Switch Mobility
Switch Mobility (originally called Optare) 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. 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.[2]
 | |
Formerly | Optare (1985–2020)[1] |
|---|---|
| Public | |
| Traded as | Optare Group Limited |
| ISIN | [https://isin.toolforge.org/?language=en&isin=INE208A01029 INE208A01029] |
| Industry | Automotive |
| Founded | February 1985 (as Optare) |
| Headquarters | Sherburn-in-Elmet, Leeds , United Kingdom |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Dheeraj Hinduja (Chairman) |
| Products | |
| Revenue |  $4.88 million (31 March 2020) |
Number of employees | 325 |
| Parent | Ashok Leyland |
| Website | switchmobilityev |
Products
Buses
Optare Tempo SR in July 2012
Switch E1 at the European Mobility Expo in June 2022
- Current
- Solo SR; Solo SR EV (2007–present)
- Versa, midibus between Solo and Tempo (2006–present)
- MetroCity; MetroCity EV (2012–present)
- MetroDecker; MetroDecker EV (2014–present)
- Bus 9.4M single decker (2021–present, Indian market only)[3]
- Bus 12M single decker (2021–present, Indian market only)[3]
- E1 single decker (2022–present)[4]
- EiV 12 single decker (2022–present, Indian market only)[5]
- EiV 22 double decker (2022–present)[6]
- Past
- 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)[7]
- 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)[8]
- 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
- Past
Pick-up trucks
Current eLCV Dost[9]
- eLCV Bada Dost[10]
Switch Mobility Media
Yorkshire Rider Optare-bodied Leyland Olympian
Warrington Borough Transport Optare MetroRider in Blackpool in June 2013
First Chester & The Wirral Optare Delta on the Wirral Peninsula in March 2007
Autobus Classique bodied Mercedes-Benz Vario in Horsham in April 2009
Travel London Optare Solo M850 in London in July 2008
Metrobus Optare Olympus bodied Scania N230UD in Elmers End in November 2013
First Manchester Optare Solo SR with hybrid drive in July 2012
Transdev in Burnley & Pendle Optare Versa in July 2012
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References
- ↑ "Switch Mobility Limited". Companies House. UK Government. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
- ↑ "Ashok Leyland to transfer complete electric vehicles business to new arm Switch Mobility - The Economic Times". The Economic Times. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Dr Andy Palmer: 'We will start taking orders and delivering Switch-badged CVs in India soon.'". autocarpro.in. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
- ↑ "Switch Mobility e1 electric bus launched. ZF motors, NMC batteries, lightweight body". Sustainable Bus. 7 June 2022. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
- ↑ Singh, Aaradhya. "Ashok-Leyland owned Switch Mobility launches EiV 12 electric bus". Evo India. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
- ↑ "Switch Mobility Reveals New EiV 22 Electric Double Decker In India". carandbike. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
- ↑ "The Sunday Times On The Web - Business". www.sundaytimes.lk.
- ↑ Optare Renault Bus Lists on the Web
- ↑ "Ashok Leyland to roll out first electric LCV by FY22-end under Switch Mobility". Financialexpress. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
- ↑ "Ashok Leyland targets new markets with Switch Mobility, to launch e-LCV this year". autocarpro.in. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
Other websites
Media related to Switch Mobility at Wikimedia Commons- Optare's official website
- A useful listing of all bodies/complete buses built from 1985 to date Archived 2007-01-06 at the Wayback Machine
- Transport Yorkshire Preservation Group, owners of various preserved Optare vehicles
- Dennis Domino Buses, details of Optare's first design
- Buszone Optare page details of Optare and Reading Transport