Bengaluru: Eicher Trucks and Buses, a division of VE Commercial Vehicles (VECV), has delivered a fleet of six fully built Skyline Pro-E 12m electric tarmac buses to IndiGo at Kempegowda International Airport. The order marks Eicher’s entry into the aviation ground support sector with its first electric tarmac bus deployment and highlights the company’s growing focus on clean mobility solutions.
The delivery is part of a strategic collaboration between Eicher and IndiGo, reflecting a shared goal of adopting sustainable technology and enhancing operational efficiency. The buses will be used to ferry passengers between the airport terminal and aircraft parked at remote stands, reducing the airline’s carbon footprint in ground operations.
Speaking about the milestone, Suresh Chettiar, Executive Vice President of the Bus Division at VECV, said the partnership with IndiGo represents a step forward in sustainable ground mobility. “We are honored to partner with IndiGo in their journey towards greener and sustainable ground operations at Kempegowda Airport, which is already recognized for its design and eco-friendly practices. With these tarmac coaches, Eicher stands committed to sustainably transporting the 42 million passengers that use this gateway to India’s Silicon Valley each year,” he said.
The Skyline Pro-E 12m electric bus has been engineered specifically for airport applications. It features a seating arrangement of 17 passengers plus driver, along with space for 52 standees, balancing capacity with passenger comfort. Equipped with lithium-iron phosphate battery technology and CCS2 fast charging, the buses are designed for continuous use within airports. Full air suspension, disc brakes on both axles, and power-assisted steering add to the reliability and ride quality demanded by high-frequency airport operations.
Eicher has developed its electric powertrain in-house and continues to invest in partnerships to expand the charging ecosystem. According to the company, its collaboration with IndiGo goes beyond supplying buses—it aims to help critical sectors like aviation adopt clean mobility at scale. For IndiGo, which is already working to reduce its environmental impact across operations, the addition of electric tarmac buses strengthens its sustainability initiatives while providing passengers with modern, zero-emission transport within the airport.
This deployment positions Kempegowda International Airport as a key site for pioneering electric mobility in aviation ground operations and underscores the role of partnerships in driving India’s transition toward sustainable infrastructure.