Volvo Buses to deliver South Africa’s first electric low entry city buses

Volvo Buses will supply 38 Volvo BZR Low Entry Electric buses to the City of Cape Town, introducing the very first locally bodied electric buses in South Africa. The buses will operate within the city’s electric passenger transport system, supporting the transition toward zero-emission public mobility.

“This is a landmark project for both Cape Town and for us. We can be very proud to introduce electric buses to the city, and in doing so, prove that we acknowledge and support a sustainable future,” says Leon Nelson, Director, Volvo Buses in South Africa.

The electric Volvo BZRLE was selected by the city of Cape Town in its move towards zero-emission public mobility

Based on Volvo Buses’ flexible BZR platform, the Volvo BZRLE Electric is designed to meet varying operational needs while supporting long-term electrification strategies. The bus bodies will be locally designed and manufactured by Gauteng Bus and Coach Centre in Johannesburg. The platform combines energy efficiency, operational reliability and passenger comfort for urban transport systems.

Moving from diesel to electric buses is a major shift that requires careful planning and coordination – and requires a close collaboration among multiple stakeholders. Volvo Buses has acted as a strategic advisor throughout the process, applying a 360-degree perspective that combines local and global expertise to support infrastructure planning and system implementation. In this case, the charging infrastructure is managed by the City of Cape Town, and the bus bodies will be manufactured locally by Gauteng Bus and Coach Centre in Johannesburg.

“The first buses are scheduled for delivery in 2027,” says Rob Quintas, City Councillor responsible for urban mobility in Cape Town. “We have ordered a minimum of 38 buses, but this number may increase with funding availability. The new buses will be paid for by means of Public Transport National Grant funding.”

The buses feature a modern exterior design and a spacious interior accommodating both seated and standing passengers. The low-entry configuration ensures smooth boarding and universal accessibility, including wheelchair accommodation and preferential seating. The installed energy capacity is dimensioned to meet the City of Cape Town’s operational requirements.

“This project demonstrates how electrification can be implemented in a way that strengthens local capabilities, builds technical competence, and contributes to the development of a future-ready public transport ecosystem. We are proud that Cape Town has chosen Volvo Buses as a partner towards a cleaner and more efficient urban transport system,” says Manish Sahi, Vice President, Volvo Buses MIAC.

LINK to factsheet on the Volvo BZRLE

For further information, please contact: Stefan Elfström, Head of PR & Media Relations, Volvo Buses, e-mail: stefan.elfstrom@volvo.com, phone: +46 708 25 30 72

Volvo Buses is one of the world’s leading providers of sustainable passenger transport solutions. Our offering includes city and intercity buses, coaches and bus chassis, as well as a wide range of services for increased productivity, uptime and safety. Volvo Buses does business in more than 70 countries and, together with Volvo Trucks, has a network of more than 2,200 service and support locations. Volvo Buses is part of the Volvo Group, which helps to increase prosperity by offering transport and infrastructure solutions such as trucks, buses, construction equipment and marine and industrial motors.