A new electric bus manufacturing facility is set to be built in Nowra, New South Wales. Australian-owned Foton Mobility Distribution plans to put up the 6,000-square-metre facility by late 2025, pending council approval.
The facility will manufacture 126 battery electric buses under a contract awarded by the NSW Government. These buses will serve routes across Greater Sydney. In addition to buses, the facility will produce battery electric trucks and hydrogen fuel cell engines. This will create approximately 100 skilled manufacturing jobs for local workers.
Part of the Zero Emission Buses (ZEB) Program
Foton’s contract is one of the initial orders placed through the NSW Government’s Zero Emission Buses (ZEB) program. The program aims to transition public transport to more sustainable energy sources. This project includes converting 11 existing bus depots in Greater Sydney to battery-electric technology. It also involves constructing a new battery-electric depot at Macquarie Park and procuring around 1,200 electric buses by 2028.
Transport for NSW is implementing the ZEB program in stages, working with industry partners to enhance local production capabilities.
Government Support for Local Manufacturing
“The offshoring of public transport by the former government was a complete disaster, which is why we’re building these buses here in NSW – creating local jobs and public transport that works,” said Premier Chris Minns.
“This state-of-the-art facility in Nowra will create ongoing skilled jobs in regional NSW while also delivering emissions-free world-class public transport for the people of our state.
“Workers across NSW are great at building public transport like these buses, and under our government, they’re building them here again.”
Meanwhile, Minister for Transport Jo Haylen highlighted the government’s commitment to local bus manufacturing.
“Once our partners at Foton get this plant up and running, there will be an extra 100 quality manufacturing jobs right here. That’s great news for Nowra and a big boost for NSW manufacturing,” she said.
“We want our local manufacturers and suppliers to have good opportunities to get involved in building the Zero Emissions Buses that we need. That’s why we have structured our zero-emissions bus program in a way that builds our bus manufacturing capacity for the long term.”
The new manufacturing hub will contribute to both economic growth and sustainable transport solutions in NSW. With government support, the facility in Nowra will help advance the state’s electric bus production. It will also contribute to reducing emissions in public transport.
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