At this month’s Delhi Auto Expo, Optare showcased its Ashok Leyland branded Solo – the first low floor midibus to be offered in the Indian market.

The vehicle on show has an interior developed to suit Indian operating conditions. It also features a 110 kW ‘H’ Series engine (BS4) of proven pedigree from Ashok Leyland, ensuring a high degree of fuel efficiency. The on-board diagnostics, familiar to UK Solo operators, offer useful information to both the driver and owner to enhance operating economics.

Solo of course features all welded fully integral body construction in low-weight stainless steel, a first in India, and makes it one of the safest vehicles on Indian roads, it is claimed.

Tailored to a variety of applications – from shuttle services to tourist operations – the Solo enables Indian customers to opt for various lengths (from 7.1m to 10m) and differing seating configurations to offer either more standees (tarmac applications) or more seats (staff buses).

“ It’s with some pride that we at Optare saw the Solo make its Indian debut. Although of course our core model has enjoyed export success before, that has always been in the so called ‘sophisticated’ markets of Europe and North America. Developing a model to operate in the testing traffic congestion and climatic conditions of India is a real accolade for our joint design and engineering teams in Leeds and Chennai”, said Charles Waggott, Optare’s Export Director.