Daimler Buses wins VBSG tender (Switzerland) for 26 e-buses after Ebusco contract revocation

St. Gallen’s public transport operator VBSG has awarded a contract to Daimler Buses Schweiz for the supply of 26 battery-electric buses.

The procurement is part of VBSG’s broader strategy to transition its fleet to full electrification. According to the city of St. Gallen’s Energy Concept 2050, all buses operated by VBSG are planned to be fully electric by 2032.

VBSG orders 26 electric buses under public tender

Verkehrsbetriebe St.Gallen (VBSG) announces it has awarded a contract for 26 battery-electric buses to Daimler Buses Schweiz AG following an open public procurement procedure. The order includes 16 standard 12-metre buses and 10 articulated 18-metre buses, all designed as depot-charged electric vehicles.

The operator states that it has issued the tender for these vehicles for the second time. “The contract awarded following the first tender had to be revoked even before the first order of vehicles was placed, after the original successful tenderer, Ebusco, was unable to fulfil its contractual obligations for financial reasons”, reads the press note, following facts that we reported in 2025.

The procurement also covers options for up to 20 additional vehicles, as well as special equipment, and a 15-year package including warranty, maintenance and repair services. The total contract value amounts to approximately CHF 77.6 million, including VAT, VBSG states.

According to VBSG, deliveries are scheduled to begin from mid-2028, with vehicles entering service progressively as part of the operator’s fleet renewal programme.

The 26 new depot-charged electric buses will replace existing diesel vehicles within the fleet.