Drivn Secures $80M from Nomura to Deploy Electric Buses and Trucks

Drivn announced that it has secured financing commitments of up to US$80 million from Nomura, subject to documentation and final conditions. The funding will support the company’s plan to build the operational framework for large-scale electric mobility in India.

The company focuses on transitioning inter-city buses and heavy trucks from diesel to electric through a model that involves buying, owning, and leasing vehicles under long-term contracts. Drivn targets segments that are underserved by traditional financing but offer significant potential for emissions reduction and operational efficiency.

As part of its Phase 1 deployment plan, Drivn aims to deploy approximately 1,000 electric buses and trucks by Q4 FY27, with operations starting in February 2026. The company has also signed memorandums of understanding with bus and logistics operators, vehicle manufacturers, charging and energy providers, and maintenance partners to support coordinated deployment, charging, and operational reliability.

Aligned with national initiatives such as FAME and PM-eBus Sewa, Drivn’s platform targets Scope 3 emissions reduction in sectors including logistics, cement, and steel, supporting India’s goal of 30% electric vehicle penetration by 2030. By combining asset ownership with operational and data management, the company positions itself as a long-term infrastructure provider for the country’s transition to zero-emission commercial transport.

Manav Bansal, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Drivn, said, “For electric mobility to work at scale in heavy transport, the solution has to go beyond vehicles. It also has to address capital intensity, operational risk, and long-term reliability.”

Alpna Jain,Co-Founder and Chief Business Officer, commented, “This financing allows us to build an integrated operating model, where our partners can run electric buses and trucks optimising their balance-sheets, and where performance, uptime, and lifecycle outcomes are engineered into the system from day one.”

Kushagra Pant, Managing Director and Head of Private Credit, Asia ex-Japan at Nomura, said, “From an energy transition perspective, heavy commercial transport represents the most high-impact leverage point for decarbonization. Drivn stood out for us because it is not approaching this as a financing play alone, but as a long-term infrastructure platform that combines asset ownership, data, and operational discipline. We see strong potential in this model to scale India’s electric corridors while generating durable, infrastructure-grade returns.”

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