VIDEO: Switch Mobility marks first anniversary
Switch Mobility, net-zero-carbon electric bus and light commercial vehicle company, is marking its first anniversary with a look back on its progress over the last year.
Following Switch’s formation on 8 April 2021, the company has expanded to nine sites across three countries; the UK, Spain and India. A £300m investment was announced in April 2022 to support development of new products, a technical centre in Warwick and a new office in Chennai, increasing employee numbers by up to 4,000 across the UK and India in the medium term.
The period saw the start of Project ODIN, which it expects to be the lightest widely available 12m electric bus on the market. The vehicle is due to be launched at the European Mobility Expo in Paris on 7 June. Boasting a monocoque design, the vehicle is equipped with the latest NMC battery technology and Switch’s digital tools.
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“In a highly competitive sector, Switch has continued to grow, both in profile and in market share, and it is very pleasing that we are increasingly seen as a leading player in the industry” – Andy Palmer, Vice Chairman and CEO of Switch Mobility
Andy Palmer, Vice Chairman and CEO of Switch Mobility, said: “I am delighted with the progress we have made over the last 12 months. In a highly competitive sector, Switch has continued to grow, both in profile and in market share, and it is very pleasing that we are increasingly seen as a leading player in the industry. The investment interest we have garnered and the quality of partnerships we have formed are testament to that achievement. Our team of talented engineers have developed some of the most innovative vehicles and technologies currently available on the market, which continue to develop at pace. We have started 2022 well, building on last year’s momentum, and have an exciting 12 months ahead with the development of our site in Spain and further product launches, including our latest project at the European Mobility Expo in June, and electric LCVs in India.”
Switch established its first subsidiary, OHM Global Mobility, in April 2021 to pioneer Mobility as a Service (eMaaS) solutions in India and then globally.
Switch’s new 12m bus for India will commence deliveries from June 2022.
Notable board appointments include Andy Palmer as CEO, Mahesh Babu as COO of Switch Mobility Ltd. and CEO of Switch Mobility India, Sarwant Singh, President and Chief Planning Officer of Switch Mobility Ltd and CEO of OHM Global Mobility Ltd, Peter Freedman as Chief Marketing and Sustainability Officer, Stuart Jeff as Chief Quality Officer, and Miranda Brawn and Diane Moore as independent Non-Executive Directors.
The employee base has grown to 774 and continues to expand at pace.
Further milestones include saving over 5 million tonnes of CO2 from its Metrodecker buses. In March 2022 Switch became officially carbon neutral certified, the first global bus manufacturer to achieve this.
During COP26, it partnered with Abellio and ScotRail to provide electric transport around the event. Switch was selected as one of only 11 companies to officially exhibit as part of the UK Green Zone EV and Hydrogen showcase while Andy Palmer and Sarwant Singh also spoke at several COP26 events.