Tata Motors delivers 35 state-of-the-art electric buses to BEST, as a part of the larger order of 340 e-buses

The environment-friendly e-buses are equipped with modern features and roomy interiors and can seat 35 passengers

Key highlights:

The total order of 340 e-buses include 200 units of 9-metre 25-seater model and 140 units of 12-metre 35-seater model
Event flagged of by Hon’ble Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Mr. Uddhav Thackeray
Tata Motors has been at the forefront of technology innovation with green fuels, and leads the charge for electric mobility

Tata Motors, India’s largest commercial vehicle manufacturer, today delivered 35 state-of-the-art Starbus electric buses, as a part of the larger order of 340 electric buses to Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST). The 35-seater Tata Starbus electric AC buses were flagged off by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Mr. Uddhav Thackeray in the presence of dignitaries from the Maharashtra state government, BEST and Tata Motors, at an event at Mahim, Mumbai. The buses are procured by BEST under the government of India’s FAME II initiative, and the delivery is a part of the first ever Gross Cost Contract (GCC) by BEST. Tata Motors will be undertaking to build, deploy, maintain and operate the complete charging infrastructure along with the buses. The company will deliver the rest of the order in a phased manner, as per the schedule.

The 12-metre long, 35-seater Tata Starbus AC electric buses are equipped with advanced features for the comfort of the driver and the passengers like: ‘Lift Mechanism’ that extends an automated ramp for easy ingress and egress of specially abled passengers, along with ergonomic seats, roomy interiors, utility provisions like charging ports and wide entry and exit passages. The full-electric buses come with Intelligent Transport System (ITS), telematics system, regenerative braking system, amongst other features for efficient and smooth operations. The buses have been extensively tested and validated by Tata Motors across varied terrains and conditions and are engineered to deliver high standard of performance.

Speaking about the vehicle deliveries, Shri Lokesh Chandra, IAS, General Manager, BEST Undertaking, said, “We are delighted to take delivery of 35 Starbus AC electric buses from Tata Motors. BEST’s vision of introducing more and more electric buses will go a long way reducing the tail-pipe emissions and will benefit millions of Mumbaikars. BEST stays committed to the Government’s focus on electrification of the fleet.”

Commenting on the occasion, Mr. Rohit Srivastava, Vice President, Product Line – Buses, Tata Motors said, “We are pleased to deliver the 12-metre Tata Starbus electric buses to BEST, as a part of the larger contract. Tata Motors has been at the forefront of technology innovation with green fuels and has been leading the electric mobility solutions in the country. The delivery of these buses will further fortify our partnership with BEST and help in environment-friendly mass mobility for the city of Mumbai. The unique ‘One Tata’ initiative will leverage the core proficiencies of various Tata Group companies to offer the best comfort, performance and low cost of operations. The buses are equipped with modern features that will enable ease of use and offer comfort and convenience with roomy interiors and ergonomic seats.”

Tata Motors, with its state-of-the-art research and development facilities, has been leading from the front with alternate fuel technology to provide environment-friendly transportation and mobility solutions to the country, including battery-electric, hybrid, CNG, LNG and hydrogen fuel cell technology. The company has received an order of 15 hydrogen fuel cell buses from IndianOil Corporation Ltd. Tata Motors’ vast experience in electric vehicles, provides critical data to further upgrade the electric vehicle portfolio. It has supplied 525 electric buses across several states, which have cumulatively clocked more than 15 million kilometres.

About Tata Motors

Tata Motors Limited (NYSE: TTM; BSE: 500570 and 570001; NSE: TATAMOTORS and TATAMTRDVR), a USD 35 billion organization, is a leading global automobile manufacturer of cars, utility vehicles, pick-ups, trucks and buses. Part of the USD 113 billion Tata group, Tata Motors is India’s largest and the only OEM offering extensive range of integrated, smart and e-mobility solutions. It has operations in India, the UK, South Korea, Thailand, South Africa, and Indonesia through a strong global network of 103 subsidiaries, 10 associate companies, 3 joint ventures and 2 joint operations as on March 31, 2020.

With a focus on engineering and tech enabled automotive solutions catering to the future of mobility, Tata Motors is India’s market leader in commercial vehicles and amongst the top four in the passenger vehicles market. With ‘Connecting Aspirations’ at the core of its brand promise, the company’s innovation efforts are focused to develop pioneering technologies that are sustainable as well as suited to evolving aspirations of the market and the customers. Tata Motors strives to bring new products that fire the imagination of GenNext customers, fueled by state of the art design and R&D centers located in India, UK, US, Italy and South Korea. Internationally, Tata commercial and passenger vehicles are marketed in countries, spread across Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, South East Asia, South America, Australia, CIS, and Russia.