. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  5. ↑ "Switch Mobility e1 electric bus launched. ZF motors, NMC batteries, lightweight body". Sustainable Bus. 7 June 2022. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  6. ↑ Singh, Aaradhya. "Ashok-Leyland owned Switch Mobility launches EiV 12 electric bus". Evo India. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  7. ↑ "Switch Mobility Reveals New EiV 22 Electric Double Decker In India". carandbike. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
  8. ↑ "Auto Expo 2023: SWITCH EiV 7 electric bus for smart city travel unveiled". CNBCTV18. 12 January 2023. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
  9. ↑ "The Sunday Times On The Web – Business". www.sundaytimes.lk.
  10. ↑ Optare Renault Bus Lists on the Web
  11. ↑ "Ashok Leyland to roll out first electric LCV by FY22-end under Switch Mobility". Financialexpress. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  12. ↑ "Ashok Leyland targets new markets with Switch Mobility, to launch e-LCV this year". autocarpro.in. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  13. ↑ "Switch Mobility launches e-LCVs Bada Dost (IEV4) and Chhota Dost (IEV3) • EVreporter". 7 September 2023. Retrieved 10 February 2024.

Other websites