3 minute read - 8th October 2024
Wrightbus secures £500m Go-Ahead electric bus contract
Up to 500 UK manufacturing jobs are set to be supported as bus operator Go-Ahead announces a major £500m investment to decarbonise its fleet. The investment includes creating a new dedicated manufacturing line and partnership with Northern Ireland-based bus manufacturer Wrightbus.
The deal is set to fund the production of up to 1,200 new zero emission buses over the next three years. Built for operator Go-Ahead, this investment will accelerate the transition to greener buses across the country including in Plymouth, Gloucestershire, East Yorkshire, London and the Isle of Wight.
The transport secretary is expected to meet with key industry leaders including Wrightbus owner Jo Bamford and CEO Jean-Marc Gales, to reaffirm the government’s commitment to decarbonising local transport and fostering an environment for investment in UK manufacturing, bringing sustained economic growth and supporting jobs.
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Wrightbus has secured a £500m order from bus operator Go-Ahead that will support more than 500 UK manufacturing jobs / Picture: Wrightbus
The transport secretary will also announce plans to create a new UK Bus Manufacturing Expert Panel. This panel will bring together industry experts and local leaders to explore ways to ensure the UK remains a leader in bus manufacturing, help local authorities deliver on their transport ambitions, and begin to seize opportunities to embrace zero emission transport technologies.
Jean-Marc Gales, CEO of Wrightbus, said: “The deal with Go-Ahead is hugely significant and represents a huge boost to the UK’s economy. It will support homegrown manufacturing, jobs and skills for the next three years and beyond. We’ve always been proud to support the UK’s supply chain and our Go-Ahead partnership will ensure even more money can be spent securing good green jobs. We must also not forget that this deal represents a massive step forward in our ambition to help decarbonise the transport sector with our world-leading products.”
The £500m investment by Go-Ahead is set to fund the manufacturing of up to 1,200 new zero emission buses over the next three years / Picture: Wrightbus
Louise Haigh, transport secretary, said: “The number one mission of this government is growing the economy. The half a billion pounds Go-Ahead is announcing today shows the confidence industry has in investing in the UK. This announcement will see communities across the country benefit from brand new, state-of-the-art green buses – which will deliver cleaner air and better journeys. We’re creating the right conditions for businesses to flourish, so we can support jobs and accelerate towards decarbonising the transport sector.”
Go-Ahead Bus CEO, Matt Carney, said: “This multi-million pound investment and partnership with WrightBus will accelerate the transition to zero-emission fleets across the UK. We are proud to be working in partnership with the UK government and local authorities to deliver transformational environmental change for communities, while supporting UK jobs and the growth of the country’s supply chain.”
For every vehicle manufactured, 10 trees will be planted by Go-Ahead and Wrightbus in the towns and cities where the buses are deployed.
