Ashok Leyland plans to turn its light commercial vehicle (LCV) range into electric vehicles and will launch Bada Dost followed by the Dost with an electric powertrain and also electric double-decker buses.

Ashok Leyland chairman Dheeraj Ambani said: “By 2030, 60 per cent of Europe’s LCV will be electric. And we have also seen from our interactions with stakeholders in the segment that demand for e-LCVs is much bigger than supplies. It’s only a question of how quickly we can get our products ready and make them available to our customers.”

The company showcased the electric variant of Bada Dost at the recently concluded auto expo.

“We are going to launch electric battery-operated Bada Dost followed by the Dost this calendar year,” said Hinduja. Currently, the market has the Ace EV that was launched in May last year, with deliveries starting in January.

“We have already witnessed electrification of the three-wheeler segment, now the four-wheeler segment will also see electrification,” said Hinduja.