Wrightbus Secures FirstGroup Contract

Ballymena-based bus manufacturer Wrightbus has secured a contract to provide FirstGroup with a new fleet of vehicles.

Wrightbus is to supply 301 StreetLite buses, making up the majority of a £70m investment in 425 vehicles for FirstGroup's bus division.

The technology enables a 10% reduction in the fuel consumption of each vehicle, as it harnesses the energy generated from the braking system and redistributes it to power pneumatics, hydraulic and electrical systems.

Managing Director of First UK Bus, Giles Fearnley said: "Our groundbreaking partnership with Wrightbus will deliver unsurpassed levels of fuel efficiency. In 2013 we laid down the gauntlet to bus manufacturers to work with us to minimise fuel consumption.

"Wrightbus embraced that challenge and together we've developed its StreetLite Micro Hybrid product. I am immensely proud of our collective achievements and we're very much looking forward to being the first operator to take delivery of these revolutionary new vehicles."

The chassis for the new buses will be built at Wrights Group subsidiary EN-Drive in Antrim. Bodywork will be assembled in Ballymena.

Vehicle deliveries will commence during the next few months, with all buses expected to be in full operational service by early next year.

Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster said: "This latest order from FirstGroup is yet another vote of confidence in Wrightbus, which has once again proven it is a world leader when it comes to innovation.

"Today's announcement underlines the value of the continuing partnership between FirstGroup and Wrightbus. Not only has it secured jobs, it has provided a significant shop window for the Ballymena firm's innovative StreetLite concept and the ground-breaking Micro Hybrid technology behind it."

(IT/CD)