The Centre has concluded the country’s largest electric bus tender under the Prime Minister Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM E-DRIVE) scheme, with PMI Electro emerging as the biggest winner. The company secured orders for 5,210 of the 10,900 buses up for bidding, nearly half of the total.
Currently, PMI Electro accounts for roughly a quarter of the 4,239 electric buses sold in India during 2025 and already has an order book of 3,000 buses, cementing its position as the nation’s largest electric bus manufacturer.
EKA Mobility, a subsidiary of Pinnacle Industries, emerged as the second-largest beneficiary with 3,485 buses, followed by Olectra with 1,785 buses. The remaining 420 buses were awarded to the Anthony Travels consortium, sources said.
Notably, major conventional bus manufacturers, including Tata Motors, VE Commercial Vehicles, and JBM Auto, failed to secure any orders. Ashok Leyland, through its subsidiary OHM Global Mobility, was excluded after the government said it did not successfully submit its bid. The company has challenged this decision in the Delhi High Court, requesting a deferment of the tender finalisation. OHM Global Mobility claimed a technical issue on the CESL portal prevented submission, though CESL maintained the bid was never received.
The financial bids of 14 technically qualified bidders were opened, and CESL noted that the discovered rates were attractive and lower than estimates. Results have been shared with participating cities, and City Transport Undertakings (CTUs) will issue Letters of Award and enter concession agreements with the selected operators.
Deployment of the buses is expected to begin next year. Under the current phase of PM E-DRIVE, allocations include 4,500 buses for Bengaluru, 2,000 for Hyderabad, 2,800 for Delhi, 1,000 for Ahmedabad, and 600 for Surat, marking a major push for electric mobility in India’s urban transport sector.
Under the Gross Cost Contract (GCC) framework, private operators will handle ownership, operation, and maintenance of the e-buses, as well as development of charging infrastructure and energy management systems at city-provided depots. City transport agencies will pay a fixed per-kilometre fee to ensure affordability and financial sustainability.
