Domestic commercial vehicle major, Ashok Leyland announced that its UK-based subsidiary Optare has won the bid for supplying 31 electric double-decker buses to London transport body ‘Transport for London’ (TfL).

The order will see Optare supplying 31 Optare Metrodecker electric double-decker buses to be bought by Metroline and will be added to London’s fleet by next summer. The buses will be used on Metroline’s iconic routes 43 (Friern Barnet – London Bridge) and 134 (North Finchley – Tottenham Court Road), which will become exclusively operated by the e-double-deckers.

Ashok Leyland said that this order is the largest ever for a OEM to supply pure electric double-deckerbus fleet in Europe, which was recently announced by the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan at a national air quality summit.

Vinod K Dasari, managing director, Ashok Leyland, said, “Double-decker buses in London have been iconic and is a matter of prestige for the city. It is a moment of great pride not only for us but for our country, as our subsidiary, Optare wins such a crucial and environmentally significant order. Optare, along with active involvement of Ashok Leyland engineering, has been at the forefront of e-mobility evolution and this order proves that it has the technology prowess that is expected from one of the most challenging markets like the UK.”

“As one of the global leaders in public transport, Ashok Leyland has been investing intelligently in developing e-mobility solutions for various markets. Our commitment and investment in Optare was a strategic move which will give us long-term benefits not only in terms of revenue but also in terms of developing the technology. E-mobility business for us is growing fast and Optare will play a crucial role in strengthening our leadership position globally.”

Also read: Ashok Leyland readies for big play in electric mobility