Great British manufacturing icon and zero-emission bus pioneer Wrightbus has taken a major leap into the European market, delivering a landmark order of hydrogen-powered buses to Germany.
All 31 buses, ordered by operator Regionalverkehr Köln GmbH (RVK), have now arrived in Cologne, marking the first-ever Wrightbus vehicles on European soil.
Testing is already underway ahead of their deployment across the region, solidifying Wrightbus’s position as Europe’s fastest-growing bus manufacturer.
A Milestone Year for Wrightbus
This milestone comes during a year of extraordinary success for the company. In addition to the RVK delivery, Wrightbus has secured hydrogen bus deals with Saarbahn, Vestische, Cottbus, and West Verkehr and has opened a new European service centre in Brühl, Germany. The firm is also expanding operations to supply buses to France and the Benelux region.
In October, Wrightbus signed a £500 million deal to supply over 1,000 buses to operator Go-Ahead within the next three years—90% of which will be zero-emission vehicles.
“Germany Is Just the Beginning”
Wrightbus CEO Jean-Marc Gales described the German project as a significant achievement:
“This was by far and away the most technical operation we have faced—these were our first buses for Europe after all—and it was important for everything to be absolutely right before we signed them off.”
Gales highlighted the company’s ambition to expand further across Europe, announcing that Wrightbus is actively hiring staff across the continent to meet increasing demand.
The opening of the European service centre in Brühl was another step in the company’s growth, allowing Wrightbus to service and maintain buses directly within Europe.
“We’re hiring across the continent to get more buses into operation,” Gales added.
He also praised RVK’s Managing Director Dr Marcel Frank and Wrightbus’s dedicated workforce for their role in making the German project a success:
“Our world-leading engineers, designers, production teams, and new product development staff have worked tirelessly on this product to deliver something we can all be immensely proud of.”
A Boost for the UK Economy
Wrightbus’s success is not only transforming public transport but also providing a substantial boost to the UK economy. The company’s supply chain spans 47 counties across the UK, creating thousands of jobs and generating millions in revenue for British businesses involved in powertrain production, laser cutting, and fabrication.
From the Brink to the Pinnacle
Wrightbus’s remarkable turnaround since its rescue from administration in 2019 by entrepreneur Lord Jo Bamford has been nothing short of inspirational. From near-collapse, the company has emerged as a trailblazer in zero-emission technology, redefining public transport and cementing its position as a global leader in sustainable innovation.
Gales credits this phenomenal growth to customer loyalty and workforce dedication:
“Our growth is thanks to the incredible support we receive from our customers and, of course, from our workforce. We could not achieve this growth without the commitment of each of them.”
As Wrightbus continues to revolutionise the public transport sector, its commitment to excellence and sustainability ensures it remains a shining beacon of British ingenuity and manufacturing might on the global stage.
Find out more at Wrightbus.
