Former Aston Martin boss switches roles to get on the buses

Dr Andy Palmer

Former Aston Martin boss Andy Palmer has been unveiled as the new boss of Leeds-based electric bus manufacturer Switch Mobility.

Switch has been hired to head up the company which combined the electric commercial vehicle operations of Ashok Leyland and the former Optare company.

Palmer has been appointed as executive vice chairman and chief executive officer.

Switch says it has already signed customer agreements with leading logistic operators and secured orders for a 2000-strong e-LCV fleet with customer trials starting this month.

Palmer said: “Switch holds a unique position in an increasingly competitive marketplace with our EV commercial vehicles already clocking millions of miles in service. We embrace the ethos of a start-up and enjoy the legacies of intellectual property, borne from more than a decade of technical expertise and engineering experience, that is already revenue-generating and delivering for our customers. I’m delighted to have become part of the executive leadership team and believe we have all the required ingredients to become a leading global e-bus and e-truck player, trail-blazing the way to zero-carbon public transport.”

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