#zero-emission-buses

#zero-emission-buses

The initial ZEBRA-zero emission bus regional areas-scheme, touted proudly by Prime Minister Johnson's Government, committed to 4,000 British-built buses by the end of the last Parliament. The scheme delivered just 2,270 buses, of which about 46% were built abroad. There was a material and harmful chasm between political rhetoric and delivery for UK manufacturers Euan Stainbank MP (Falkirk, Labour)

Arriva Netherlands will introduce 167 new electric buses-128 from Yutong and 39 from Irizar (the first ever awarded in the country) -into service in East Brabant from December 2026. The start of the new concession will see Arriva Netherlands take responsibility for bus services across several municipalities in East Brabant, including Waalwijk, Loon op Zand and Heusden, with operations structured to meet the sustainability and quality requirements defined by the provincial transport authority.

Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC), the Daimler Truck subsidiary responsible for the FUSO brand, has announced on January 22nd 2026 plans to create a standalone bus company in Japan together with Hon Hai Technology Group (Foxconn), marking a further step in the convergence of traditional commercial vehicle manufacturing and electronics-led electric vehicle development. Katsuto Kora, currently Director and Head of FUSO Bus at MFTBC, has been designated CEO of the future company. The new bus company will be headquartered in Kawasaki, Japan, while vehicle development and manufacturing will be carried out at the existing FUSO bus plant in Toyama. Products will be marketed under the FUSO brand.

The Italian bus market closed 2025 with 4,112 registrations over 8 tonnes, including 1,230 zero-emission buses - equal to 30% of the total and up 20% year-on-year. Zero emission buses make over 65% of the city bus registrations. After the exceptional peak reached in 2024, the Italian bus market returned in 2025 to more structurally aligned volumes, while still confirming a historically solid level of demand. According to data processed by Italian trade media (and our sister platform) Autobusweb on the basis of Anfia registrations, the year ended with 4,112 new buses over 8 tonnes, down 15.8% compared with the previous year but well above long-term averages.

Deutsche Bahn has concluded its largest-ever bus procurement, securing long-term framework contracts for more than 3,000 new buses for DB Regio operations across Germany. The contracts cover the supply of around 3,300 solo and articulated buses and have a duration of six years, with deliveries planned between 2027 and 2032. In financial terms, DB values the agreements at more than €1 billion.

Our partnership with Wrightbus is driven by a shared goal - to truly put the public transport transition into motion," he said. "We combine technological excellence with financial accessibility, turning sustainable mobility from a vision into reality on Germany's roads. Together, we're shaping the mobility transition - reliably, ambitiously, and with a passion for progress.

Brussels is hosting the Busworld Europe Congress from 6-9 October, bringing together policymakers, operators, manufacturers, and innovators under one roof. The 2025 edition, held alongside Busworld Europe 2025 exhibition, emphasizes the intersection of policy, technology, and market trends shaping the future of buses and coaches in Europe. The Congress is structured around six thematic tracks, covering everything from socio-economic strategies and digital mobility to safety, long-distance coach operations, local and regional transport management, and zero-emission technologies (the latter addressed within the Zero Emission Bus Conference).

Austria has opened the eighth application period for its "Emissionsfreie Busse und Infrastruktur" (EBIN) program, designed to accelerate the transition of public transport fleets to zero-emission propulsion. The call for proposals is active from yesterday, September 3rd, until October 22, with a total budget of approximately €80 million. The EBIN program provides support for both vehicles and the infrastructure required to operate them.

The 6th edition of the Zero Emission Bus Conference (ZEB 2025) will take place in October at Busworld Europe, from 7th to 9th. Organised by ERM in partnership with the Busworld Foundation, the event will bring together transport operators, policymakers, manufacturers, and industry experts to tackle the practical and technical challenges of deploying zero emission buses (ZEBs) at scale. Building on the success of ZEB 2023, which gathered over 400 participants, 70+ speakers, and more than 50 public transport operators and authorities,