Wrightbus Unveils Zero Emission Tri-Axle Prototype Bus

Two years in development and built on opposite sides of the world, Wrightbus has officially unveiled its first 6x2 zero-emission double decker. The prototype emerged this week from both Ballymena and Malaysia, with orders already lined up for Europe and the Far East.

Wrightbus

It’s the latest in a rapid-fire run of product launches from the UK’s fastest-growing bus builder, which has spent the past year rolling out a battery-electric midi, a new hydrogen coach, a diesel coach, and an upgraded hydrogen double decker.

Rescued from administration in 2019 by Jo Bamford, Wrightbus now employs more than 2,300 people and builds 1,200 buses a year. The vast majority – 95% – are zero-emission.

CEO Jean-Marc Gales called the new 6x2 chassis a triumph of engineering, as the company looks to scale its reach from Ballymena to Brisbane.

Wrightbus CEO Jean-Marc Gales hailed the 6x2 as a triumph of engineering as the company underlines its ambitions to become a global mobility leader, with sales from Ballymena to Brisbane.

“Our team has worked round the clock for the last two years to create this new zero-emission product,” he explained.

“To design a chassis which copes not only with fixed axle and steering axle configurations but also enables increased battery capability without compromising on passenger numbers is a real triumph for our engineers.”

Wrightbus

Efficiency and durability tests will be completed during the summer, with a demonstrator heading out to a customer in Hong Kong for 12 months.

Mr Gales said there were further widescale sales opportunities in Singapore, Australia, New Zealand and the UK.

“We are building momentum not just in our home territories but overseas as well, as news of our brand reaches all corners of the globe,” he said.

“We are the leading manufacturer in zero-emission technology, and we have more than 100 hydrogen buses heading to Germany, as well as fleets of hydrogen and battery-electrics across the UK.

“Our 6x2 will be another important string to our bow, showing that Wrightbus – 80 years old next year – is at the very forefront of technology.”

The unveiling follows news that Wrightbus has secured a £150m finance package from HSBC UK as it prepares to ramp up production.

“We’ve invested into our growth significantly over the last 12 months, with more staff in Ballymena and Malaysia, new facilities for our repowering business - NewPower - in Bicester, and a European service centre in Brühl to ensure we have operational capacity to exceed customer demand.

“Wrightbus also supports 7,500 jobs in the wider supply chain so our growth is great for the wider economy too.”

While the 6x2 configuration is well established in global diesel fleets, it has proved trickier to crack in the battery-electric world. By combining extra capacity and manoeuvrability with a zero-emission drivetrain, Wrightbus is hoping to unlock new city and interurban opportunities in high-capacity markets where range and axle load are often the pinch points.