Bustech Discussion / Observations

[Merc1107]

Has the QLD Government used Volgren to finish the Bustech rail bus order? If so, I can’t see who would be in a hurry to buy a Go Zero/Bustech.

The original Volgren order hasn't yet been fulfilled, from what I've seen, and there's been no news on what became of the Scania/BusTech order.

[ABS]

The first Queensland Government Scania K320CB (0258) has a Volgren Optimus body, and was allocated to Kinetic Gold Coast.

[alleve]

The first Queensland Government Scania K320CB (0258) has a Volgren Optimus body, and was allocated to Kinetic Gold Coast.

Whats the difference between the KxxxCB and UB? Is it just a new generation of bus?

[SpanningViaduct]

Minor chassis frame and powertrain integration changes. CB's have the new gen Scania dash which comes with more advanced electronic / safety systems. Otherwise not much has changed. Still a DC09/ZF powertrain.

[Lachlan-Conley-102]

The first of 12 BusTech VST Scania K320CB TMR's has rolled out today.

From BusTech:
"Our QLD team will soon deliver another 11 of these locally manufactured buses to Scania for TMR over the next couple of months, before we relocate the QLD manufacturing operation into a new and much larger bus factory in preparation for the surge in demand for Australian Made buses by State and Local Governments around Australia in the coming decades."

[James00]

That's great to see.

Any idea where the 12 are heading?

[Merc1107]

New and much larger factory...

How about getting some orders firmed up first?

[Linto63]

So Bustech should win some orders, then tell the customer there will be a delay of a year or so while we build our factory? A great way to ensure no orders are ever placed.

[Merc1107]

They've got a factory already (not that anyone in their right mind should run a business out of Rocklea given its propensity to flood) and are just emerging from a situation where no or very few deliveries occurred over a protracted period, bills were outstanding and clients have seemingly taken their business elsewhere. It's a big gamble expanding when emerging from such a precarious situation; was BusTech's order book even that full before the collapse? Will their old customers return (i.e. will the remainder of the Adelaide contract be fulfilled by BusTech, or is it set to remain with Volgren?) or have they lost faith entirely? Which Government will throw them a bone to stave off another collapse?

[Linto63]

It is reasonable to assume that the new owner has a business plan in place and feels confident enough in its future to make the investment in an expanded factory. If it didn’t, it wouldn’t be doing it.

[Busman66]

I thought the TMR Scanias were Volgren Optimus bodied.

[James00]

The original order was for 35 Scania Bustech's - but with the known issues, that has been reduced to 12 - with Volgren already building and supplying the remainder. That's my understanding of the situation anyway.

[Busman66]

Ahh, right. Sadly no MANs.

[trackless tram]

According to the ABC delivery tracker, Nexport (Bustech) has delivered one Scania K320HB to a SA government contracted operator in February.

[trackless tram]

According to the delivery tracker, BusTech has delivered one bus in March, a Volvo B8R to Rowling's Bus Service in Victoria.

[MiCCROwavE_OVEN]

Interestingly, on the Rowlings Fleet list, there is a Volvo B8R dating from March 2026 with 'BCI' body. No Bustech though - not sure if this is a fleetlists issue or something else.

[trackless tram]

You're right, it must be a BCI. The delivery tracker must've gotten the wrong information.