Massive investment by electric vehicle business to create 2,000 UK jobs
Leeds-based Switch Mobility, an electrified commercial vehicles firm, has confirmed it plans to invest £300m across the UK and India to develop its range of electric buses and light commercial vehicles.
The business aims to become a market leader in zero carbon public and commercial transportation and it intends to open a new Technical Centre in Warwick in June 2022.
It says its investment, which will include £150m for the UK, is expected to create over 4,000 skilled jobs of which about half will be in the UK.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson welcomed Switch Mobility’s news during his trade visit to India. His visit coincided with the launch of Switch’s first 12m electric bus in India, part of an order bank of nearly 600 electric buses in the country.
Johnson said: “We are committed to rolling out next generation clean green buses in the UK, and Switch Mobility is at the forefront of that revolution.
“This announcement will bring high quality jobs and skills to both the UK and India, and is testament to our partnership in the industries of the future.”
Dheeraj Hinduja, chairman of Switch Mobility, added: “Since forming Switch Mobility over a year ago, we have seen the pace of change to electric vehicles for public and commercial transportation increase significantly.
“With a strong order bank of nearly 600 buses and ambitious investment plans already in place, we believe we are well placed to capitalise on this growth.”
As part of the company’s investment into the UK, Switch’s new Technical Centre in Warwick will be the focal point of its Global Research and Development team.
Creating over 130 skilled jobs and led by chief technology officer, Roger Blakey, the centre will focus on development of Switch’s next generation vehicles.
The venue is expected to open in June 2022 and will work with Switch’s existing R&D offices in Chennai, Leeds and Valladolid employing a further 200 engineers.
Switch Mobility was formed from the electric vehicle (EV) elements of Ashok Leyland, the fourth largest bus OEM in the world, and Optare, a UK bus manufacturer.
In 2014, Switch introduced the first British built, pure electric buses to London’s roads and since then has put 300 EVs on the road. Its vehicles are currently sold in over 46 countries.
