Ballymena, UK – Leading UK bus manufacturer Wrightbus today marked a monumental achievement, celebrating 50 million zero-emission miles with a visit from Local Transport Minister Simon Lightwood MP. This significant milestone highlights Wrightbus’s pivotal role in decarbonizing public transport, preventing an estimated 85,000 tonnes of CO2 from entering the atmosphere through its fleet of 1,800 zero-emission buses.
During his factory tour in Ballymena, Minister Lightwood witnessed firsthand the production of these green vehicles and learned about Wrightbus’s phenomenal growth. Defying national manufacturing trends, the company has expanded its workforce from just 56 employees in 2019 to nearly 2,300 today, with plans to reach 2,500 within the next nine months. This year, Wrightbus is set to produce a record 1,200 buses, over 95% of which will be zero-emission.
Wrightbus CEO Jean-Marc Gales emphasized the company’s commitment to the UK’s net-zero targets and its economic impact, noting that Wrightbus supports supply chain partners in 47 counties across the UK and multiple locations in Europe. By the end of the year, they expect to support over 7,500 jobs in the UK supply chain.
Minister Lightwood praised Wrightbus’s achievement, stating, “Wrightbus reaching this phenomenal milestone shows local authorities and operators are driving down emissions and supporting new jobs. Cleaner, greener buses will support 2,000 jobs here in Ballymena, as we continue to drive growth in the industries of the future.”
With an upcoming government Bus Services Bill set to end the use of new diesel and petrol buses in England, sites like Wrightbus’s Ballymena HQ are at the forefront of green investment, spearheading a new era for public transport. Translink, a key customer, also lauded the milestone, with Service Operations Director Ian Campbell commending the collaborative efforts to bring more zero-emission vehicles to the streets.
