Tata Motors bets on electric buses to lift share in commercial vehicles market

Manufacturer sees potential in public transport network

February 20, 2019 10:54 pm | Updated 10:54 pm IST - KOLKATA

16/03/2018 MUMBAI: The new Tata Starbus Hybrid Electric Bus delivered to MMRDA by Tata Motors at a function held in Mumbai on March 16, 2018.  Photo: Paul Noronha

16/03/2018 MUMBAI: The new Tata Starbus Hybrid Electric Bus delivered to MMRDA by Tata Motors at a function held in Mumbai on March 16, 2018. Photo: Paul Noronha

Tata Motors Ltd. is hopeful that its commercial vehicle (CV) segment market share will get boosted by its electric vehicle (EV) business, a senior company executive said. The company currently has 45% share in the CV segment.

Rohit Srivastava, product line head – passenger commercial vehicle, Tata Motors Ltd., said that a boost (to its market share) was likely from the emerging EV business. The company had won the single largest order of 80 electric buses from West Bengal. He said that the company was also in talks with corporates for supplying the vehicles. Tata Motors has developed a complete range of electric buses of various sizes, including low-floor mini-buses. Mr. Srivastava said that the company was not looking at exports for now. “We are now focussing on India,” he said.

Highlighting the potential of the electric bus market, he said that at present about 1.5 lakh buses were plying on the country’s public transport network. This provided a very big opportunity for electrification, he said.

Tenders received

Tata Motors has won tenders from six States for supplying 255 buses. These orders, received since February last, are likely to be executed shortly. The company will also help set up charging stations and provide training for drivers to operate these auto transmission vehicles.

The company is participating in tenders for 1,000 more buses, floated by nine States, officials said.

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