Ashok Leyland and FlixBus India join hands to revolutionize sustainable inter-city mobility in India

National, 26 th September, 2024: Ashok Leyland, the Indian flagship of the Hinduja Group and the country’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturer signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), with FlixBus India, a global travel-tech leader of affordable and sustainable travel. This partnership marks a significant step toward transforming India’s bus transportation ecosystem through cutting- edge technology and innovation in high-capacity vehicles.

The MoU was signed by Mr. Mohan K, Head – Bus Vertical, Ashok Leyland, Mr. Max Zeumer, COO, FlixBus and Mr. Surya Khurana, MD, FlixBus India. Under this partnership, FlixBus’s operating bus partners will have access to Ashok Leyland’s advanced chassis and after-sales services, ensuring seamless operations across the country. Also, Ashok Leyland and FlixBus will provide efficient and seamless travel options while empowering local bus operators through state-of-the-art technology.

Mr. Shenu Agarwal, MD and CEO, Ashok Leyland said, “Ashok Leyland is delighted to partner with FlixBus. At Ashok Leyland, our focus has always been on delivering cutting-edge technologies that prioritize safety and performance. Our products, featuring innovative technology, offer industry- leading total cost of ownership, ensuring maximum profitability for our customers. We remain committed to delivering exceptional customer experiences, and continue on our path to innovate and leverage new technology to be a sustainable CV Manufacturer.”

Commenting on this MoU, Mr. Surya Khurana, MD, FlixBus India said, “FlixBus is committed to making intercity bus travel in India more accessible, sustainable, and passenger friendly. This collaboration with Ashok Leyland reinforces our vision of providing efficient and high-capacity travel options while empowering local bus operators through technology. With our rapid growth of passengers and revenue, we look forward to creating a fleet of networks that meets the highest standards of safety and comfort, driving further innovation in India’s transportation landscape.”

Since its launch, FlixBus India has already had more than 300,000+ passengers, with its revenue growing sixfold since the first 6 months of operations. Following the successful launch of operations in South India, connecting key cities like Bangalore, Hyderabad, and Chennai, FlixBus aims to increase its fleet size and expand its network to more regions across India. This MoU builds on that momentum, positioning FlixBus India for further expansion and increased efficiency.

Ashok Leyland continues to set new benchmarks and reaffirms its leadership position by joining hands with FlixBus. This collaboration is founded on a shared vision of driving innovation, enhance operational efficiency, providing eco-friendly travel solutions, and shaping a sustainable future for commercial vehicles through advanced, cutting-edge technology, and also contributing significantly to the decarbonization of India’s transportation sector.

About Ashok Leyland:

Pioneers in the Commercial Vehicle (CV) space, Ashok Leyland is a flagship of the Hinduja group, and is the 2nd largest manufacturer of commercial vehicles in India, and 4th largest manufacturer of buses and 19th largest manufacturer of trucks in the world. Headquartered in Chennai, with 7 manufacturing plants in India, a bus manufacturing facility in Ras Al Khaimah (UAE), and one at Leeds, United Kingdom, Ashok Leyland has a well-diversified portfolio and an international footprint. Ashok Leyland has recently been ranked as 34th best brand in India.

A US $ 4.5 billion Indian multinational that has a 75-year legacy, and presence in more than 50 countries, Ashok Leyland is one of the most fully integrated manufacturing companies on this side of the globe. In the commercial vehicle industry, Ashok Leyland has one of the largest and fastest- growing networks with 52,863 touch points which includes 1748 exclusive touch points and 11,207 outlets for Leyparts.

The company now has a service centre every 75 kilometers on all major highways, allowing it to keep its “Ashok Leyland Quick Response” promise of reaching customers within 4 hours and getting them back on the road in 48 hours”. With technology-enabled customer engagement processes and knowledge on the specific applications of the product range, Ashok Leyland's sales team is well- equipped to fulfil customers’ needs. Ashok Leyland manages 12 driver training institutes across India and has trained over 1,800,000 drivers since inception.

Guided by the principle of "Koi Manzil Door Nahin" symbolizing that no destination is too distant to achieve, Ashok Leyland is resolute in its pursuit to serve stakeholders and contribute to India's progress through continuous innovation and evolution.

About Flix

Flix is a leading global travel-tech company, offering long-distance bus and train travel solutions across more than 40 countries on 4 continents. Leveraging an asset-light business model and an innovative technology platform for both travelers and partners, Flix, launched in 2013, swiftly achieved market leading positions for long-distance bus travel across Europe, North America, and Türkiye, and is rapidly expanding further into South America and Asia. Flix addresses an ever- growing long-distance bus market and driven by increased awareness for the environment in society, Flix committed to achieving Net Zero operations in Europe by 2040 and globally by 2050. Europe by 2040 and globally by 2050. To assess its progress within a scientifically recognized framework, Flix established near-term targets for emissions reduction with the Science Based Targets initiative.