31 May 2025
Clean Fuel Plans Gain Speed in Commercial Vehicle Segment
Ashok Leyland, India’s second-largest commercial vehicle manufacturer, is now focusing more on cleaner and greener fuel options. The company is working on battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and liquefied natural gas (LNG) as its main focus for the near future. At the same time, it is also preparing hydrogen-powered vehicles for long-term use.
Different Roadmaps for Different Fuels
Shenu Agarwal, the Managing Director and CEO of Ashok Leyland, shared the company’s fuel strategy during a recent interaction. He said, “We are working on all kinds of alternative fuels. However, each fuel has its own timeline based on when it will be needed in India or in global markets.”
He also explained that electric and LNG vehicles may grow faster than hydrogen vehicles. This is mainly because the infrastructure and usage of electric and LNG vehicles are more practical at present.
Expanding Electric Vehicle Range
Ashok Leyland has made strong progress in the electric vehicle segment. Its EV plans are handled by its subsidiary, Switch Mobility, which has launched electric buses and light commercial vehicles in both India and global markets.
In addition, the company now offers a wide range of battery electric trucks. This includes the Switch electric vehicles in the 2–3.5-tonne category and the BOSS electric trucks in the 14–19-tonne segment. These trucks are already available in the market.
Moreover, the company has also started shipping its 55-tonne battery-electric tractor-trailer commercially, showing its presence in the heavy-duty electric segment as well.
Switch Mobility’s financial performance has also improved. The company delivered a double-digit EBITDA in Q4 FY25 and reached breakeven for the full financial year.
LNG Truck Rollout Gaining Speed
Apart from electric vehicles, Ashok Leyland is also developing LNG trucks. Some of these trucks have already been introduced in the market, and more models are expected to be launched within this financial year.
The development work for LNG trucks is at an advanced stage, and the company is planning a wider rollout during FY26. This step shows Ashok Leyland’s readiness to offer more fuel options to its customers.
Work in Progress on Hydrogen Trucks
While EVs and LNG are the main focus now, Ashok Leyland is still investing in hydrogen-powered trucks for the future. Interestingly, the company already has the largest running fleet of hydrogen trucks in the world with one of its customers. However, the name of the customer was not shared.
Hydrogen fuel may take more time to grow in India and globally, but Ashok Leyland wants to stay prepared by working on the technology in advance.
Industry Focus on Green Mobility
The Indian commercial vehicle industry is now exploring multiple fuel types to meet new emission rules, lower the total cost of operation for transporters, and support government efforts towards clean energy. Ashok Leyland’s focus on EVs, LNG, and hydrogen fits well with this larger industry goal.
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