From Mauritius to Mumbai–Pune: Switch Mobility delivers 100 urban buses and 25 intercity coaches

Mauritius is going ahead with the rollout of 100 electric buses funded by the Indian government, while Switch Mobility has deployed its first intercity electric coaches in the country.

Mauritius has indeed taken delivery of 90 additional electric buses for the National Transport Corporation (NTC), completing a grant initiative supported by the Government of India. The handover ceremony took place at Rose Belle Market Fair, where India’s Minister of External Affairs, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, formally presented the vehicles to Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam.

Mauritius completes India-backed electric bus programme

The delivery follows an initial batch of 10 buses introduced in August 2025, bringing the total number of vehicles supplied under the programme to 100. The buses have been integrated into the NTC fleet, which has historically operated an ageing vehicle base.

Operational aspects of the deployment include a charging strategy based on off-peak hours, with vehicles scheduled to recharge from 9 p.m. onwards in order to limit the impact on the national electricity grid. The introduction of a fleet management system has also been announced, enabling real-time monitoring of operational parameters such as trip frequency, distance and service performance.

In parallel, Switch Mobility has initiated operations in the intercity electric coach segment with the deployment of the first units on the Mumbai–Pune corridor. The company has delivered an initial batch of ten vehicles, with further 15 deliveries planned within the year, as highlighted on Linkedin and covered also by trade agency electrive.

Switch Mobility CEO Ganesh Mani stated that “the flag-off marks another important step in expanding electric mobility beyond cities and strengthening our presence in the intercity segment,” noting that the project targets a high-frequency corridor where “performance, reliability, and efficiency are critical.”

Prasanna Patwardhan, CMD of Prasanna Purple Mobility Solutions, added that “entering the intercity segment with electric mobility is a significant milestone,” with the initiative introducing “a cleaner and more efficient travel option on the Mumbai–Pune route.”

The vehicles supplied are based on the Switch EiV12 platform, a 12-metre model available in multiple configurations. The intercity version features a 6.4-metre wheelbase, a floor height of 1.05 metres, 45 pushback seats and air suspension on both axles.

According to The Hindustan Times, the initiative is part of a broader transport development framework in the region, including plans for transport hubs, truck terminals and EV charging infrastructure across Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad and the PMRDA area. The same source reports that procurement plans for 3,000 electric buses have been outlined, alongside potential adoption of public-private partnership models for electric mobility deployment.