JBM Electric Vehicles Signs MoU with Drivn to Supply 500 Electric Buses Across India

Key Highlights

• JBM Electric Vehicles signed an MoU with Drivn to supply 500 electric buses.

• Buses will be delivered in phases over the next one year.

• Package includes financing, maintenance, and charging infrastructure support.

• Initial deployment will focus on luxury intercity electric coaches across India.

• Partnership will also explore school, employee, and airport mobility services.

JBM Electric Vehicles (P) Ltd. (JBMEV), a subsidiary of JBM Auto Limited, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Drivn, an electric commercial vehicle leasing platform, to supply 500 electric buses across India. The partnership aims to make electric bus adoption easier and more affordable for fleet operators by offering not only buses but also financing, maintenance, and charging infrastructure support.

500 Electric Buses to Be Delivered in Phases

As part of the agreement, JBM Electric Vehicles will deliver 500 electric buses in phases over the next one year. The first phase will focus on deploying ultra-modern luxury electric coaches for intercity fleet operators across the country.

The partnership offers a complete mobility solution that includes long-term vehicle financing, maintenance services, and charging infrastructure support. This integrated model is designed to help operators shift to electric mobility without making heavy upfront investments.

Beyond intercity transportation, JBM and Drivn will also explore opportunities in other mobility segments such as school transportation, employee mobility, and airport transit services.

Partnership to Reduce Cost of Fleet Electrification

Speaking about the collaboration, Nishant Arya, Chairman of JBM Electric Vehicles, said India's electric bus market is witnessing strong growth. He highlighted that e-bus registrations increased by 40% during the first half of calendar year 2026, with 2,944 electric buses registered under government initiatives such as PM E-Bus Sewa and PM E-Drive.

He said the partnership combines JBM's electric bus manufacturing expertise with Drivn's leasing and financing platform, making the transition to electric buses more financially practical for fleet operators.

Alpna Jain, Co-founder and Chief Business Officer of Drivn, said the collaboration is focused on making fleet electrification both operationally seamless and financially viable by bringing together technology, leasing solutions, and charging infrastructure support.

JBM Strengthens Its Electric Bus Leadership

JBM has been manufacturing electric buses since 2018 and has already deployed more than 3,500 electric buses. The company expects this number to cross 5,000 buses within the next year.

According to the company, its electric buses have collectively travelled over 450 million electric kilometres and served around 1.5 billion passengers globally. JBM is working towards achieving its long-term target of 3 billion electric kilometres.

Drivn's Integrated EV Leasing Platform

Drivn focuses on building financial infrastructure for commercial electric mobility in India. The company acquires, owns, and leases electric buses and trucks while offering a complete technology platform that includes charging planning, battery lifecycle management, and fleet operations.

Drivn serves multiple industries, including intercity passenger transport, logistics, e-commerce, cement, and steel. The company is also backed by institutional investors, supporting its expansion in India's growing commercial EV ecosystem.

Also Read: ZF Group Showcases Advanced Commercial Vehicle Technologies at Prawaas 5.0

CMV360 Says

The partnership between JBM Electric Vehicles and Drivn marks an important step in expanding electric bus adoption in India. By combining electric bus manufacturing, leasing, financing, maintenance, and charging infrastructure into a single solution, the two companies aim to lower the barriers for fleet operators. The phased rollout of 500 electric buses is expected to support cleaner public transport while accelerating the country's transition towards sustainable commercial mobility.