UAE bus manufacturer set to boost production; eyes new markets

UAE bus manufacturer set to boost production; eyes new markets

Electric buses from Ashok Leyland’s subsidiary expected on UAE roads in a year

Amandeep Singh, president, International Operations of Ashok Leyland. — supplied photo

Published: Mon 8 May 2023, 4:48 PM Last updated: Mon 8 May 2023, 4:49 PM

Ashok Leyland, the GCC’s only bus manufacturer, is beefing up investments at its Ras Al Khaimah plant as it scales up production and readies to tap the increasing potential of the UAE as a strategic springboard to export buses and trucks to Africa.

Buoyed by record bus sales that the Indian-origin brand notched up last year, the world’s fourth-largest bus maker is also doubling down on its intent to launch luxury coaches and electric buses in the GCC market.

“Last year had been a good year for us in the GCC overall and the UAE in particular. In FY 2022, we have more than doubled our sales in the region, obviously buoyed by the school bus and other orders, and we could increase our market share,” Amandeep Singh, president, International Operations of Ashok Leyland, told Khaleej Times.

Ashok Leyland, the flagship brand of the Hinduja Group, sold around 4,500 vehicles in the region in 2022, largely from its $50 million Ras Al Khaimah plant, while trucks were