OHM Global Mobility Deploys 130 New Electric Buses in Chennai

CHENNAI — OHM Global Mobility, the strategic e-mobility arm of Ashok Leyland and a part of the Hinduja Group, has expanded its electric bus operations in Chennai by launching 130 new air-conditioned electric buses.

The deployment is part of Phase 2 of the Metropolitan Transport Corporation's (MTC) electric bus programme. The new vehicles were flagged off by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay at the Secretariat, alongside Tamil Nadu Transport Minister Vijay Tamilan Parthiban and other government officials.

Under the MTC Phase 2 programme, OHM is tasked with supplying and operating 500 e-buses. These vehicles are manufactured by Switch, which serves as the electric vehicle subsidiary of Ashok Leyland. The 130 newly launched buses represent the initial batch of this phase, aimed at broadening Chennai's public electric transport infrastructure.

This latest rollout follows OHM's earlier deployment under Phase 1 in Chennai. According to the company, its Phase 1 operations saw its electric buses log more than 3 crore green kilometres. Additionally, the company reported that its Phase 1 depots achieved a schedule adherence rate of over 99 percent, highlighting the operational reliability of electric public transport at scale.

The expansion continues the collaboration between municipal transport authorities and commercial manufacturers to integrate sustainable mobility solutions into urban public transit networks.

"The expansion of electric bus fleets in public transit highlights a significant shift toward sustainable urban infrastructure in India. For commercial vehicle manufacturers and mobility providers, scaling operations successfully requires consistent performance metrics, such as high schedule adherence and proven durability on the ground. Projects like the MTC Phase 2 programme demonstrate how large-scale public-private partnerships can drive the adoption of electric mobility while meeting strict operational standards." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes