CANADA: Eighteen months ago, Polish manufacturer Solaris announced that as part of its 2023-2026 Strategic Plan the company would enter the North American market with its range of zero-emission buses. The company reports that it has now signed the first contract for trolleybus deliveries in Canada, to Vancouver operator TransLink.
The manufacturer will supply 107 12-metre trolleybuses, with options for up to 201 12m trolleybuses and 204 18-metre articulated trolleybuses. The first deliveries are scheduled for 2026, continuing into 2027.
Solaris has already delivered over 5,500 zero-emission vehicles across 30 countries, and says it is the European market leader for trolleybuses, holding over 60% of the market in 2024, and having delivered so far almost 2,500 of the type.
“This agreement marks a significant milestone for Solaris and is a testimony to our commitment to becoming the leading supplier of zero-emission buses in North America. We are grateful to TransLink for its trust in Solaris and our products. Solaris is the undiscussed European leader of trolleybuses, and this new order with options has the potential to become the largest procurement in Solaris history.
It is an honour to be part of this collaboration, and I am confident that this partnership will be highly successful, with our vehicles meeting and surpassing their expectations.
“In Europe, the Solaris brand is widely recognised for the quality and superior performance of its zero-emission vehicles, including trolleybuses. We aim to bring the same service-proven technology to Canadian transit authorities.
Our commitment is to support the transition to zero-emission transportation in cities across Europe and North America by developing and delivering the most reliable and innovative products,” said Javier Iriarte, CEO of Solaris Bus & Coach.
