The City of Cape Town has awarded a contract to Volvo Bus Southern Africa to supply 30 fully electric buses for the MyCiTi bus rapid transit system, with the first deliveries scheduled for 2027. The order follows a public tender process and forms part of the city’s broader transport strategy.
According to Volvo, only the BZRLE electric bus chassis will be imported, while the bus bodies will be produced locally. The company stated that the project will support skills development and manufacturing capacity within South Africa.
“This project is more than just a bus delivery – this will be the first electric bus manufactured in South Africa for South Africa,” said Leon Nelson, Director of Volvo Bus Southern Africa. “The project enables transitioning competence and skills from Sweden to South Africa to help upskill the local workforce and boost local manufacturing capacity.”
Rob Quintas, Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility, confirmed that the city had ordered a minimum of 30 buses, with potential for additional units depending on future funding. “The first bus will be built and homologated before the end of this year. Thereafter, testing will commence,” he said.
In addition to the vehicle procurement, the city has launched a separate tender for the installation of charging infrastructure. Work on this aspect of the project is expected to begin shortly.
The MyCiTi electric bus acquisition is part of a wider initiative announced in 2024, which also includes assessing the feasibility of electrifying other municipal vehicles, such as waste collection trucks. Separately, Cape Town-based operator Golden Arrow Bus Services (GABS) has placed an order for 120 electric buses from Chinese manufacturer BYD for use in the region.
Source: engineeringnews.co.za