Wrightbus showcases new electric double-decker as Hong Kong operator orders 17
Phil Owen, Sales Director (left) and John McLeister, MD Sales, UK and Ireland for Wrightbus.
Saturday 07 November 2026
Ballymena bus manufacturer Wrightbus has unveiled a new three-door electric double-decker, with Hong Kong operator Citybus having ordered 17 vehicles in a multi-million-pound deal.
The Electroliner 6x2 tri-axle bus was presented at Singapore Urban Mobility Week as the company also exhibited in Birmingham, showcasing both new electric buses and a diesel bus converted to electric power.
The appearances come as Wrightbus marks 80 years of manufacturing and seeks to expand its international business. The company says more than 2,300 people work at its factories, with a further 7,500 jobs supported across its UK supply chain.
New buses and a second life for existing fleets
Wrightbus unveils the new three-door electric double-decker at Euro Bus Expo in Birmingham.
At Euro Bus Expo in Birmingham, Wrightbus displayed its StreetDeck Electroliner Gen 2.0 alongside a repowered StreetDeck currently operating with First Bus.
The converted vehicle demonstrates another route for operators moving away from diesel: replacing the power system while retaining the existing bus. Visitors could also meet teams from Wrightbus subsidiaries NewPower, NewLife and AllServiceOne.
In Singapore, where the mobility event ran until 6 November, the company unveiled the three-axle, three-door Electroliner ordered by Citybus.
Christian Reynolds, Managing Director of Wrightbus, said:
“These events are a great opportunity for us to demonstrate the breadth of what Wrightbus can offer operators around the world, from new zero-emission buses designed to meet the latest requirements through to repowering existing vehicles and extending their operational life.”
Passenger comfort and safety developments
The StreetDeck Electroliner Gen 2.0 shown in Birmingham includes enhanced heating and air conditioning, advanced emergency braking, improved fire protection and updated passenger information systems.
It also incorporates telematics technology, which uses vehicle data to help operators monitor performance. Wrightbus says experience gathered from its buses in service is informing further development of its vehicles and data management systems.
The company reports that it has now produced 4,000 zero-emission buses for operators worldwide, with its vehicles having covered more than 150 million electric miles.
Mr Reynolds said:
“Whether we are talking to operators in the UK, Asia or elsewhere, our focus is the same: developing practical, proven solutions that meet the needs of their networks and help them make the transition to cleaner public transport.”
Preparing for London’s next bus requirements
Wrightbus is also working with Transport for London on the next phase of its Bus Vehicle Specification, which sets requirements for buses supplied for the capital’s network.
That work includes changes to how doors operate, alongside in-service and CO2 testing procedures. Deliveries meeting the BVS 2.7 specification are scheduled for October 2027, setting a further milestone for the manufacturer’s vehicle development programme.
UK manufacturing and overseas expansion
Founded in 1946, Wrightbus has developed technologies including aluminium bus framing, low-floor designs and hydrogen-powered buses. It values its UK supply chain at more than £300 million annually.
Alongside its UK manufacturing, the business has a manufacturing operation in Malaysia and a team in Australia supporting its international reach.
Mr Reynolds said:
“As we celebrate 80 years of manufacturing, we are proud of the engineering expertise we have built up in the UK and the role our people and partners play in delivering innovation for customers around the world.”
For bus operators, the two exhibitions showcased different routes towards cleaner fleets: buying new electric buses or converting vehicles already in service. For Wrightbus, they demonstrated how its manufacturing expertise is being offered to customers beyond its established UK market.
