Wrightbus secures Hong Kong order for 20 electric double-decker buses

Hong Kong operator Citybus has ordered 20 Wrightbus 6×2 StreetDeck Electroliner battery-electric double-deck buses.

The agreement marks the first order worldwide for the new triple-axle StreetDeck Electroliner platform, according to a press note by Wrightbus. The vehicles are scheduled for delivery in 2027.

The 12-metre buses will be manufactured at Wrightbus’ facility in Malaysia and supplied to Citybus in Hong Kong, where Wrightbus vehicles have been operating for more than two decades.

Wrightbus StreetDeck Electroliner for Hong Kong

The order covers 12-metre three-axle battery-electric double-deck buses with 82 seats and total passenger capacity for up to 130 passengers. Wrightbus states that the vehicles will offer an operating range of up to 300 km.

The contract value is reported at approximately £7 million.

Citybus selected Wrightbus following an open tender procedure assessing technical capability and commercial value, the manufacturer states.

According to Wrightbus, the order supports the expansion of its Asia Pacific operations. Production will take place in Malaysia, while the company says the arrangement will also preserve manufacturing capacity at its Ballymena site in Northern Ireland.

Wrightbus says more than 3,000 zero-emission buses from the manufacturer are currently in operation worldwide across battery-electric and hydrogen fuel cell applications.

Founded in 1946, the manufacturer operates facilities in Northern Ireland, Germany and Malaysia. The company states that more than 2,300 people are employed across its operations.

The StreetDeck platform is currently deployed in the UK market, where Wrightbus positions the model as its main double-deck zero-emission offer.

Jo Bamford CBE, Executive Chairman of Wrightbus, said: “This is a hugely significant order for Wrightbus and a major milestone for the new 6×2 StreetDeck Electroliner. 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.”

Daniel Castro, Regional Director Asia Pacific for Wrightbus, 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 6×2 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”