Wrightbus has secured a new £3million boost to deliver 18 zero emission buses, built locally in Ballymena, for First Bus in Leicester.
The deal is part of the UK Government's strategy to support and decarbonise the public transport sector, with this latest order coming on the back of a recent £25.3m contract to supply 117 of the vehicles announced at the beginning of March.
The UK Department of Transport's Roads Minister Richard Holden said:
"Buses are the backbone of our transport network, providing affordable travel for commuters, families, and pensioners, and providing an economic lifeline for towns and cities around the country.
"This multimillion investment for Leicester’s clean transformation, coupled with the new Bus Centre of Excellence, will help drive the country’s bus sector recovery and provide passengers with cleaner, more affordable buses that run on time".
Today's announcement is the latest order that has seen the company continue to go from strength to strength since being rescued from collapse by Joe Bamford and the Bamford Bus Company.
Ian Gillott, Managing Director (Parts and Services) at Wrightbus, commented:
"Our partnership with First Bus is hugely significant in the drive to zero-emission public transport.
"It has been a real team effort between the local authority, Wrightbus and First Bus to deliver this exciting project.
"We can't wait to see these buses in operation in Leicester, which will help passengers enjoy comfortable and cleaner transport.
"We are consistently at the forefront of zero and low-emission travel and would be delighted to progress future orders, dependent on future co-funding opportunities.
"Our electric buses - the GB Kite Electroliner BEV and the StreetDeck Electroliner BEV, which is the world's most efficient double deck battery-electric bus - are manufactured and assembled at our Ballymena factory, which means support for jobs in NI, and wider across the UK through our domestic supply chain."