Ashok-Leyland-owned Switch Mobility has set the groundwork for its new advanced manufacturing plant in Valladolid, Spain.
The foundation stone was laid by Dheeraj Hinduja, Chairman, Switch Mobility, in the presence of Raquel Sanchez Jimenez, Spain’s Minister for Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda, Government of Spain, Alfonso Fernandez Mañueco, President of the Region of Castilla y León and Oscar Puente, Mayor of Valladolid, a communication from the company said.
Spread across 35-acre, the site in Valladolid will be the first for the company in Europe and will comprise two state-of-the-art production lines and will be entirely carbon-neutral from inception.
With construction set to commence shortly, the company aims to roll out the first batch of busses within the next six months, the release stated.
The first phase of the new development will see the construction of Switch’s new 12m bus for the European market, while the second and third phases will add battery assembly capabilities and production of the zero-carbon LCV from 2024 onwards, the company said.
The facility will play a crucial role in revitalising the Soto de Medinilla area near Valladolid, providing an estimated 7,000 direct and indirect jobs in the region, with €100 million in investment anticipated for the site over the next decade, it claimed.
Dheeraj Hinduja, Chairman, Switch Mobility, said, “With a rich automotive history, strong supply chain and availability of engineering talent, Valladolid is an ideal location for the facility, and I would like to express my appreciation to the national and regional governments for supporting the project.”
Andy Palmer, Vice Chairman and CEO, Switch Mobility, noted that beginning the development of our site in Spain is a key milestone in the company’s global growth strategy.