Manoj Soni’s Vision to Transform YoloBus into a Smart, Sustainable Mobility Leader

In an exclusive interview, YoloBus CEO Manoj Soni outlines his vision to transform intercity bus travel with electric buses, tech-driven operations, and a passenger-first approach to create smarter, safer, and more sustainable journeys.

Manoj Soni has taken charge of YoloBus at a pivotal moment. Having stepped into the role just ahead of Diwali, one of the busiest and most competitive travel periods in India, he inherits both a challenge and an opportunity. 

Demand is peaking, customer expectations are evolving, and competition across the intercity mobility space is heating up fast. For YoloBus, a tech-forward intercity operator under EaseMyTrip, this is a defining season to deliver scale. For the new CEO, it’s a chance to convert vision into velocity.

With over 24 years of experience across transport, fleet operations, and electric mobility, Manoj Soni brings a rare mix of operational depth and strategic foresight. He now serves as CEO of both YoloBus and Easy Green Mobility, twin subsidiaries of EaseMyTrip that together represent a full-stack approach to the future of mobility.

At YoloBus, he is steering an ambitious transition toward electric mobility by 2026, while transforming the platform into a high-performance, tech-enabled service that prioritizes safety, reliability, and exceptional passenger experience.

Simultaneously, as CEO of Easy Green Mobility, he is building the backbone of India’s EV future,  overseeing everything from product innovation and homologation to plant setup and scalable manufacturing through the company’s integrated EV ecosystem.

Together, he carries a singular mission: to shape cleaner, smarter transport systems that address the realities of today while preparing for the demands of tomorrow.

Known for his ability to lead business transformation at scale, with past roles at Ashok Leyland, LAGBUS, Prasanna Purple, and Mega Cabs, Soni is no stranger to mobility’s ground realities.

He blends boardroom clarity with on-road experience and now has the mandate to make YoloBus not just successful, but pivotal in shaping the future of electric intercity bus travel in India.

In this exclusive, Manoj Soni reveals how YoloBus is set to electrify India’s intercity travel, combining cutting-edge tech, bold innovation, and a relentless focus on the passenger experience.

“Our goal is to lead the industry in innovation, elevating every aspect of intercity travel to make it smarter, more accessible, and more responsive to the evolving needs of today’s traveler.”

Congratulations on taking charge as the CEO of YoloBus. What’s your long-term vision for YoloBus under the EaseMyTrip umbrella?

Thank you. YoloBus has always stood for comfort, reliability, and cutting-edge technology. Now, as part of the EaseMyTrip family, my vision is to transform YoloBus into India’s most trusted and preferred intercity mobility brand – one that seamlessly connects people and cities while setting new benchmarks in safety, efficiency, and sustainability.

We’re not just aiming to be another bus operator. Our goal is to be a tech-enabled, integrated mobility platform that delivers premium travel experiences with seamless digital convenience, powered by EaseMyTrip’s deep technology expertise and expansive customer base.

Ultimately, our goal is to lead the industry in innovation, elevating every aspect of intercity travel to make it smarter, more accessible, and more responsive to the evolving needs of today’s traveler.

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The intercity bus segment in India is fiercely competitive with numerous players jostling for market share. From your perspective, what sets YoloBus apart in delivering a distinctive and consistent travel experience to passengers?

The intercity bus market is certainly crowded, but few truly prioritize delivering a consistent, high-quality passenger experience. At YoloBus, our differentiation is built on four core pillars — premium service quality, uncompromising passenger safety, technology-driven operations, and sustainable growth.

From our uniform branding and meticulously maintained fleet to well-trained crew members, we ensure every journey meets high standards. Our app-based seat selection, live bus tracking, and responsive customer support add layers of convenience and transparency that passengers expect.

Importantly, we’re also championing green mobility, integrating technology, comfort, and environmental responsibility to create a travel experience that’s not just efficient but truly future-ready.

Could you give us an overview of YoloBus’s current network footprint? Specifically, how extensive is your fleet, what routes do you operate, and which regions are showing the most promise?

Today, YoloBus operates extensively across all key intercity corridors in North, South, and Central India, connecting major cities such as Delhi, Lucknow, Indore, Bhopal, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru, among others.

We currently run over 100 daily services, utilizing a hybrid model of both owned and partner fleets. Our expansion strategy is data-driven, drawing on EaseMyTrip’s deep traveler insights to identify and strengthen high-demand routes. This approach ensures we remain agile and responsive to shifting passenger needs as we expand.

What are YoloBus’ immediate priorities for network expansion and service enhancement?

Our immediate priorities revolve around fleet modernization, route optimization, and deeper digital integration — all with a strong push toward electrification.

We’re strategically expanding into underserved Tier-2 and Tier-3 city pairs that present significant growth potential. Simultaneously, we’re upgrading our fleet with next-generation vehicles and embedding YoloBus’ services more tightly within the EaseMyTrip ecosystem to offer travelers a seamless booking and real-time tracking experience.

By the next financial year, our goal is to double YoloBus’ active routes and launch electric buses on select intercity corridors. Notably, YoloBus has already secured India’s first intercity electric bus tender, with deployment slated for early 2026.

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YoloBus is going electric? What’s the broader vision behind this move, and how are you planning to make it work operationally?

Absolutely! In fact, this is one of our most exciting strategic focus areas at the moment.

With the backing of EaseMyTrip, our parent company, we’re taking a full-stack approach to electrification. Starting 2026, we plan to launch electric buses, with a long-term goal to transition our entire fleet to electric, making intercity travel cleaner, greener, and more efficient.

EaseMyTrip also owns Easy Green Mobility, which is setting up India’s next-generation electric bus manufacturing business. This gives us a unique advantage, not just in deploying EVs, but in shaping them for the specific demands of intercity travel.

YoloBus will be among the first operators to run these indigenously built electric buses, designed for longer ranges, higher efficiency, lower operating costs, and zero tailpipe emissions. 

We plan to begin pilot operations by early 2026, starting with routes in Madhya Pradesh as part of the government tender we recently secured. For us, this isn’t just about fleet transformation – it’s about building an integrated ecosystem that supports sustainable, future-ready intercity mobility.

“YoloBus will be among the first operators to run indigenously built electric buses, designed for longer ranges, higher efficiency, lower operating costs, and zero tailpipe emissions.”

Yes, so YoloBus and Easy Green Mobility won Madhya Pradesh’s first intercity electric bus tender earlier this year. Could you share an update on how the project is progressing and what we can expect from the initial rollout?

Yes, this is a project we’re especially proud of — it represents a significant milestone as Madhya Pradesh’s first intercity electric bus initiative.

We’re working closely with the team at Easy Green Mobility to oversee manufacturing and delivery, and the first batch of electric buses is on track for rollout by January 2026.

In the initial phase, YoloBus will operate electric services across key city pairs, including Sagar, Katni, Bhopal, and Indore, with plans to expand the network progressively. Beyond offering passengers a more reliable and environmentally friendly travel experience, the project will support the state’s goals around emissions reduction and reduced fuel dependency, setting a new benchmark for clean intercity transport in India.

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What are your thoughts on India’s evolving intercity mobility ecosystem? And what role do you see the private sector playing in shaping its future?

India’s intercity mobility ecosystem is undergoing a massive transformation. Today’s passengers expect far more — greater comfort, enhanced safety, seamless digital convenience, and unwavering reliability. Private operators are rising to the challenge, leveraging technology, service innovation, and professional fleet management to meet and exceed these expectations.

Government initiatives around electric mobility, infrastructure development, and digitalization are laying the perfect groundwork for effective public–private collaboration.

I firmly believe that the next phase of intercity travel will be led by organized private players like YoloBus, who are combining technology, clean energy, and service excellence to not only redefine how India travels between cities but also to make a meaningful contribution to the country’s growth story.

This interview was originally published in the October 2025 issue of our monthly magazine, The Bus Insider.