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Ashok Leyland is set to expand its electric vehicle (EV) production by establishing a new manufacturing line at its Hosur plant, specifically for medium and heavy electric trucks. This move follows a landmark order from Billion Electric Mobility, India’s largest e-truck order to date, with 180 electric trucks scheduled for delivery. The Hosur plants new line will have an initial capacity of 5,000 vehicles annually, with plans to scale production based on demand.
The order from Billion Electric Mobility, valued at ?150 crore, includes 135 Boss electric intermediate commercial vehicles (ICVs) and 45 Avtr 55-ton electric tractors. Deliveries have already begun, marking a major milestone for Ashok Leyland in the electric truck market. Shenu Agarwal, Managing Director & CEO of Ashok Leyland, described the order as one of the largest for electric trucks in India, reflecting growing demand for battery-powered vehicles in the heavy-duty truck sector.
The Boss electric trucks feature a payload capacity of 7 to 10 tonnes and a range of over 200 km, while the Avtr electric tractors are powered by a 300-kWh battery pack. Ashok Leyland’s modular design allows for customizable battery capacities to meet customer needs.
In addition to this order, Ashok Leyland is in discussions with other companies for further deals and is making significant investments in alternative fuel trucks, including hydrogen-powered internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. The new EV production line at Hosur is expected to be operational by Q4 of this fiscal year, marking a major step in the companys strategy to lead in the electric commercial vehicle space.
Billion Electric Mobility, in collaboration with its sister company ChargeZone, will use Ashok Leyland’s electric trucks for intercity logistics, starting with routes between Bangalore and Chennai. ChargeZone is setting up supercharging stations every 100-150 km to support the fleet, with plans to establish 500 more stations across India over the next four years.
As Ashok Leyland advances its EV capabilities, it is also pushing forward with trials of hydrogen-powered trucks, in partnership with Reliance. These trials are expected to lead to a commercial rollout within the next 18 to 24 months. |
