Malta Public Transport will add 40 electric buses to its fleet under a €14 million investment programme as Malta accelerates efforts to modernise and decarbonise public transport.
The investment forms part of the government’s broader Malta in Motion strategy, which focuses on sustainable mobility, upgraded infrastructure and deployment of new transport technologies.
Although the government did not identify the bus manufacturer, images released alongside the announcement showed buses produced by King Long.
The vehicles are expected to support Malta’s long-term objective of operating a fully electric public transport fleet on the island of Gozo.
Transport Minister Chris Bonett described the investment as another step toward cleaner and more advanced mobility systems.
“This marks another significant step towards cleaner and more technologically advanced public transport,” Bonett said.
He added that the programme demonstrates continued implementation of Malta’s transport modernisation strategy.
“This is not a plan or presentation on paper, but a vision being built step by step, investment after investment,” he said.
Malta previously introduced 30 electric buses and a charging depot with a combined output of 3 megawatts in 2023.
Alongside the bus fleet expansion, Malta Public Transport confirmed that autonomous electric shuttle trials will begin next month on pre-approved routes across Malta and Gozo.
The autonomous shuttle can carry up to 15 passengers and will initially operate under controlled testing conditions before any potential wider deployment.
The pilot project is being conducted in partnership with Malta’s Ministry for Transport, Infrastructure and Public Works and the University of Malta.
The initiative is co-financed by the European Union through the Horizon Europe-backed metaCCAZE programme.
According to the government, the project aims to evaluate the potential of connected and autonomous mobility technologies in Malta’s transport system.
A trained safety operator will remain onboard throughout the testing phase and will be able to assume control of the vehicle if necessary.
The government said the trials will operate under a dedicated regulatory and safety framework established by Transport Malta, with ongoing monitoring and data collection used to assess vehicle performance and operational safety.
The programme reflects broader European efforts to combine public transport electrification with trials of autonomous mobility technologies aimed at reducing emissions and improving urban transportation systems.
