BusTech

File:DSC 0075mo8348.jpg of 2002 new to Connex NSW]]

File:DSC 0428mo2003l.jpg

File:Bustech 'XDi' demonstrator operated by Busabout Wagga in TNSW livery (4).jpg engine operating on demonstration with Busabout]]

File:Bustech CDi 343.jpg engine operating a 777 inbound at Gold Coast Airport]]

Bustech was founded by the proprietors of Surfside Buslines, Joe and Tony Calabro, on the Gold Coast in 1995."Manufacturing Update" Australian Bus Panorama" April 2000 issue 15/5 page 17 Buses were initially produced on Mercedes-Benz, Volvo and Hino chassis with the first such vehicle completed in 1998 from their original Ernest, Queensland factory. In late 2003, Bustech began production of the VST model.{{Cite web|title=Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989|url=http://rvcs-prodweb.dot.gov.au/AppDoc/26Nov2003200345.HTML|access-date=2021-01-05|website=rvcs-prodweb.dot.gov.au}} In October 2004 Bustech moved to a new factory in Calabro Way, West Burleigh.

Bustech became part of the Transit Australia Group in 2008 as part of a restructuring of the Calabro operations. In the same year, the company launched its first integral bus the 10.5 metre MDi. This was followed by the 12.5 metre XDi, SDi school bus and in July 2011 by the 12.5 metre CDi double decker, the first double deck citybus built for Australian operation since 1973. In November 2009, Bustech completed its 1000th bus.[http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2009/12/19/171281_gold-coast-business.html Bustech churns out 1000th vehicle] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309111508/http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2009/12/19/171281_gold-coast-business.html |date=9 March 2012 }} goldcoast.com.au 19 December 2009

In July 2015, in collaboration with Swinburne University of Technology, the Automotive Cooperative Research Centre (AutoCRC) and the Malaysian Automotive Institute, Bustech unveiled its first electric bus to be designed, engineered and manufactured in Australia, known as the ZDi. Bustech has already signed a AUD$170 million contract to manufacture electric buses for the Malaysian government in late 2014.[http://www.sciencealert.com/australia-just-built-its-first-electric-bus-and-it-s-super-high-tech Australia just built its first electric bus, and it looks awesome], Science Alert, Retrieved 11 July 2015[http://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/business/burleigh-company-bustech-driving-future-with-electric-buses-set-to-revolutionise-gold-coast-roads/story-fnjc2dm2-1227434702795 Burleigh company Bustech driving future with electric buses set to revolutionise Gold Coast roads], Gold Coast Bulletin, Retrieved 11 July 2015[https://uk.news.yahoo.com/australia-unveils-first-electric-bus-141958635.html#Xl1HXWO Australia Unveils Its First Electric Bus And It Looks Amazing], Yahoo UK, Retrieved 11 July 2015 with the first electric prototype bus delivered to Malaysia in 2016 branded as the XDi-E. In 2016, through the Transit Australia Group, Bustech signed a deal with Dubai South to provide electric buses.{{Cite web|date=2016-12-06|title=Coast company's Dubai coup|url=https://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/business/gold-coastbased-transit-australia-group-drives-massive-bus-deal-with-south-dubai/news-story/82d5ed8830d157a95e3e3246be85dbbc|access-date=2021-01-05|website=www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au|language=en}} One ZDi bus was exported to Dubai for evaluation in 2017.

Bustech was not included in the April 2019 purchase of the Transit Australia Group by the AATS Group (now Kinetic Group).[https://www.busnews.com.au/industry-news/1904/skybus-operator-to-acquire-transit-australia-group-bustech-not-included Skybus Operator to Acquire Transit Australia Group - Bustech not Included] Australasian Bus & Coach 2 April 2019 In September 2019, it was announced that Bustech will be merging with its joint venture partner Precision Buses, which is owned by Fusion Capital Holdings.{{cite web|url=https://www.busnews.com.au/industry-news/1909/queenslands-bustech-and-south-australias-precision-buses-merge|title=Queensland's Bustech And South Australia's Precision Buses Merge|publisher=Australasian Bus & Coach|date=19 September 2019|access-date=1 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190921235420/https://www.busnews.com.au/industry-news/1909/queenslands-bustech-and-south-australias-precision-buses-merge|archive-date=21 September 2019}} Both organisations would have a combined strategic management and direction under a new holding company called Australian Bus Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Fusion. However, each of them would retain their own brand identities and continue to operate in their own capacity at their respective facilities.

In June 2020, Bustech formed a partnership with [https://www.ebusco.com/ Ebusco] to produce the zero emission Ebusco 2.2 model and the next generation, carbon based Ebusco 3.0 model in Australia in a purpose built high tech facility.{{Cite web|date=2020-06-03|title=Bustech, Precision Buses (SA) and Ebusco to partner on the future of zero emission buses in Australasia.|url=https://www.ebusco.com/au/bustech-precision-buses-sa-and-ebusco-to-partner-on-the-future-of-zero-emission-buses-in-australasia/|access-date=2021-01-05|website=Ebusco|language=en-AU}}

In August 2020, Bustech and Proterra announced a new collaboration to manufacture the all-electric ZDi 12.5m city bus utilizing Proterra’s battery technology platform.{{Cite web|title=Bustech selects Proterra as battery technology supplier for new electric transit bus in Australia|url=https://www.greencarcongress.com/2020/08/20200819-bustech.html|access-date=2021-01-05|website=Green Car Congress}}

On 14 December 2020, it was announced that the group including Precision Buses and Elphinstone, was rebranded as the BusTech Group.

In late 2023, production was moved from Burleigh Heads, to Rocklea in Brisbane.{{cite web|url=https://www.busnews.com.au/bus-stop-helps-bustech-group-complete-successful-relocation/|title=Bus Stop helps BusTech Group complete successful relocation|publisher=Australasian Bus and Coach|date=18 September 2023}}

On 12 August 2024, BusTech (SA) and BusTech (QLD) were placed into administration. In September 2024, both BusTech companies were contracted to be acquired by the GoZero Group.{{cite web|url=https://www.busnews.com.au/bustech-finds-buyer-acquisition-approved/|title=BusTech finds buyer, acquisition approved|publisher=Australasian Bus and Coach|date=18 September 2024}} The acquisition is planned to be finalised in April 2025.{{cite web|url=https://www.busnews.com.au/gozero-acquired-in-near-half-billion-dollar-deal/|title=GoZero acquired in near half-billion dollar deal|publisher=Australasian Bus and Coach|date=28 February 2025|access-date=2 March 2025}}

Most of the early buses from 1998 to 2003 were built for the Calabro's operations Surfside Buslines and other operators such as Clark's Logan City Bus Service and Whitsunday Transit in Queensland and Buslines Group, Oliveri's Metro-Link and King Brothers in New South Wales. Following the collapse of the Clifford Corporation, Bustech was successful in winning further orders from a variety of operators such as Sunbus and the Pulitano Group in Queensland and Connex, Forest Coachlines and Calabro family relation Busabout in New South Wales from 2000 to 2002. The in-house name for the early body names were "ULF" for low floor units, such as the B12BLE, O405NH and L94UB units built, whereas the high floor units were named "UHF" for models such as the RG230 and O400.

The VST model commenced production in 2003 on a variety of chassis with more than 1,500 vehicles produced. It is a low-floor city's body, available in single and dual door configurations. Various seating options are also available. The naming of VST means "Versatile".

The SBM/SBV is a 12.5m school/charter bus body with a single door and the option for underfloor luggage bins. Commenced production in 2006 branded as the Graduate, they have been built on a variety of chassis including MAN 18.280 and 19.320, Mercedes-Benz OH1830L, Scania K94IB, and Volvo B7R/Volvo B8R. The naming SBM stands for School Bus MAN/Mercedes-Benz whilst SBV stands for School Bus Volvo[http://www.bustech.net.au/products_sbv.htm SBV Specifications] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130410104514/http://www.bustech.net.au/products_sbv.htm|date=2013-04-10}} Bustech

File:NewcastleTransportZDI450.jpg in Newcastle, 2023 ]]

The ZDi is a 12.5m, 41-seater low-floor integral city bus, with full electric propulsion. The models produced between 2015 and 2022 were produced with ZF axles and Toshiba batteries. Three ZDi evaluation and test buses have been produced, with one exported for trialed in Dubai, and the remaining two built for operation in Adelaide, however remaining under test as at 2021. Only one of the Adelaide buses saw service, with the other never leaving the factory site.

In 2023, Hunter Valley based transit operator Newcastle Transport begun using 3 Bustech ZDi's{{Cite news |date=22 March 2023 |title=Newcastle Transport Begins Journey With First Electric Bus |work=Australasian Bus & Coach |url=https://www.busnews.com.au/industry-news/2302/newcastle-transport-begins-journey-with-first-electric-bus}} as part of the New South Wales governments move to a fully zero emissions bus fleet by 2047{{Cite web |title=Zero Emission Buses, New South Wales Government |url=https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/projects/current-projects/zero-emission-buses#:~:text=Under%20the%20Zero%20Emission%20Buses,Greater%20Sydney%20customers%20by%202028. |website=Transport New South Wales| date=26 August 2024 }}

The ZDi model has been approved as a "Panel 3-approved Australian vehicle for NSW" by Transport for NSW.[https://thedriven.io/2021/02/19/electric-bus-maker-bustech-plans-nsw-factory-to-meet-state-demand/amp/ Electric bus maker BusTech plans NSW factory to meet state demand] The Driven 19 February 2021[https://www.busnews.com.au/industry-news/2102/bustech-e-bus-nsw-panel-3-approved Bustech E-Bus NSW 'Panel 3' Approved] Australian Bus & Coach 19 February 2021[https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/operations/buses-and-coaches/tfnsw-bus-procurement-panel Bus Specifications for Transport for NSW Bus Procurement Panel Number 3] Transport for NSW"

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Category:Bus manufacturers of Australia

Category:Manufacturing companies based on the Gold Coast, Queensland

Category:Australian companies established in 1998

Category:Australian brands

Category:Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1998