JBM Auto 's electric vehicle arm, JBM Electric Vehicles, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Drivn to supply 500 ultra-modern electric luxury buses. This partnership aims to accelerate the adoption of electric mobility by providing integrated, long-term vehicle leasing and financing solutions to fleet operators, addressing capital barriers in the sector.

Partnership Overview

The agreement outlines the supply of 500 electric buses equipped with advanced technology for passenger comfort and safety. The deployment is planned in phases over the next one year, with an initial rollout focusing on luxury intercity coaches across India. The collaboration includes long-term vehicle financing, maintenance, and charging infrastructure solutions to enable an asset-light transition for operators.

Strategic Significance

Nishant Arya, Chairman of JBM Electric Vehicles, highlighted that India witnessed a 40% growth in e-bus registrations in H1 CY2026, with 2,944 bus registrations under the PM E-Bus Sewa and PM E-Drive schemes. He stated that integrating JBM's technology with Drivn's leasing platform would unlock scalable adoption by addressing capital barriers. Alpna Jain, Co-founder and Chief Business Officer of Drivn, emphasized that the partnership combines manufacturing excellence with an integrated leasing model to help fleet operators transition with confidence.

Company Background

JBM Electric Vehicles, a subsidiary of JBM Auto Ltd., operates a dedicated integrated electric bus manufacturing facility in the Delhi-NCR region with a capacity of 20,000 buses per annum. The company has deployed over 3,500 e-buses globally, having clocked 450 million e-kms under its 3 billion e-kms promise. Drivn, an electric commercial vehicle leasing platform, is backed by global institutional investors and focuses on building the financial backbone for commercial electric mobility in India.

JBM Electric Vehicles (JBM EV) launched its next generation 'GALAXY' electric luxury coach at Prawaas 5.0 in Gandhinagar on July 10, 2026. The launch, aimed at strengthening operator revenue potential and passenger convenience, was conducted by Shri Nitin Gadkari, Hon’ble Union Minister of Transport & Highways. JBM EV is part of JBM Auto , the flagship company of the $3.3 bn global Indian conglomerate, JBM Group.

Product Specifications and Variants

The 'GALAXY' coach is designed to offer the highest seating capacity in its segment paired with the highest luggage space. It is available in three variants: seater, sleeper, and seater and sleeper. The vehicle offers two primary configurations: one with 22 Maharaja reclining seats and 20 plush sleeper berths including an onboard washroom, and another with 24 Maharaja reclining seats and 20 plush sleeper berths without a washroom.

Design and Safety Features

Styled with a European-inspired design language, the coach features class-leading luxurious interiors, panoramic windows, individual AC louvers, reading lights, and USB charging sockets. The safety architecture includes ADAS-enabled features, Electronic Braking System (EBS), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), hill-hold, live surveillance cameras, and emergency exits. The vehicle also incorporates kneeling and height adjustment features for easier boarding, along with electronically controlled air suspension.

Performance and Infrastructure

The 'GALAXY' platform has demonstrated operations of over 900 kms per day. It is powered by high-efficiency modular battery packs paired with fast charging and regenerative braking. JBM EV operates the world’s largest dedicated integrated electric bus manufacturing facility outside China in the Delhi-NCR region, with an annual production capacity of 20,000 electric buses.

Operational Reach

JBM EV has deployed over 3,300 electric buses across 17 states and 12+ major airports in India. The company holds the highest market share in the Indian electric luxury coach segment and maintains a robust order book of 10,000+ electric buses. Under its 3 bn e-kms promise, JBM electric buses have clocked 450 million e-kms, serving over 1.5 bn bus commuters globally.