Ashok Leyland Plans To Start EV Battery Pack Production By FY28

By Jony Shekhawat | Published Date : May 29, 2026

Ashok Leyland plans to start production at its new EV battery pack manufacturing facility by the first half of FY28 as the company strengthens its electric mobility operations in India.

Ashok Leyland is getting ready to make a move in the electric vehicle segment. The company says that its new electric vehicle battery pack manufacturing facility is going as planned and they expect to start production by the half of the financial year 2028.

They are building this plant with a Chinese battery maker called CALB. The plant will be at Pillaipakkam which's near Chennai. People, from Ashok Leyland gave this update when they met with the media on Thursday.

Battery Plant Work Moving On Schedule

Table of Contents

1. Battery Plant Work Moving On Schedule

2. Passenger Traffic Continues Growing

3. Electric Vehicle Business Showing Strong Growth

4. Demand For Electric CVs Rising In India

5. Company Also Investing In Future Technologies

► Read More: JK Tyre Reports Strong Q4 Profit Growth, Announces Major ₹4,980 Crore Expansion Investment

Managing Director Shenu Agarwal said the project is progressing smoothly without any major delay till now. According to him, the company is targeting start of production somewhere around Q1 or Q2 of the next financial year.

The battery pack plant will mainly support Ashok Leyland’s growing electric mobility operations in India. The company is increasing its focus on local manufacturing because battery localisation can help reduce overall costs and also improve supply chain control in future.

At present, many vehicle makers are trying to manufacture more EV components inside India instead of depending fully on imports.

Electric Vehicle Business Showing Strong Growth

Ashok Leyland has been expanding its EV business through Switch Mobility, which performed strongly during FY26. The company said Switch India reported nearly 238% growth in electric bus sales during the financial year.

Around 1,530 electric buses were sold during FY26, which company officials described as a very positive sign for the segment. Along with buses, electric light commercial vehicles also showed healthy demand growth.

The company sold close to 1,600 electric light commercial vehicles during the year, recording around 56% growth. Demand for Ashok Leyland buses in the EV segment is increasing especially from state transport projects and city mobility programs.

Demand For Electric CVs Rising In India

Chairman Dheeraj Hinduja said that electric commercial vehicles in India are doing well. He mentioned that a lot of buses are being considered for purchase. In fact 15,000 electric buses have been put up for tender in just the last few months. The electric commercial vehicle market is. Electric buses are a big part of it.

According to him, demand is not only improving in the bus category but also in other commercial vehicle segments. He also said private customers are now showing interest in higher-tonnage electric vehicles for different applications.

Many fleet operators are slowly understanding the long-term savings offered by EVs. Because of fuel price increases in recent times, electric vehicles are looking more practical for several businesses.

Company Also Investing In Future Technologies

Ashok Leyland is also working on other alternate fuel technologies apart from EVs. The company recently opened a new electric bus manufacturing facility in Lucknow to support future production plans.

Industry experts feel battery localisation can become very important for companies making electric trucks and electric mobility products in India.

Ashok Leyland mini trucks and other commercial vehicles may also benefit from these future EV developments as the company continues expanding its electric portfolio slowly across different segments.

► You Might Like: Highway Toll Revenue Growth May Slow Due to Rising West Asia Tensions

---

Frequently Asked Questions on Commercial Vehicle

Q1. What is the seating capacity of Ashok Leyland buses?

Ans. Ashok Leyland buses are available in different seating configurations, usually ranging from 18 seats to more than 60 seats depending on the model and application.

Q2. What mileage do Ashok Leyland trucks generally offer?

Ans. Ashok Leyland trucks normally deliver mileage between 4 kmpl to 8 kmpl, depending on load conditions, road type, and driving style.

Q3. What is the price range of Ashok Leyland buses in India?

Ans. Ashok Leyland buses generally start from around ₹15 lakh and can go above ₹50 lakh depending on the variant and customization.

Q4. What loading capacity is available in Ashok Leyland commercial trucks?

Ans. Ashok Leyland commercial trucks are offered in multiple segments with loading capacities starting from around 1.5 tonnes and going up to over 40 tonnes in heavy-duty models.

---

Join us for the latest updates on the Truck Industry -

☞   Facebook

☞  Instagram

☞  YouTube

☞  Twitter

☞  LinkedIn

☞  Threads

Join Our WhatsApp Channel