The Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Hilary Benn MP, has visited zero-emission pioneer Wrightbus to hear about the company’s plans for the future.
Mr Benn met with Wrightbus CEO Jean-Marc Gales and other members of the Wrightbus team to discuss the company’s plans for 2024 and beyond.
As well as seeing the factory which produces Wrightbus’s groundbreaking technology, including the world’s first hydrogen double deck bus, Mr Benn spoke to the Wrightbus team about business opportunities in the UK, Europe and further afield.
Mr Benn said: ‘It was a great pleasure to visit Wrightbus and see the groundbreaking, world-leading technology it is deploying in building the public transport of the future.
“I was very impressed by my tour of the factory, where I saw all the stages of the production of electric and hydrogen buses.
“I was also delighted to hear about the continued expansion of the business and the quality, skilled jobs that are being created in Ballymena.”
Mr Gales said: “We were delighted to welcome Mr Benn to Ballymena and have the opportunity to speak to him about our vision and plans for Wrightbus and what this means for Northern Ireland and the wider United Kingdom.
“Wrightbus has a clear plan in place to increase the ease and affordability of zero-emission buses. We are the only manufacturer in Europe to offer a complete suite of zero emission buses, with both battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell single and double decks. These have a vital role to play in decarbonising public transport and in enabling operators, local authorities and governments to meet their carbon reduction targets.
“As we continue to grow, we remain committed to creating green, skilled, UK jobs. The last few years has seen the Wrightbus workforce increase from just 50 in 2019 to over 1,500 today, with the ambition to significantly increase our workforce further over the next three years.”
2023 was another excellent year for Wrightbus with major orders including 80 new London buses for Abellio, 34 for Arriva and an initial 20 hydrogen buses for the Go Ahead Group to services routes to and around Gatwick Airport.
The company’s order book continues to thrive as it grows partnerships with Abellio, Arriva, StageCoach, The Go-Ahead Group, the NTA in Ireland and many more operators across the world.
Mr Gales said: “This success is the foundation stone for how I believe the business will continue to grow in the coming months and years, and we were incredibly pleased to be able to speak to Mr Benn and his team about this.”
Read more
NewPower secures first order from First Bus just weeks after launch
Read onWrightbus has contributed more than £1.5 billion to the UK economy
Read on100 zero emission electric buses for Translink propels green growth for Northern Ireland
Read onWrightbus unveils plan for European growth after incredible start to 2024
Read onVierter Deal in Deutschland: Cottbusverkehr ordert 46 Wasserstoffbusse von Wrightbus
Read onWrightbus helps Irish city to become one of the first to deploy fully electric bus service
Read onFirst Bus launches all-electric fleet depot after investing in Wrightbus’s ZE buses
Read onWrightbus sichert sich neuen Auftrag für 28 Wasserstoffbusse
Read onWrightbus secures new deal to deliver zero-emission buses to London
Read onOxford continues charge to net zero with launch of Wrightbus’s fully electric buses
Read onWrightbus secures further orders with transport operator Abellio
Read onNorthern Ireland Minister hails green innovation at Wrightbus
Read onWrightbus’s zero-emission vehicles set to hit the streets of Norwich
Read onWrightbus lands significant order for hydrogen-powered buses from Germany
Read onPreparations gather pace for roll out of Wrightbus’s zero-emission buses in Oxford
Read onWrightbus’s first ever double-deck electric ‘low bridge’ buses launched in Leicester
Read onWrightbus secures new deal to deliver zero emission buses to London
Read onUniversity students on the fast track to success thanks to Wrightbus racing car sponsorship
Read onArriva London makes further commitment to delivering a sustainable bus network across London.
Read onFunding Award For Ballymena Hydrogen Production Facility at Wrightbus Site
Read onWrightbus secures new deal to deliver zero emission buses to Leicester
Read on£25 million to boost roll-out of British-made green buses around the country
Read onRecruitment Evening Encourages More Women Into The Workplace
Read onTransport Secretary hails hydrogen bus production at Wrightbus
Read onPlans announced for state-of-the-art green hydrogen project at Wrightbus Ballymena
Read onFostering is next stop for Norman after 30 years at Wrightbus
Read onMetroline places order with Wrightbus for zero-emissions buses
Read onGLASGOW OPEN TOP BUSES WILL SOON BE ONE OF THE GREENEST TOURS IN THE WORLD
Read onTranslink signs contract with Wrightbus for 100 new Zero Emission buses
Read onWrightbus showcasing benefits of Hydrogen at Labour & Conservative Conferences
Read onWrightbus to supply hydrogen cell technology to leading Australian bus operator
Read onFirst Bus places one of UK’s largest ever EV bus orders with Wrightbus
Read onWrightbus staff form Guard of Honour in tribute to founder Sir William Wright
Read onWrightbus announced as Ballymena United sponsors for next two football seasons
Read onNew Sales Director for Parts & Services joins the Wrightbus team
Read onNTA Announces Historic Agreement for 800 Battery-Electric Double-Deck Buses
Read onWrightbus signs landmark deal with Australia’s leading bus body manufacturer Volgren
Read onWrightbus Electroliner Officially World’s Most Efficient Double Deck Battery-Electric Bus
Read onThe first Wrightbus Electroliners set to enter passenger service in Belfast
Read onRecruitment drive continues at leading bus manufacturer Wrightbus
Read onHydrogen-powered buses on the streets of the West Midlands for the first time.
Read onMallon unveils the first in Ireland Battery Electric Double Decker Bus for Public Transport
Read onFortescue Future Industries joins hand with JCB and Ryze Hydrogen
Read onWrightbus prevents one million kgs of CO2 from entering the atmosphere
Read onThe UK Hydrogen Roadshow shines spotlight on low carbon hydrogen innovation
Read onWrightbus creates hundreds of permanent jobs as bus orders flood in
Read onMinister Poots visits Wrightbus to discuss its plans for green hydrogen economy
Read on