Ashok Leyland, one of India’s top commercial vehicle manufacturers, is gearing up for a new electric vehicle (EV) production line after winning a significant order from Billion Electric Mobility. The deal, worth ₹150 crore, involves the supply of 180 electric trucks, including 135 Boss electric intermediate commercial vehicles (ICVs) and 45 Avtr 55-ton electric tractors, making it one of the largest single orders for e-trucks in the country. Deliveries began on Monday.
The Boss electric trucks, which boast a payload capacity of 7 to 10 tonnes and a range of over 200 kilometers, along with the Avtr 55-ton electric tractors, powered by a 300-kWh battery and a 220-kW motor, mark a major step in India’s EV trucking segment. Customizable options, based on battery capacity and usage needs, are available through close collaboration with customers.
Shenu Agarwal, Managing Director and CEO of Ashok Leyland, revealed plans to establish a dedicated EV assembly line at their Hosur plant, set to launch by the end of this fiscal year. With an initial capacity of 5,000 units annually, this line will also support the production of alternative fuel trucks.
Billion Electric Mobility, alongside ChargeZone, will deploy these trucks for intercity logistics, covering key routes such as Bengaluru-Chennai, Bengaluru-Pune, and Ahmedabad-Mumbai, with plans to expand charging infrastructure along highways. Kartikeyan Hariyani, CEO of Billion Electric Mobility, highlighted that declining EV and battery costs are bringing electric trucks closer to cost parity with diesel vehicles in terms of Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).
Additionally, Ashok Leyland is progressing with hydrogen-powered internal combustion engine (ICE) trucks in collaboration with Reliance, with 26 vehicles currently undergoing trials. The company anticipates a commercial launch within the next 18 to 24 months.
