The Go-Ahead Group will invest £500 million in up to 1,200 new Wrightbus zero-emission buses over the coming three years, it has announced.
Such a deal will support up to 500 manufacturing jobs in the UK. 43 of the vehicles will be hydrogen fuel cell-electric examples for Metrobus but the remainder will predominantly be battery-electrics that are spread across various group operations, it has confirmed.
Delivery of the buses via what is understood to be a framework agreement is split broadly equally across each of the three years and Wrightbus will establish a dedicated production line in its Ballymena plant for Go-Ahead vehicles.
The group already runs zero-emission products from the manufacturer, including 104 StreetDeck Electroliner and GB Kite Electroliner examples at Oxford Bus Company and GB Kite Hydroliners with Metrobus. Those buses are not included in the 1,200 total, with a spokesperson noting that the latter figure is made up entirely of ‘new’ orders.
First year deliveries will include 201 examples that are part-funded by the second round of the Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas scheme, with the remainder for that period for Go-Ahead London. Years two and three will be accounted for “predominantly” by London, a spokesperson says.
Areas outside the capital that will benefit include East Yorkshire, Gloucestershire, the Isle of Wight, and Plymouth. Go-Ahead Bus CEO Matt Carney says that the investment with Wrightbus “will accelerate the transition to zero-emission fleet across the UK.”
He adds that the group “is proud to be working with the UK government and local authorities to deliver transformational environmental change for communities, while supporting UK jobs and the growth of the country’s supply chain.”
The order comes as Secretary of State for Transport Louise Haigh announces formation of a UK Bus Manufacturing Expert Panel, which the Department for Transport says is intended to ensure that the UK remains a leader in bus manufacturing.
Wrightbus CEO Jean-Marc Gales describes the agreement with Go-Ahead as “hugely significant” and says it represents “a huge boost to the UK’s economy.” He adds that it will support homegrown manufacturing, jobs and skills “for the next three years and beyond.”
Continues Mr Gales: “We must also not forget that this deal represents a massive step forward in our ambition to help decarbonise the transport sector with our world-leading products.” Hearing Ms Haigh reaffirm the government’s commitment to a green transport sector “is heartening,” he adds.
For every bus built under the agreement between Go-Ahead and Wrightbus, the two parties will plant 10 trees in the towns and cities where those vehicles are deployed.
