The Northern Irish company used a visit by the Secretary of State for Science and Technology to lay out how it plans to develop its products and invest in new technology
Wrightbus is to invest £25 million in new research to develop next-generation electric and hydrogen vehicles, and recently welcomed Science Secretary Peter Kyle to its Northern Ireland factory, highlighting the spending as a key driver of economic growth.
As the UK’s fastest-growing zero-emission bus manufacturer and a major employer in Northern Ireland and the wider UK, Wrightbus says the new funding will accelerate the next generation of electric and hydrogen-powered buses, potentially creating dozens of new jobs, and supporting the Government’s mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower. During his visit to the company’s headquarters, the Science Secretary praised Wrightbus as a standout example of how investing in R&D fuels business development, job creation and regional economic growth; studies have shown that for every £1 a business invests in R&D, it can generate a return of 20% for the firm, with similar, additional gains for the wider economy.
The Science and Technology Secretary said: “Investing in innovation is central to our Plan for Change, but public investment alone is not enough to ensure British businesses remain at the cutting edge of global industries. Wrightbus is proof that businesses backing R&D deliver real-world impact – for both the company themselves and the local region – creating new high-quality jobs, strengthening supply chains across sectors and delivering the new industries of the future.”
The investment includes £10 million to develop the world’s most efficient double-deck and single-deck electric bus; £5 million to develop the UK’s first hydrogen-powered coach, due for release within 18 months; £5 million for product validation; and £5 million for a world-class telematics system that collects real-time performance data to improve efficiency, lower costs, help fleet operators optimise routes, and extend vehicle lifespans whilst driving down operating expenses.
Wrightbus CEO Jean-Marc Gales commented: “It was a pleasure to showcase our R&D progress to the Secretary of State. This investment represents our largest amount ever into research and development and it underlines our ambition to continue be one of the very best zero-emission manufacturers in the UK and Europe.
Innovation has played a key part in the rapid growth of Wrightbus and is one of the major things that has allowed us to switch from having a 95% diesel bus output to a 95% zero emission bus output in less than 5 years. The research projects we’re currently funding, including the development of our hydrogen coach, the further enhancement of the world-leading Electroliner bus, and our telematics system, will allow us to continue to push zero-emission transport boundaries and represents a huge boost for manufacturing in Northern Ireland and the wider UK.”
