Irizar is going to move in a new facility in the UK in late 2025, located near Blyth in north Nottinghamshire. The Spanish group had purchase a 4 acre site in 2018, but project was slowed down by Brexit and pandemic. Now the company states it has submitted a Planning application, while selection of contractors is underway, with the target of being in the new facility for early Q4 2025.

Irizar launched its i3 Electric at FIAA in Madrid in October, marking the debut of the brand in the intercity electric bus market. And fleets of ie tram models have been commissioned in the UK for two BRT projects.

Irizar to establish new UK headquarter in 2025

The development was announced during Euro Bus Expo in Birmingham, where Irizar showed three vehicles: one Irizar i8, a new generation Irizar i6S Efficient and a Irizar ie tram electric vehicle. All of them will be on UK roads after the fair.

The project of moving to the new facility follows the good results achieved in the UK market in 2024, that Irizar claims being “its best ever year in the UK“. Also, order book is reportedly strong through to 2026.

At a group level, CEO Imanol Rego told Sustainable Bus that the Irizar «closed 2023 with 895 million euros turnover, with a 40% increase on 2022. We expect 970 million turnover at the end of 2024. We produced 3,068 buses in 2023, in 2024 we forecast to reach 3,700 units».

Andrew Blundell, Managing Director of Irizar UK, commented “it’s a major milestone for Irizar in the United Kingdom.  We have reached a key transitional phase in the evolution of the business, and investing in our own premises will give us the capacity to further enhance our market position in the UK. Given the post-Covid turbulence impacting bus & coach manufacturers, customers should see this significant investment as not only a long-term commitment to our intentions for the UK market, but also a reflection on the stability of Irizar and its ability to weather challenges and remain focused on the longer term.  We have confidence in the UK, and a commitment to deliver for our customers.”

Highlights

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