Sofia awards two trolleybus tenders to Škoda Group for 75 battery-equipped vehicles

Škoda Group announces it has won two tenders to supply 75 new trolleybuses to Sofia, Bulgaria, under contracts valued at €56.19 million.

The awards further consolidate Škoda Group’s position in the Bulgarian public transport market, where the manufacturer has recently secured major rail contracts alongside previous trolleybus deliveries.

Deliveries of the twelve-metre vehicles are scheduled to be completed within 12 months from the contracts’ entry into force, while the articulated trolleybuses are to follow within 15 months. Both contracts are contingent on confirmation of funding from European Union sources, Skoda says.

Two contracts, two vehicle platforms

The first contract covers the delivery of 35 twelve-metre Škoda 32Tr trolleybuses, while the second foresees 40 articulated eighteen-metre Škoda 27Tr vehicles. Both models will be fully low-floor and configured to meet current urban accessibility standards.

A common technical feature across both vehicle types is the integration of onboard traction batteries, enabling off-wire operation for at least 15 kilometres.

According to the specifications disclosed, the trolleybuses will be equipped with semi-automatic current collectors, full air conditioning for passenger saloons and driver cabs, and modern passenger information and ticketing systems. Surveillance cameras will also be installed as standard.

From an operational perspective, Škoda Group will supply the vehicles with advanced diagnostic systems featuring remote data transmission. These tools are intended to support predictive maintenance and improve fleet availability, aligning with broader trends toward digitalisation of public transport assets.

Škoda Group also has an established trolleybus track record in the capital: in 2021, it supplied 30 low-floor Škoda 27Tr trolleybuses under a contract valued at approximately €20 million.

“Our success in both Sofia tenders confirms the quality and reliability of our solutions. Sofia has been investing in the modernisation of its electric public transport for a long time, and we are ready to be its partner in further increasing the comfort and environmental friendliness of urban mobility. The new trolleybuses will significantly improve the quality of public transport in the city,” said Karel Majer, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Škoda Electric in the Škoda Group.