India’s Electric Bus Shift Opens Global Opportunity: JBM’s Arya at Busworld 2026

India’s electric bus transition is emerging as a defining shift in the country’s mobility landscape, creating new opportunities not just domestically but also for global expansion, said Nishant Arya, Chairman, JBM Electric Vehicles, at Busworld India 2026.

Highlighting the pace of change in the segment, Arya noted that the electric bus ecosystem in India has already scaled significantly, with industry volumes crossing 100,000 units. This growth, he said, reflects a rapid evolution in customer expectations as well as increasing participation from multiple players across the value chain.

“The way the bus industry has transitioned over the last few years is a big game changer. Electric buses are bringing a paradigm shift, customer needs are evolving, and multiple players are entering the industry,” Arya said, adding that the shift is opening up a large opportunity for stakeholders across the ecosystem.

He emphasised that the future of the industry will be shaped by technology-led value creation and deeper collaboration among stakeholders. “What brought us here will not take us into the future. Technology is now driving value, and the industry must evolve in a more agile and integrated manner,” he said.

Arya also pointed to global geopolitical uncertainties and volatility in fossil fuel markets as key factors accelerating the transition towards electric mobility. According to him, these dynamics are making traditional internal combustion engine-based systems increasingly unpredictable, strengthening the case for electrification.

“Electric mobility offers a high degree of sustainability and stability. As India works towards its long-term renewable energy goals, the entire ecosystem—from OEMs and Tier-1 suppliers to financiers, technology providers, and mobility companies—will need to come together,” he said.

He added that this convergence of stakeholders will be critical in ensuring a smooth and scalable transition, positioning India as a key player in the global EV landscape.

Drawing parallels with the rise of Japanese automakers, Arya said intense competition in the domestic market can help Indian companies build globally competitive capabilities. “Just as Japanese OEMs leveraged strong competition at home to succeed globally, India too can build world-class solutions through its evolving EV ecosystem,” he noted.

Arya underscored that India is moving beyond ‘Make in India’ to ‘Make for the World,’ with electric mobility, particularly buses, offering a strong platform to achieve that ambition.

Inputs from Shahkar Abidi and Anurag Chaturvedi