Public transport operator Kinetic Group has secured all four units in the latest bus services tender issued by Auckland Transport, a contract valued at NZ$755 million (€384.6 million) that will expand electric bus operations in New Zealand’s largest city.
Under the agreement, Kinetic will operate 201 zero-emission buses during the life of the contract, including 125 new electric vehicles scheduled to enter service in 2027. A total of 165 electric buses will be deployed from the start of operations, according to the company, marking its largest contract award in Auckland to date.
The fleet will include lightweight electric double-decker buses, designed using advanced aluminium materials to reduce weight while maintaining structural strength and passenger capacity.
According to the company, the vehicles incorporate “advanced aerospace-grade aluminium technology,” which reduces overall vehicle weight while maintaining “strength and passenger capacity, supporting more efficient operations and long-term network sustainability across Auckland.”
The new contract allows Kinetic to retain its central and east Auckland bus services while incorporating additional eastern routes into its operations. The three central service units will run for 11 years, while the eastern unit will operate for 8.6 years.
Operations under the eastern unit are scheduled to begin in December 2026, with the central Auckland routes expected to start in July 2027.
Kinetic currently operates more than 630 buses across the Auckland public transport network. The deployment of the new electric fleet forms part of Auckland Transport’s Low Emission Bus Roadmap, which aims to transition the city’s bus system to a fully zero-emission fleet by 2035.
As part of the contract, Kinetic will invest more than NZ$121 million (€61.6 million) in electric buses, depot upgrades and expanded charging infrastructure. The investment includes installing a second overhead gantry charging system at the company’s City depot, expanding on the country’s first large-scale gantry charging installation at its Glenfield facility.
“This is a landmark contract for Kinetic and a major step forward for zero-emission public transport in Auckland,” said Michael Sewards. “We are investing in the fleet, depot infrastructure and people required to support Auckland Transport’s decarbonisation objectives and the city’s continued growth.”
Calum Haslop said the agreement strengthens the company’s partnership with the city’s transport authority.
“We’re proud to continue our partnership with Auckland Transport, retaining our central services while integrating additional eastern routes into our operations,” Haslop said. “This contract delivers a fully electric fleet across the isthmus from day one and represents a significant investment in modern fleet, depot infrastructure and operational systems to support a reliable, customer-focused network.”