New electric bus manufacturing hub planned for Nowra

Nowra, NSW is poised to become the latest hub for cutting-edge public transport innovation, as Foton Mobility Distribution, an Australian-owned bus manufacturer, plans to establish a new 6,000 square meter electric bus manufacturing facility.

This development, scheduled to begin construction in late 2025 pending council approval, aligns with the NSW Government’s commitment to revitalising local manufacturing and reducing emissions.

The initiative is part of the NSW Government’s Zero Emission Buses (ZEB) program which aims to transform public transport in Sydney and beyond.

Foton Mobility has been awarded a contract to produce 126 battery electric buses, which will serve routes across Greater Sydney. Additionally, the facility will manufacture battery electric trucks and hydrogen fuel cell engines, creating approximately 100 new skilled manufacturing jobs.

Premier Chris Minns emphasised the strategic shift back to domestic production, contrasting it with the previous government’s offshoring policies that he claimed led to job losses and project delays. “The offshoring of public transport by the former government was a complete disaster, which is why we’re building these buses here in NSW – creating local jobs and public transport that works.”

Transport minister Jo Haylen highlighted the broader impacts of this project, “We want our local manufacturers and suppliers have good opportunities to get involved in building the Zero Emissions Buses that we need. That’s why we have structured our zero-emissions bus program in a way that builds our bus manufacturing capacity for the long term.”

By 2028, the ZEB program aims to integrate approximately 1,200 new electric buses into the Sydney fleet, transitioning existing depots to accommodate this new technology.

Foton’s Hydrogen City Bus at a Canberra Expo.
Pic source: LinkedIn

Main picture: credit Transport for NSW