Ritchies, Zenobē to deploy 172 electric buses in Auckland

Bus operator Ritchies and energy technology firm Zenobē will roll out 172 new electric buses across Auckland over the next nine months, in what the partners describe as one of New Zealand’s largest zero-emission bus rollouts.

The project will expand Ritchies’ electric fleet more than fivefold. Zenobē will design, build and deliver six new electric-bus depots in West and South Auckland, with the first depot opening today and the remainder scheduled for completion by August 2026.

Zenobē will also provide a ‘Battery as a Service’ model, financing and managing the lifecycle of the buses’ batteries.

“This is a defining moment for New Zealand’s clean transport journey,” Zenobē Australia and New Zealand country director Gareth Ridge says.

“Through this partnership with Ritchies, we’re not only deploying one of the country’s largest electric bus fleets but also investing in local capability and infrastructure to ensure this transition is successful, scalable, and lasting.

“We’re proud to help set a new benchmark for sustainable public transport in Aotearoa.”

The rollout is being accelerated to align with Auckland Transport’s network plans, with early procurement under way. Zenobē’s New Zealand team will project-manage the sites and supervise delivery.

The partners say the investment will lift the national electric bus fleet by a significant margin and position Ritchies and Zenobē as key contributors to large-scale fleet electrification.