View source for Switch Mobility

{{Use British English|date=November 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Switch Mobility
| former_name = Optare (1985–2020)<ref name="comphouse">{{cite web |title=Switch Mobility Limited |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/01818255 |website=Companies House |publisher=UK Government |access-date=12 July 2022}}</ref>
| logo = 
| logo_size = 
| type = [[Public limited company|Public]]
| traded_as = Optare Group Limited
| parent = [[Ashok Leyland]]
| foundation = {{start date and age|df=yes|1985|02}} (as Optare)
| hq_location = [[Sherburn-in-Elmet]]
| location_city = 
| location_country = England
| area_served = Worldwide
| key_people = [[Dheeraj Hinduja]] ([[Chairman]])
| equity_year = 
| num_employees = 325
| ISIN = {{ISIN|sl=n|pl=y|INE208A01029}}
| industry = Automotive
| products = {{Unbulleted list|[[Electric Vehicles|Electric buses]]|[[Automobiles|Commercial vehicles]]|}}
| revenue = {{increase}} $4.88&nbsp;million
| revenue_year = 31 March 2020
| assets = 
| assets_year = 
| equity = 
| website = {{URL|switchmobilityev.com}}
}}

'''Switch Mobility''' (originally called '''Optare''')<ref name="comphouse" /> 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.<ref>{{cite web |title=URI |url=http://data.companieshouse.gov.uk/doc/company/06481690 |access-date=7 June 2022 |website=data.companieshouse.gov.uk}}</ref> to Switch Mobility in November 2020,<ref name=":0">{{cite web |url=http://www.optare.com/news/2020/11/30/optare-group-limited-renamed-as-switch-mobility-limited |title=Optare Group Limited renamed as Switch Mobility Limited |publisher=Optare |date=30 November 2020 |accessdate=5 December 2020 |archive-date=15 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210315150441/http://www.optare.com/news/2020/11/30/optare-group-limited-renamed-as-switch-mobility-limited |url-status=dead }}</ref> 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]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Ashok Leyland to transfer complete electric vehicles business to new arm Switch Mobility - The Economic Times|url=https://m.economictimes.com/industry/renewables/ashok-leyland-to-transfer-complete-electric-vehicles-business-to-new-arm-switch-mobility/amp_articleshow/84827809.cms|access-date=27 May 2022|website=The Economic Times}}</ref>
== Products ==

== Buses ==
[[File:Blazefield Starship Versa.jpg|thumb|[[Burnley Bus Company|Transdev in Burnley & Pendle]] [[Optare Versa]] in July 2012]]
[[File:Tempo_SR.jpg|thumb|[[Optare Tempo]] SR in July 2012]]
[[File:Switch e1.jpg|thumb|[[Switch E1]] at the European Mobility Expo in June 2022]]
[[File:Mumbai Switch Electric Double Decker Bus.jpg|thumb|[[Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport|BEST]] Switch EiV 22 in January 2024]]
;Current
* [[Optare Solo|Solo SR]]; Solo SR EV (2007–present)
* [[Switch Metrocity|Metrocity]]; Metrocity EV (2012–present)
* [[Switch Metrodecker|Metrodecker]]; Metrodecker EV (2014–present)
* [[Switch E1|E1]] single decker (2022–present)<ref>{{cite web |date=7 June 2022 |title=Switch Mobility e1 electric bus launched. ZF motors, NMC batteries, lightweight body |url=https://www.sustainable-bus.com/news/switch-mobility-e1-bus/ |access-date=7 June 2022 |website=Sustainable Bus}}</ref>
* EiV 12 single decker (2022–present, for the Indian market)<ref>{{cite web |last=Singh |first=Aaradhya |title=Ashok-Leyland owned Switch Mobility launches EiV 12 electric bus |url=https://www.evoindia.com/top-news/switch-mobility-eiv-12-launched |access-date=26 October 2022 |website=Evo India }}</ref>
* EiV 22 double decker (2022–present, for the Indian market)<ref>{{cite web |title=Switch Mobility Reveals New EiV 22 Electric Double Decker In India |url=https://www.carandbike.com/news/switch-mobility-reveals-new-eiv-22-electric-double-decker-in-india-3201444 |access-date=18 August 2022 |website=carandbike}}</ref>
* EiV 7 (2023–present, for the Indian market)<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-01-12 |title=Auto Expo 2023: SWITCH EiV 7 electric bus for smart city travel unveiled |url=https://www.cnbctv18.com/auto/auto-expo-2023-switch-eiv-7-electric-bus-for-smart-city-travel-unveiled-15654241.htm |access-date=2024-02-10 |website=CNBCTV18 |language=en}}</ref>
;Discontinued
* [[Optare CityPacer|CityPacer]] minibus (1985–1992, replaced by the MetroRider)
* [[Optare StarRider|StarRider]] minibus (1987–1994, replaced by the MetroRider)
** [[Optare ColumboRider|ColumboRider]] integral variant for export to Sri Lanka (1987–1994, replaced by the MetroRider)<ref name="sundaytimes.lk"/>
* [[Optare Delta|Delta]] single decker (1988–1999)
* [[Optare MetroRider|MetroRider]] minibus (1989–2000, replaced by Solo)
* 9000-series minibus on Renault chassis for Leeds City Council (1990, replaced by the MetroRider)<ref name=9000s/>
* [[Optare Spectra|Spectra]] double decker (1991–1997, low floor 1997–2005)
* [[Optare Vecta|Vecta]] midibus (1991–1997)
* [[Optare Sigma|Sigma]] (1994–1996, single-deck version of the Spectra)
* [[Optare Prisma|Prisma]] (1995–1998) single decker, Mercedes front
* [[Optare Excel|Excel]] (1995–1999) (Excel 2 1999–2004, replaced by Tempo)
* [[Optare Solo|Solo]] low floor midibus (1997–2012, replaced by restyled SR model)
** (Solo<sup>+</sup> (2008) Concept only)
** (Solo EV 2009–2012 Replaced by restyled SR EV model)
* [[Optare Alero|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)
* [[Optare Tempo|Tempo]] single decker (2004–2012)
** [[Optare Tempo|Tempo SR]] (2011–2020, Oceanian market only since 2017)
* [[Optare Versa|Versa]], midibus between Solo and Tempo (2007–2018)
* [[Optare Esteem|Esteem]] single decker (formerly East Lancs Esteem) (2008–2009)
* [[Optare Olympus|Olympus]] double decker (formerly East Lancs Olympus) (2008–2011)
* [[Optare Visionaire|Visionaire]] open-top double decker (formerly East Lancs Visionaire) (2008–2011)
* [[Scania OmniDekka|OmniDekka]] double decker (formerly East Lancs Omnidekka) (2008–2011, only adopted by [[Nottingham City Transport]])
* Rapta double decker ((2009) Concept only)
== Coaches ==
;Discontinued
* Bonito
* [[Optare Toro|Toro]]
* [[Optare Solera|Solera]]
* [[Optare Soroco|Soroco]]
* [[Optare Rapido|Rapido]]
* [[Optare Viedo|Viedo]]
== Pick-up trucks ==
'''Current'''

* eLCV Dost<ref>{{cite web |title=Ashok Leyland to roll out first electric LCV by FY22-end under Switch Mobility |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/auto/commercial-vehicles/ashok-leyland-to-roll-out-first-electric-lcv-by-fy22-end-under-switch-mobility/2238610/ |access-date=27 May 2022 |website=Financialexpress}}</ref>
** eLCV Bada Dost<ref>{{cite web |title=Ashok Leyland targets new markets with Switch Mobility, to launch e-LCV this year |url=https://www.autocarpro.in/news-national/ashok-leyland-targets-new-markets-with-switch-mobility--to-launch-elcv-this-year-79704 |access-date=27 May 2022 |website=autocarpro.in}}</ref>
* IeV Series (IeV 3/IeV4)<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-09-07 |title=Switch Mobility launches e-LCVs Bada Dost (IEV4) and Chhota Dost (IEV3) • EVreporter |url=https://evreporter.com/switch-mobility-launches-e-lcvs-bada-dost-iev4-and-chhota-dost-iev3/ |access-date=2024-02-10 |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Switch Mobility Media ==
<gallery widths='160px' heights='100%' mode='traditional' caption=''>
File:Optare Olympian.jpg|[[Yorkshire Rider]] Optare-bodied [[Leyland Olympian]]

File:Optare City Pacer.jpg|1986 [[London Regional Transport]] [[Optare CityPacer]]

File:Warrington_Borough_Transport_112_S112GUB_(9127274288).jpg|[[Warrington's Own Buses|Warrington Borough Transport]] [[Optare MetroRider]] in [[Blackpool]] in June 2013

File:OptareDeltaFirstWirralBus.jpg|First Chester and the Wirral bus 60044, H802 GRE, a DAF SB220 / Optare Delta, at Bromborough Cross, Wirral.

File:Compass Bus R84 EDW.JPG|Compass Bus R84 EDW, a Mercedes-Benz Vario O810/Autobus Classique, in Carfax, Horsham, on route 108.

File:Au Morandarte Flickr Metrobus 897 on Route 75, Elmers End (11026615534).jpg|[[Metrobus (South East England)|Metrobus]] [[Optare Olympus]] bodied [[Scania N230UD]] in [[Elmers End]] in November 2013

File:London_Bus_route_ELS.jpg|[[Travel London]] [[Optare Solo]] M850 in London in July 2008

File:Solo SR Hybrid.jpg|[[First Greater Manchester|First Manchester]] [[Optare Solo#Hybrid|Optare Solo]] SR with hybrid drive in July 2012

File:EIV-22-thumb-img.jpg|Finalised design of Switch EiV 22
</gallery>
== References ==
{{reflist|refs=
<ref name="sundaytimes.lk">{{cite web|url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/970518/busm.html#colombo|title=The Sunday Times On The Web – Business|website=www.sundaytimes.lk}}</ref>
<ref name="9000s">[http://buslistsontheweb.co.uk/index.htm?http://buslistsontheweb.co.uk/list.asp?listname=239&Type=Body Optare Renault] Bus Lists on the Web</ref>
}}
== Other websites ==
* {{commons category-inline}}
* [http://www.optare.com/ Optare's official website]
* [http://www.buslistsontheweb.co.uk/dynmenu.asp?MenuType=Body&Manu=optare A useful listing of all bodies/complete buses built from 1985 to date] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070106195602/http://www.buslistsontheweb.co.uk/dynmenu.asp?MenuType=Body&Manu=Optare |date=2007-01-06 }}
* [http://www.typg.org.uk/ Transport Yorkshire Preservation Group, owners of various preserved Optare vehicles]
* [http://dennisdominobuses.mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/ Dennis Domino Buses, details of Optare's first design] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929115126/http://dennisdominobuses.mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/ |date=2007-09-29 }}
* [http://www.buszone.co.uk/Optare.html Buszone Optare page] details of Optare and Reading Transport

{{Optare timeline}}
{{Bus transport in the United Kingdom}}
{{Automotive industry in the United Kingdom}}

[[Category:Bus manufacturers]]
[[Category:1985 establishments in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:1980s establishments in England]]
[[Category:British transport companies]]