Wrightbus is now Europe’s fastest-growing bus manufacturer employing over 2,200 people.
UK manufacturing has scored another win as pioneering bus builder Wrightbus announced a landmark order for its new Rightech brand of electric buses – a triumph for UK innovation and industry.
The six-metre Rightech vehicles, designed and built by Wrightbus, will soon be deployed in Kent as part of a cutting-edge, demand-responsive public transport network serving the flagship Ebbsfleet Garden City development.
This marks a pivotal moment in British transport history, blending world-class homegrown engineering with future-focused green infrastructure.
Wrightbus, headquartered in Ballymena, Northern Ireland, launched the Rightech brand earlier this year as its dedicated pure-electric vehicle arm. Now Europe’s fastest-growing bus manufacturer, the company employs 2,200 people across the UK, Northern Ireland, Malaysia and Germany, and is leading the charge on zero-emission transport.
In a first-of-its-kind agreement, the Rightech buses will take advantage of both depot and public EV charging – including the Roam charging network in Ebbsfleet – allowing maximum operational uptime and minimal disruption to passengers.
Austin Blackburn, founder of Go-Coach, which will operate the new fleet, praised the decision to back British-made technology.
“Clearly, Wrightbus is at the top of its game and we really wanted to buy a vehicle which was backed by such a well-known manufacturer,” he said. “The versatility of these Rightech buses is incredible, so we can use them on demand where necessary or they can drop into a fixed line if routes get busy. Ideally, we want our buses running from 5am to 1am the following morning, so being able to make the most of EV public charging is an added bonus to keeping them on the road.”
The investment in these electric vehicles forms part of a wider public transport transformation in Kent, with support from National Highways’ designated fund.
Shane Hymers, network development manager for Kent County Council’s public transport department, said:
“The Ebbsfleet, Dartford and Gravesend areas have seen a huge amount of investment in public transport alongside the new housing developments and millions of pounds of new road infrastructure. These buses will form part of a critical zero-emission service to support passengers in that region and will complement a further 28 zero-emission buses that make up our award-winning Bus Rapid Transport system – Fastrack.”
The deployment is also a significant step for Camland, the developer delivering the Whitecliffe neighbourhood – the largest site within Ebbsfleet Garden City.
Anna Komajda of Camland added:
“Zero emission buses are a vital part of the transport mix and we are delighted to have secured a deal for them to take advantage of our impressive EV infrastructure.”
This project not only strengthens Britain’s net-zero ambitions but reaffirms the critical role UK manufacturing plays in global sustainability goals.
Wrightbus CEO Jean-Marc Gales said:
“Wrightbus has been flying the flag for zero emissions long before anyone else. Our hydrogen double-decker was the world’s first and we have 1,800 zero-emission buses on the road, covering millions of miles across the UK and Europe with an in-service availability of 98.6%. We are delighted for Kent, for the quickest way to decarbonise bus fleets is to electrify immediately. Rightech will solve these problems, backed by our portfolio of net-zero companies – supplying everything from product to infrastructure – which will provide more jobs and opportunities for our workforce in Northern Ireland, the rest of the UK and Europe.”
Roam, whose public charging infrastructure will power the Rightech buses throughout the day, also celebrated the announcement.
James Randall, CEO of Roam, said:
“We’re proud to see our network supporting the zero-emission Rightech bus fleet in Ebbsfleet, setting a brilliant example of how integrated infrastructure can accelerate the transition to green mobility.”
With this move, Wrightbus and its partners are proving that UK manufacturing not only leads in innovation, but is delivering real, lasting benefits to communities and the economy – one electric mile at a time.
