Switch Mobility

**Switch Mobility** (originally called **Optare**) is an English bus builder founded in 1985 in Sherburn-in-Elmet, North Yorkshire. In 2020 Ashok Leyland bought the company and renamed it to Switch Mobility. to Switch Mobility in November 2020, In 2021 they announced they were building diesel-powered vehicles and work on alternative fuels like compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied natural gas (LNG) and hydrogen.

### Buses

- Current
- Solo SR; Solo SR EV (2007–present)
- Metrocity; Metrocity EV (2012–present)
- Metrodecker; Metrodecker EV (2014–present)
- E1 single decker (2022–present)
- EiV 12 single decker (2022–present, for the Indian market)
- EiV 22 double decker (2022–present, for the Indian market)
- EiV 7 (2023–present, for the Indian market)
- Discontinued
- CityPacer minibus (1985–1992, replaced by the MetroRider)
- StarRider minibus (1987–1994, replaced by the MetroRider)
    - ColumboRider integral variant for export to Sri Lanka (1987–1994, replaced by the MetroRider)
- Delta single decker (1988–1999)
- MetroRider minibus (1989–2000, replaced by Solo)
- 9000-series minibus on Renault chassis for Leeds City Council (1990, replaced by the MetroRider)
- Spectra double decker (1991–1997, low floor 1997–2005)
- Vecta midibus (1991–1997)
- Sigma (1994–1996, single-deck version of the Spectra)
- Prisma (1995–1998) single decker, Mercedes front
- Excel (1995–1999) (Excel 2 1999–2004, replaced by Tempo)
- Solo low floor midibus (1997–2012, replaced by restyled SR model)
    - (Solo<sup>+</sup> (2008) Concept only)
    - (Solo EV 2009–2012 Replaced by restyled SR EV model)
- Alero low floor minibus, (Alero 2001–2006, Alero Plus 2006–2008)
- Irisbus Agora Line ((2002–2007) right-hand-drive version bodied by Optare, 23 were built for the UK)
- Tempo single decker (2004–2012)
    - Tempo SR (2011–2020, Oceanian market only since 2017)
- Versa, midibus between Solo and Tempo (2007–2018)
- Esteem single decker (formerly East Lancs Esteem) (2008–2009)
- Olympus double decker (formerly East Lancs Olympus) (2008–2011)
- Visionaire open-top double decker (formerly East Lancs Visionaire) (2008–2011)
- OmniDekka double decker (formerly East Lancs Omnidekka) (2008–2011, only adopted by Nottingham City Transport)
- Rapta double decker ((2009) Concept only)

### Coaches

- Discontinued
- Bonito
- Toro
- Solera
- Soroco
- Rapido
- Viedo

### Pick-up trucks

**Current**

- eLCV Dost
    - eLCV Bada Dost
- IeV Series (IeV 3/IeV4)

## Other websites

- Optare's official website
- A useful listing of all bodies/complete buses built from 1985 to date
- Transport Yorkshire Preservation Group, owners of various preserved Optare vehicles
- Dennis Domino Buses, details of Optare's first design
- Buszone Optare page details of Optare and Reading Transport

## Infobox (company)

- **name**: Switch Mobility
- **former name**: Optare (1985–2020)
- **type**: Public limited company, Public
- **traded as**: Optare Group Limited
- **parent**: Ashok Leyland
- **foundation**: (as Optare)
- **hq location**: Sherburn-in-Elmet
- **location country**: England
- **area served**: Worldwide
- **key people**: Dheeraj Hinduja (Chairman)
- **num employees**: 325
- **industry**: Automotive
- **revenue**: $4.88 million
- **revenue year**: 31 March 2020