As we approach the end of May 2026, it is time for a round-up of excellent news for Wrightbus, which has secured orders for hundreds of new electric vehicles.
First up, First Bus has announced a major rollout of fully electric vehicles for the West of England network, including brand-new buses alongside repowered and refurbished models operating in Bath.
First Bus press release:
The next phase of bus electrification in the West of England was unveiled this week with the region’s first repowered vehicles from First Bus.
The double decker buses, operating in Bath, are among 27 repowered vehicles arriving in the city over the next few months, which were once mid-life diesel buses but have now been converted into state-of-the-art electric vehicles.
These latest additions to the First Bus fleet will join an extra 17 new electric buses in Bath, four in Weston-super-Mare, and 116 on the Bristol network out of the Lawrence Hill depot from the Autumn, and soon-to-be 100% electric depot at Hengrove in south Bristol.
Work is being completed on the electrification of the Bath depot situated on a piece of land between the River Avon and the Kennett and Avon Canal, making it First Bus’ only island bus depot. Work is also underway at the company’s Lawrence Hill depot in Bristol.
This latest electrification work has been completed thanks to £70 million of investment from First Bus and £20 million of government funding, secured by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority. In total, by spring 2027, around £150 million will have been invested in the region in electric buses and charging infrastructure.
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Meanwhile, a massive deal has been finalised to bring nearly 200 new zero-emission buses to the newly established Weaver Network in West Yorkshire.
West Yorkshire Combined Authority press release:
A deal to bring nearly 200 new electric buses to West Yorkshire for its new Weaver Network has been signed.
Mayor Tracy Brabin is backing UK manufacturing by signing an order with Wrightbus as part of the contract worth up to £100m.
The agreement will see the Northern Ireland-based company provide 193 single and double-decker electric buses to run as part of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s publicly-controlled fleet – a central part of the Weaver Network.
Each bus will have two wheelchair spaces and flexible space for pushchairs and luggage, as well as USB charging points.
The new buses will also feature the latest high-tech batteries which will deliver improved performance compared to previous electric bus models.
The agreement follows an announcement earlier this month that Weaver Network buses will be kitted out with seat covers made by West Yorkshire textiles firm Camira Fabrics.
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Just across the Pennines, Greater Manchester’s franchised system continues its rapid transition to zero-emission technology with its latest order of British-built yellow buses.
Transport for Greater Manchester press release:
Another 125 electric buses will be coming to Greater Manchester as the latest orders for the Bee Network are confirmed, giving the economy a boost by backing UK businesses.
The new fleet of yellow buses built by UK manufacturer Wrightbus will join those currently making the journey by ferry across the Irish Sea to Greater Manchester.
It comes after another order of 55 new electric double-decker buses was placed earlier this year, adding to the 76 previously purchased from the factory in Northern Ireland.
The latest order from Wrightbus, which is based in Ballymena, puts the Bee Network on track to have a fully electric fleet by 2030 and hit the mid-way mark later this year.
It’s all part of Greater Manchester’s investment-led approach to improving air quality by making the Bee Network a cleaner, greener and more reliable public transport system.
Since the last order of 55 buses was confirmed in March, 76 previously purchased vehicles have rolled off the production line and have been travelling across the Irish Sea by ferry from Belfast to Birkenhead, before arriving at Go North West’s depot in Bolton.
Of those, 33 new electric double decker buses will serve bus routes 8 and 10 making these routes, which serve Bolton, Farnworth, Pendlebury and Salford, fully electric.
The other 43 specially-modified V1, V2 and V4 vehicles have passed inspection at the Ballymena factory and will start serving the Leigh Guided Busway in the coming weeks.
The latest batch of 125 buses from Wrightbus include a further 25 vehicles ordered for Stagecoach including 16 single deck and nine double decker electric vehicles.
The other 100 new buses have been ordered for Metroline and will run from the Hyde Road depot which is being upgraded so that more electric buses can be charged on site.
Half of Greater Manchester’s depots have been electrified so far, with Ashton and Middleton now fully electric while Bolton, Oldham and Hyde Road have been upgraded.
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Wrightbus’s success has also extended internationally. In Hong Kong, Citybus has placed a historic order for 20 tri-axle double-deck StreetDeck Electroliners.
Wrightbus press release:
Wrightbus has won a £7m order from Hong Kong’s Citybus for 20 zero-emission StreetDeck Electroliner buses. The vehicles will be built in Malaysia, delivered in 2027, and support Wrightbus’s expansion across wider Asia Pacific transport markets. wrightbus.com/en-gb/Wright...
— CLondoner92 (@clondoner92.bsky.social) May 22, 2026 at 5:13 AM
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Wrightbus, a flag-bearer for the UK manufacturing sector, has secured a landmark order from Asia for its groundbreaking 6x2 StreetDeck Electroliner double-deck.
Hong Kong’s Citybus has ordered 20 of the landmark buses, heralding the first global order for the new triple-axle vehicles - 23 years after the company’s buses first landed in the region.
The 12-metre StreetDeck Electroliners, with 82 seats, capacity for 130 passengers, and an operating range of up to 300km, will be built at the Wrightbus manufacturing facility in Malaysia, supporting the company’s growing Asia Pacific operations.
The £7m deal will see the high-tech zero-emission buses delivered in 2027.
The order represents a “major milestone” for Wrightbus, which is celebrating 80 years at the forefront of UK manufacturing and innovation, as it extends its zero-emission offering internationally, following the success of the StreetDeck in the UK.
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This tri-axle order is certainly something for Transport for London (TfL) and London's bus operating companies to monitor closely. Introducing larger, high-capacity vehicles could be an ideal solution to boost capacity on specific routes across the capital, particularly on the expanding Superloop express bus network.
The Downside: Challenges in the Supply Chain
Unfortunately, alongside this boom in new manufacturing, there is disappointing news for the UK transition supply chain.
Alexander Dennis and KleanDrive launch AD Repower to convert Enviro400 diesel buses to electric. The retrofit offers 195-mile range, retains full seating, and cuts emissions—helping operators decarbonise affordably with proven tech.https://t.co/H3otIrtNR1 pic.twitter.com/LocJFO34yx
— CLondoner92 (@CLondoner92) August 4, 2025
On 21 May 2026, retrofitting specialist Kleandrive Ltd. entered into administration. The company was doing vital work converting heavy diesel vehicles—specifically buses—into zero-emission electric fleets, offering a sustainable second life to mid-life assets.
Given that Kleandrive partnered with Alexander Dennis in August 2025 to launch the "AD Repower" venture, there remains a strong hope that the company will find a buyer quickly. Fast-tracking a takeover will be essential to ensure the industry can continue repowering older diesel and hybrid buses into fully electric vehicles.
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