Wrightbus has secured a £7 million order from Hong Kong operator Citybus for 20 of its new 6×2 StreetDeck Electroliner double-deck buses.
The 12-metre buses will each offer 82 seats, capacity for 130 passengers, and an operating range of up to 300km.
The deal represents the first international order for the triple-axle variant of the battery-electric model, 23 years after Wrightbus vehicles first entered service in the region. The vehicles will be built at Wrightbus’s manufacturing facility in Malaysia as part of the Ballymena-headquartered manufacturer’s growing Asia Pacific operation. Delivery is scheduled for 2027.
Wrightbus says the order marks a major milestone as it seeks to extend its zero-emission product range beyond the UK.
“This is a hugely significant order for Wrightbus and a major milestone for the new 6×2 StreetDeck Electroliner,” comments Jo Bamford CBE, Executive Chairman of Wrightbus. “The StreetDeck has become the leading double-deck bus in the UK and we are proud to now be bringing that proven technology and operational experience to customers in Asia.
“This order demonstrates the strength of our growing international manufacturing strategy. By producing these vehicles at our Malaysia facility, we are able to support customers across Asia more effectively while also freeing capacity in our Ballymena factory, as global demand for zero-emission transport continues to grow.”
Citybus selected Wrightbus following an open tender process that assessed technical capability and commercial value. The manufacturer says Hong Kong’s intensive, high-capacity double-deck bus market provides an important reference point for its wider Asia Pacific ambitions.
“Securing this contract with Citybus represents a key step in Wrightbus’s expansion into Asia Pacific,” says Daniel Castro, Regional Director Asia Pacific for Wrightbus. “Hong Kong is one of the most demanding double-deck bus markets in the world, and this order reflects confidence in both our product and our ability to deliver and support fleets at scale in the region.
“The introduction of the 6×2 StreetDeck Electroliner has been driven by the high-capacity requirements of international operators, and this project provides a strong platform for further growth across Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand.”
Mr Bamford notes that more than 3,000 Wrightbus zero-emission buses are now in service, collectively covering over 200 million kilometres. The company employs more than 2,300 people across operations in Northern Ireland, Germany and Malaysia, and says it supports a further 7,500 jobs in its global supply chain.
