Switch Mobility

Switch Mobility (originally called Optare)^[1] is an English bus builder founded in 1985 in Sherburn-in-Elmet, North Yorkshire. In 2020 Ashok Leyland bought the company and renamed it to Switch Mobility.^[2] to Switch Mobility in November 2020,^[3] In 2021 they announced they were building diesel-powered vehicles and work on alternative fuels like compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied natural gas (LNG) and hydrogen.^[4]

Switch Mobility

Formerly	Optare (1985–2020)[1]
Company type	Public
Traded as	Optare Group Limited
ISIN	INE208A01029
Industry	Automotive
Founded	February 1985; 40 years ago (1985-02) (as Optare)
Headquarters	Sherburn-in-Elmet, England
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Dheeraj Hinduja (Chairman)
Products	Electric buses Commercial vehicles
Revenue	$4.88 million (31 March 2020)
Number of employees	325
Parent	Ashok Leyland
Website	switchmobilityev.com

Products

Buses

Transdev in Burnley & Pendle Optare Versa in July 2012

Optare Tempo SR in July 2012

Switch E1 at the European Mobility Expo in June 2022

BEST Switch EiV 22 in January 2024

Current

• Solo SR; Solo SR EV (2007–present)
• Metrocity; Metrocity EV (2012–present)
• Metrodecker; Metrodecker EV (2014–present)
• E1 single decker (2022–present)^[5]
• EiV 12 single decker (2022–present, for the Indian market)^[6]
• EiV 22 double decker (2022–present, for the Indian market)^[7]
• EiV 7 (2023–present, for the Indian market)^[8]

Discontinued

• CityPacer minibus (1985–1992, replaced by the MetroRider)
• StarRider minibus (1987–1994, replaced by the MetroRider)
  • ColumboRider integral variant for export to Sri Lanka (1987–1994, replaced by the MetroRider)^[9]
• Delta single decker (1988–1999)
• MetroRider minibus (1989–2000, replaced by Solo)
• 9000-series minibus on Renault chassis for Leeds City Council (1990, replaced by the MetroRider)^[10]
• Spectra double decker (1991–1997, low floor 1997–2005)
• Vecta midibus (1991–1997)
• Sigma (1994–1996, single-deck version of the Spectra)
• Prisma (1995–1998) single decker, Mercedes front
• Excel (1995–1999) (Excel 2 1999–2004, replaced by Tempo)
• Solo low floor midibus (1997–2012, replaced by restyled SR model)
  • (Solo⁺ (2008) Concept only)
  • (Solo EV 2009–2012 Replaced by restyled SR EV model)
• Alero low floor minibus, (Alero 2001–2006, Alero Plus 2006–2008)
• Irisbus Agora Line ((2002–2007) right-hand-drive version bodied by Optare, 23 were built for the UK)
• Tempo single decker (2004–2012)
  • Tempo SR (2011–2020, Oceanian market only since 2017)
• Versa, midibus between Solo and Tempo (2007–2018)
• Esteem single decker (formerly East Lancs Esteem) (2008–2009)
• Olympus double decker (formerly East Lancs Olympus) (2008–2011)
• Visionaire open-top double decker (formerly East Lancs Visionaire) (2008–2011)
• OmniDekka double decker (formerly East Lancs Omnidekka) (2008–2011, only adopted by Nottingham City Transport)
• Rapta double decker ((2009) Concept only)

Coaches

Discontinued

• Bonito
• Toro
• Solera
• Soroco
• Rapido
• Viedo

Pick-up trucks

Current

• eLCV Dost^[11]
  • eLCV Bada Dost^[12]
• IeV Series (IeV 3/IeV4)^[13]