Thursday, 10 March 2022
Australia and New Zealand’s largest bus operator, Kinetic, has today announced that it has signed a contract to acquire NZ Bus Ltd, one of New Zealand’s biggest urban bus operators.
The acquisition will see Kinetic become the largest operator of battery electric buses in the Australasia region, and one of the largest globally.
Under Kinetic ownership, NZ Bus will deliver at least 200 electric buses as part of its contracts in Auckland and Wellington with substantial investment made in depot conversion and electric charging infrastructure.
NZ Bus holds key government contracts to operate public bus services across Auckland, Wellington and Tauranga. The investment will allow Kinetic to diversify its New Zealand operation, which includes Go Bus, SkyBus and Johnston’s, and significantly expand its footprint across the country’s two biggest urban markets, Auckland and Wellington.
NZ Bus has over 1400 people and 800 buses and 14 depots adding to Kinetic’s 5800 people, 3800 buses and 83 depots across Australia and New Zealand.
Aligning with Kinetic’s strategic focus on sustainability, NZ Bus’s credentials will complement Kinetic’s experience and leadership in the region as the largest operator of zero emission busing. Last year Auckland Transport announced the region’s largest electric bus order in partnership with NZ Bus.
Through Go Bus, Kinetic already operates a fleet of 35 electric buses across Christchurch and Auckland. Kinetic is also introducing the first of 36 new battery electric buses in Melbourne in partnership with the Victorian Government. By June, an additional 20 electric buses will be delivered into Kinetic’s Queensland Government contracted services.
Kinetic Co-CEO Michael Sewards said NZ Bus represented an investment opportunity strongly aligned to Kinetic’s strategic vision.
“Our sustainability targets are bold and clear as we aim to have 50 per cent of our fleet comprised of zero emission vehicles by 2030,” Mr Sewards said.
“In our experience New Zealand is leading the charge on the global stage in the transition to zero emission busing, as demand for public transport grows and bus transportation is recognised as an increasingly popular mode of sustainable transport.”
Calum Haslop, Head of Kinetic in NZ and CEO of Go Bus, says, “This is an exciting step for the Go Bus team, with Kinetic again demonstrating its ongoing commitment to investing in New Zealand, as we cement our position as the preeminent bus operator in the region. We look forward to welcoming the NZ Bus team into the Kinetic family”.
NZ Bus spokesperson, CEO Barry Hinkley, also expressed his enthusiasm for the transaction; “NZ Bus has been transformed in recent years through the effort and dedication of an extraordinary team of people, from the senior leadership group through to hard-working drivers and workshop employees. Operating closely with our key customers we have solidified NZ Bus’ leading position in the industry, a position that will be enhanced with the proposed merger with Kinetic’s Australasian business.”
