Mahesh Babu, ex CEO of Mahindra Electric is set to join Chennai based Ashok Leyland Limited. He is expected to take over as the CEO of the company’s EV business, Switch Mobility from September 1, people in the know informed ET Auto.
Ashok Leyland, the commercial vehicle major has recently consolidated its entire electric vehicle business of the group, including UK Based Optare into a new company called Switch Mobility. It is understood that Babu will be based out of Chennai, though with global responsibilities. When ETAuto Contacted, Babu declined to comment on the developement.
Babu has been one of the many hi-profile exits from the Mahindra Group in recent times, post serving the company for over a decade. He is instrumental in the making of the company’s successful XUV500 based out of Mahindra Research Centre in Chennai. Post the same, he took over as the CEO of Mahindra Electric at Bangalore and is credited with building a robust B2B electric vehicle business for Mahindra.
With most auto OEMs giving a thrust to the EV business, Switch Mobility would be responsible for the EV operations of the group with Ashok Leyland focusing on its core business of diesel-powered vehicles as well as working on alternative fuels such as CNG, LNG and Hydrogen. The new company will be launching an electric van in India by the end of the current financial year, aimed at commercial vehicle fleet operators, an area in which Babu specializes in. Switch Mobility has claimed that it already has 2000 plus advance orders for the same.
All EVs launched by the group henceforth would be under the Switch brand, including in India. Both India and the UK will serve as manufacturing bases with India primarily satisfying the local demand as well as that of other emerging markets.
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