Ganesh Mani Appointed CEO of Switch India, Following S Mahesh Babu’s Departure!

S Mahesh Babu, the CEO of Switch Automotive Mobility Ltd (Switch India), has announced that he will step down from his role, effective August 31, 2025. Babu will be exploring new opportunities outside of the group. In response, Ganesh Mani, the current Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Ashok Leyland, will take over as the CEO of Switch India starting September 1, 2025.

This leadership transition aligns with Switch India’s strategy to leverage Ashok Leyland’s operational strengths to optimize costs while maintaining its focus on the development of cutting-edge battery-electric buses and light commercial vehicles. Dheeraj G Hinduja, the Chairman of Switch Mobility, expressed gratitude for Mahesh Babu’s significant contributions, stating, “We thank Mr. Mahesh for his impact during his tenure with us. With EBITDA breakeven achieved in FY25, Switch India is now positioned to scale its business and move towards positive profit after tax (PAT) in the near future.” Hinduja also noted that Ganesh Mani’s expertise in operational excellence and large-scale transformations will guide the company towards its next phase of profitable growth.

Under the leadership of Mahesh Babu, Switch India has built a competitive portfolio of electric commercial vehicles. The company’s offerings in the light commercial vehicle category include the 1.25-tonne IeV3 and the 1.75-tonne IeV4, which are available for commercial purchase through select Ashok Leyland LCV dealers. In the electric city bus segment, Switch India provides 12-meter buses in standard and low-floor versions, offering a range of up to 200 kilometers on a single charge. With a robust order book of over 1,500 buses, Switch India is aiming to double its revenue in FY26, further solidifying its position in the growing electric vehicle market.

Switch Mobility, a part of the Hinduja Group, continues to advance the electric vehicle sector with a focus on zero-emission commercial mobility. The company was established from a collaboration between Ashok Leyland and the British bus manufacturer Optare. Switch’s product range includes the SWITCH EiV series of electric buses, which features India’s first electric double-decker, the SWITCH EiV22, as well as the SWITCH IeV series of light commercial vehicles designed for last-mile logistics. With over 1,000 electric buses and 1,000 electric light commercial vehicles (e-LCVs) on the road, Switch vehicles have collectively covered over 150 million green kilometers, contributing to a reduction of over 100,000 tons of CO₂ emissions.

The company is experiencing strong demand for its electric vehicles, with an order book exceeding 1,800 electric buses. Switch’s in-house telematics platform, SWITCH iON, plays a crucial role in the company’s operational success. The platform provides real-time fleet monitoring, performance optimization, and proactive maintenance, backed by a 24/7 Command Centre that processes over 2 TB of data daily. This enables the generation of more than 90,000 alerts to ensure safety and operational efficiency across the fleet.