Ashok Leyland, a well-known truck and bus manufacturer, has stated that it is open to collaborations to create products for the alternative fuel markets. In the next two years, the Hinduja brand has promised to provide alternative fuel platforms across all product categories.
Even though diesel is likely to remain the dominant fuel for a few more years, some niche markets for commercial vehicles may soon demand trucks and buses that are powered by batteries, LNG, CNG, hydrogen ICE, and fuel cells. However, its EV unit, Switch Mobility, will manufacture and market electric buses and small vehicles.
Customers, for instance, desire electric vehicles with increased tonnage for port operations. Within the next 24 months, we want to ensure that alternative fuel options are available across all product categories,” said Dheeraj Hinduja, Executive Chairman of Ashok Leyland.
He claimed that while the business has the know-how to create products using alternative fuels, particularly CNG and electric, it would be open to collaboration with partners who had the knowledge to create and provide products in these markets at the proper price points.
Toyota is one of the partners Ashok Leyland has already partnered with to provide platforms for the hydrogen and fuel cell markets. Hinduja stated that a significant percentage of its anticipated investment of ₹2,000 crores under the PLI scheme would go into commercialising electric and hydrogen technologies over the next few years.
