Chennai, NFAPost: Switch Mobility Ltd, the electric vehicle manufacturing and emobility solution brand owned by Hinduja Group’s Ashok Leyland Ltd, has announced the appointment of Mahesh Babu and stated that he will hold two leadership positions with immediate effect: Chief Operating Officer of Switch Mobility Ltd and Chief Executive Officer of Switch Mobility, India.
Mahesh Babu has over 25 years of experience in mobility and joins Switch from Mahindra Electric where he was Managing Director and CEO.
Under his leadership, Mahindra Electric launched six new electric vehicles including 3-wheeler and 4-wheeler commercial vehicles as well as the innovative software platform, NEMO.
Commenting on his appointment, Switch Mobility Ltd Executive Vice Chairman and CEO Andy Palmer said he is delighted to announce this appointment as Mahesh brings over 25 years’ of experience to Switch and his expertise as a CEO and track record as an EV pioneer is well-known.
“Mahesh Babu joins a strong leadership team and I look forward to working with him closely to achieving our ambition to provide net zero carbon van and bus solutions globally and realising our bold sustainability objectives at Switch,” said Andy Palmer.
Expressing happiness over his appointment, Mahesh Babu said Switch Mobility is determined to progress the adoption of zero-carbon transportation and he is pleased to be joining such a driven and distinguished team.
“The uptake of zero- carbon commercial mobility products and solutions globally is both a personal and professional aspiration of mine and I believe Switch has the capability and the compelling offering to create a leading first-class global electric vehicle company. I look forward to being part of its growth story,” said Mahesh Babu.
One of the most prestigious projects under Mahesh Babu’s leadership was India’s first monocoque SUV, the XUV500. Furthermore, he has been instrumental in shaping future mobility policy in India by delivering electric TCO solutions through groundbreaking initiatives in passenger vehicles, commercial fleets, and last mile mobility.
He actively contributed to various EV committees of both central and State governments, CII and FICCI and until recently, he served as the Chairman of the Electric Mobility Group at SIAM, the APEX Automotive Association of India and before joining Mahindra, he previously worked at Ashok Leyland.
The appointment of Mahesh Babu, the latest step in a series of recent high profile appointments to leadership positions and the Board, reinforces Switch Mobility’s management bench strength and industry expertise and demonstrates the company’s commitment to driving growth and securing a leading global position in net zero carbon buses and light commercial vehicles.
Hinduja Group announced in November 2020 rebranding of Optare Group Ltd (“Optare”), its majority-owned UK subsidiary, to Switch Mobility Ltd (“Switch”) as part of its drive towards electrification and new mobility services. With the combined expertise of its teams in the UK and India, Switch Mobility will build on its experience of having more than 280 electric vehicles in service with over 26 million miles covered.
Switch Mobility is a next-generation electric bus and light commercial vehicle company with the mission to enrich lives through green mobility.
Formed in 2020, Switch was forged from the innovative EV elements of Ashok Leyland, the third largest bus and LCV OEM in the world, and Optare, the UK bus manufacturer with over a century of expertise in using the latest technologies in bus design.
In 2014, Switch introduced the first British built, pure electric buses to London’s roads and since then has put 280 EVs on the road, clocking up over 26 million electric miles in developed and developing markets.
With dedicated teams at our sites in Leeds, UK and Chennai, India, Switch Mobility market-leading vehicles are sold in over 46 countries around the globe and combine the best of British and Indian design, technology and engineering to create unique products.
Capitalising on its demonstrable experience and proven expertise in lightest weight architecture, net-zero carbon technologies, data analytics and software, and not forgetting customer service, Switch Mobility aims to be the commercial EV provider and employer of choice in the industry.
