Tata, Eka, Volvo selected for e-bus production sops

Only three automakers out of 18 have qualified for subsidies for electric buses under the government's production-linked incentive scheme for automobiles and auto parts (PLE Auto), through which it plans to disburse nearly 226,000 crore to strengthen India’s clean-mobility ecosystem.

- Manas Pimpalkhare

The three companies—Tata Motors, Eka Mobility and Volvo Eicher Commercial Vehicles—have collectively received approvals for eight models of e-buses, the scheme’s portal showed.

India’s clean-mobility push comprises schemes such as PM E-drive and PM eBus Sewa, which aim to boost demand for cleaner buses on Indian roads. Simultaneously, the PLI-Auto scheme provides incentives to manufacturers of electric vehicles, including buses. However, the PM E-drive scheme’s target of reducing the upfront cost of 14,028 buses and PM eBus ‘Sewa’s target of deploying 10,000 e-buses cover only a fraction of India’s buses.