Bus factory begins consultation on closure

The firm says it has begun consulting with employees over the closure

The Indian owner of a bus factory in North Yorkshire has confirmed plans to close the plant.

Switch Mobility Ltd UK approved the start of a consultation process with employees to cease manufacturing and assembly activities at its facility at Sherburn in Elmet, near Tadcaster, at a meeting on Wednesday.

The company, which is part of Ashok Leyland, said the decision was due to economic uncertainty in the UK and Europe, and a "slower than expected" transition to electric vehicles by public transport operators in the UK.

Switch Mobility has not said how many employees are based at the site.

Shenu Agarwal, chief executive officer and managing director of Ashok Leyland, said: "While Ashok Leyland remained committed to the UK market over the last 15 years, adoption of zero emission passenger vehicles has been tepid.

"This seems to be the right time to cut down losses in the UK market."

The firm, previously known as Optare, said when the UK and Europe markets recovered, it would fulfil any future orders from alternate manufacturing sites in India and the United Arab Emirates.

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