Wrightbus secures £7m Hong Kong deal for next-generation electric buses

A major new international deal has handed Ballymena bus manufacturer Wrightbus another boost in the global race for zero-emission transport, with the company securing a £7 million order from Hong Kong for its next-generation electric double-deck buses.

The landmark agreement will see 20 of Wrightbus’s newly developed 6x2 StreetDeck Electroliner buses supplied to Hong Kong operator Citybus, marking the first global order for the new triple-axle model and strengthening the company’s growing international footprint.

The deal comes as Wrightbus celebrates 80 years in business and continues expanding its manufacturing and engineering operations beyond the UK amid rising worldwide demand for cleaner public transport.

First global order for new StreetDeck Electroliner

The 12-metre fully electric buses will carry up to 130 passengers, including 82 seated passengers, and are capable of travelling up to 300 kilometres on a single charge.

The buses are due to be delivered in 2027 and will be manufactured at Wrightbus’s facility in Malaysia, supporting the company’s expanding Asia Pacific operations.

While production for this contract will take place overseas, Wrightbus said the arrangement also benefits its Ballymena factory by helping free up manufacturing capacity as demand for zero-emission buses continues to increase internationally.

The order is being viewed as a significant moment for the company’s latest electric vehicle platform, with Hong Kong regarded as one of the most technically demanding double-deck bus markets in the world.

Ballymena manufacturer continues global expansion

Wrightbus Executive Chairman Jo Bamford described the agreement as a “hugely significant order” and a major milestone for the new StreetDeck Electroliner.

He said:

“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.

“Today, more than 3,000 Wrightbus zero-emission buses are already in service, collectively covering over 200 million kilometres. That experience, across both battery-electric and hydrogen fuel cell technologies, gives operators confidence that our vehicles are reliable, efficient and fully supported by expert engineering and field service teams.

“This order also 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.”

The company said Citybus selected Wrightbus following an open tender process examining technical capability and commercial value.

Hong Kong deal seen as gateway to wider Asia growth

Daniel Castro, Wrightbus Regional Director for Asia Pacific, said the contract represented an important step in the company’s ambitions across the wider region.

He said:

“Securing this contract with Citybus represents a key step in Wrightbus’s expansion into Asia Pacific.

“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 6x2 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.”

The latest contract adds to Wrightbus’s growing international profile as countries accelerate the move away from diesel-powered public transport systems.

The Ballymena-headquartered manufacturer has become one of the UK’s leading zero-emission bus builders, producing battery-electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles for operators across Britain and increasingly overseas markets.

80 years of manufacturing innovation

Founded in 1946, Wrightbus has played a major role in the evolution of modern bus manufacturing, pioneering aluminium framing technology and low-floor buses while also building the iconic London “Boris Bus” and the world’s first hydrogen-powered double-decker.

The company now employs more than 2,300 people across operations in Northern Ireland, Germany and Malaysia, while supporting a further 7,500 jobs through its wider supply chain.

For Ballymena and Northern Ireland, the latest international contract represents another high-profile endorsement of the region’s advanced manufacturing sector at a time when global competition for green transport investment continues to intensify.