SWITCH Mobility Bags Order for 650 Electric Buses for Mumbai and Pune

SWITCH Mobility has secured a major order for 650 electric buses from Sai Green Projects Pvt. Ltd., strengthening its position in India’s rapidly expanding electric public-transport ecosystem.

The buses will be deployed across Mumbai and Pune under the Government of India’s PM E-Drive Phase II programme, supporting the electrification of public bus fleets in two of Maharashtra’s largest urban centres.

9-Metre Electric Buses for BEST and PMPML

Under the agreement, SWITCH Mobility will supply 9-metre electric buses against the CESL PM E-Drive Phase II tender secured by Sai Green Projects as the selected operator.

The order will include both air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned buses. These will be deployed with:

• Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport, or BEST, in Mumbai

• Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited, or PMPML, in Pune

The large-scale deployment is expected to help the two transport undertakings reduce tailpipe emissions, modernise their fleets and improve the daily commuting experience for passengers.

PM E-Drive Accelerates Public-Transport Electrification

The latest order highlights the growing role of the PM E-Drive programme in supporting electric-bus adoption by state and city transport operators. Unlike smaller pilot deployments, a 650-bus order can create a more meaningful impact on fleet operating costs, urban air quality and public familiarity with electric mobility. It can also provide manufacturers and operators with valuable operational data covering charging, maintenance, uptime and energy consumption under demanding city conditions.

For Mumbai and Pune, where public buses operate on high-frequency routes and face dense traffic conditions, electric buses could help lower local emissions and reduce noise pollution while providing a smoother passenger experience.

SWITCH Mobility Targets Reliable and Commercially Viable EV Operations

Ganesh Mani, CEO of SWITCH Mobility, described the deployment as an important step towards India’s goals of cutting transport emissions, improving operating economics and modernising public-transport systems.

He said the company would focus on supplying reliable and efficient electric-mobility solutions while supporting operators transitioning towards cleaner fleets. SWITCH Mobility also sees the agreement with Sai Green Projects as the beginning of a longer-term partnership covering large-scale sustainable transport deployments.

RG Venkataraman, Chief Commercial Officer of SWITCH Mobility, said the order demonstrated the company’s ability to deliver electric vehicles at scale. He added that SWITCH Mobility’s strategy extends beyond manufacturing buses, with an emphasis on making electric operations commercially sustainable and profitable for fleet operators.

Sai Green Projects Backs Clean Urban Mobility

Vikas Gupta, CEO of Sai Green Projects, said sustainable living remains central to the company’s operations. He added that the partnership with SWITCH Mobility would support India’s vision for clean, efficient and future-ready public mobility. The company expects the buses to improve the everyday travel experience of commuters in Mumbai and Pune.

SWITCH Mobility Expands Electric-Bus Footprint

SWITCH Mobility has already covered more than 185 million green kilometres globally and has deployed over 2,500 electric buses in India, according to the company.

Its electric-bus portfolio addresses multiple use cases, including:

• Urban public transportation

• Intercity mobility

• Specialised passenger-transport applications

The company is also expanding its presence in electric light commercial vehicles through the SWITCH IeV range, targeting last-mile and urban logistics operations.

Backed by connected-vehicle technology, an expanding product portfolio and a service network, SWITCH Mobility is positioning itself as a key supplier for India’s transition towards cleaner commercial and public transportation.

SWITCH Mobility will supply 650 electric buses to Sai Green Projects for deployment with BEST and PMPML under PM E-Drive Phase II.

Auto Punditz Take

The 650-bus order is strategically important not only because of its size but also because it involves deployment in two of India’s most prominent metropolitan transport markets.

Execution will now be critical. Timely deliveries, charging-infrastructure readiness, fleet uptime and after-sales support will determine the long-term success of the programme. For SWITCH Mobility, the order provides an opportunity to demonstrate its manufacturing scale and operational capabilities. For BEST and PMPML, the deployment could accelerate fleet modernisation while lowering the environmental footprint of public transportation.

As government-backed electric-bus tenders gather momentum, such large orders are likely to become an increasingly important growth driver for India’s electric commercial-vehicle industry.