A Ballymena bus builder is expanding into Australia, bringing its zero-emission technology to a new continent as the firm marks eight decades in business.

Wrightbus will formally launch its Australian operation at the Australasia Bus & Coach Expo in Sydney on 15 July. The company previously exported buses to Canberra around 30 years ago.

Three models are being introduced to the market: the Kite battery-electric single-decker, the Kite hydrogen fuel cell single-decker, and the StreetDeck 6x2 battery-electric double-decker. Both Kite variants have gained approval for the Transport for New South Wales procurement panel, allowing immediate orders.

The manufacturer says it plans to invest in local capability and build partnerships to accelerate Australia’s shift to cleaner public transport. It draws on experience from fleets in the UK, Europe, and Asia, where its vehicles have covered more than 200 million emission-free kilometres.

Globally, Wrightbus has over 3,000 zero-emission buses in service and recently secured an order for 20 StreetDeck vehicles from City Bus in Hong Kong.

The company employs more than 2,300 people in the UK and Malaysia, with an annual supply chain exceeding £300 million that supports a further 7,500 jobs.

Invest Northern Ireland has welcomed the move. Richard Ennis, its regional director for Australia and New Zealand, said the expansion demonstrates Northern Ireland’s strengths in advanced manufacturing and clean technology. Justin Habner, head of Asia Pacific at Invest NI, noted that growing decarbonisation investment in the region creates significant opportunities.

The Australian business will be led by Daniel Castro, regional director for Asia Pacific, and Julian Gurney, head of sales for Australia and New Zealand.