Brisbane’s China-built electric bus fleet a ‘disgrace’

Brisbane Council’s decision to source the city’s first electric buses from China rather than using local manufacturers has been labelled a “disgrace”.

Brisbane’s first electric buses have arrived – but the council’s decision to source them from China rather than using local manufacturers has been labelled a “disgrace”.

Chinese bus manufacturer Yutong – the world’s largest – was awarded a $3 million contract late last year to trial electric buses on the free City Loop bus route.

The buses have now arrived and Australian Manufacturing Workers Union assistant state secretary Bill Thanas said the Queensland economy missed out when council didn’t give the job to Volgren, which had been building the council’s diesel buses in Australia since 2008, or Bustech who is locally building 10 electric buses for the Queensland government.

“It’s disappointing,” Mr Thanas said.

“These companies had the potential to showcase what they could do, that they had the capacity to build electric buses right here in Queensland.”

Brisbane’s distinctive yellow buses at Yutong’s Virginia facility.

However, it’s understood Volgren did not formally submit an offer during the initial e-bus tender because it could not meet the timeframe for submissions but was hoping to secure future tenders. When awarding the contract in October public transport chair Ryan Murphy said no Australian electric buses could operate and service Brisbane City Council’s requirements in the trial.

However, Mr Murphy said yesterday that since going to market in August 2019, Australian manufacturing of electric buses had “matured significantly” and the council would take that into account when buying new buses in the future.

“Under this e-bus trial, the Yutong buses will be effectively leased and if they fail to meet our requirements, they will be returned at no capital cost to ratepayers,” he said.

But Mr Thanas hit back at Mr Murphy’s earlier claims saying they didn’t stack up given Bustech’s successful tender with the State Government was also announced in October, and Volgren had been building electric buses in Melbourne since 2019.

A Yutong-made bus being used in Coffs Harbour in NSW. Picture: Tim Jarrett

Brisbane City Council has been working with Volgren for 12 years but decided not to extend a contract this year as it aims to transition to a zero-emissions fleet.

Brisbane City Council Labor leader Jared Cassidy said importing the buses was a slap in the face to Brisbane workers.

“LNP Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner talks big about buying local but then snubs local manufacturers for foreign business,” Cr Cassidy said.

“This is disgraceful.”

BusTech and Volgren declined to comment on the arrival of buses imported from China.

A date for the e-bus rollout is yet to be confirmed.