22 Yutong trolleybuses enter operations in Bucharest, Romania

Bucharest City Hall has announced the delivery of 22 new trolleybuses equipped with batteries, continuing the modernization of the public transport fleet operated by STB. According to Romania Insider, the vehicles will enter passenger service this spring on Line 86 after completing testing and acceptance procedures. Bucharest has awarded in the bast a 100-units e-bus order to Karsan.

Yutong has been so far providing trolleybuses in Mexico. Now the Chinese manufacturer is extending its offer beyond e-buses in Europe as well: a tender was also awarded last year in Budapest, Hungary.

New trolleybuses coming to Bucharest

The 12-metre trolleybuses, financed through non-reimbursable European funds under Romania’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), can operate for at least 20 km without connection to the overhead network. As reported by Romania Insider, the contract is valued at RON 70.4 million excluding VAT (nearly 14 million euros).

The new trolleybuses, provided by Yutong, are 12 metres long and have a total capacity of up to 93 passengers, including 32 seated.

The trolleybus delivery forms part of a wider investment programme aimed at modernising Bucharest’s public transport system. The City Hall has already procured 100 electric buses and plans to install 100 charging stations by the end of the year, with a total contract value of EUR 73.8 million, including EUR 52 million in non-reimbursable EU funding. In addition, Bucharest plans to acquire a further 100 trolleybuses and 79 trams using European funds secured in late 2025, for a total investment exceeding RON 553 million, with procurement timelines yet to be announced.