After key meetings between creditors this morning, bus manufacturer BusTech has been officially acquired by the GoZero Group.
The deed of the company arrangement will be finalised in the coming days, GoZero says, following the conclusion of discussions with the relevant state government parties.
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GoZero Group managing director Stephen Cartwright says that the acquisition will be a substantial benefit to GoZero’s Australian bus manufacturing capability.
GoZero will now own its pre-existing Nexport bus facility in Western Sydney, as well the acquired BusTech factories in South Australia and Queensland.
“This is an important acquisition for GoZero Group,” Cartwright says.
“Not only will it increase our opportunity to service the growing national market for low and zero emission buses, but it will protect local manufacturing jobs in both Queensland and South Australia at a time when the employment market remains uncertain.
“We are rapidly scaling up to be able to meet increasing demand from state governments, councils and the private sector, increasing our investment in factories and people ensuring we have the scale and capacity to deliver Australian made world class buses.”
Cartwright says the acquisition supports GoZero’s commitment to its zero emissions targets, as well as to continuing to produce Australian buses for the Australian market.
“This acquisition is a testament of great confidence in the future of the bus manufacturing sector in Australia, and the message to all tiers of government is clear, ‘we support a Future Made in Australia, and we stand ready to help you reach your strategic zero emission targets’ and provide safer, cleaner public transport for all Australians,” he says.
“For every bus we build in Australia, five Australian jobs are created or retained. Buses are the most used mode of public transport ahead of all other modes.
“In NSW alone, buses account for well over 40 per cent of all public passengers, making over 300 million journeys a year.
“Having a strong and predictable pipeline of bus orders is the key to the sustainability of local bus manufacturing, the creation of jobs (including four-year apprenticeships) and the renewal of the public transport fleet with low and zero emissions buses.
“GoZero Group’s manufacturing strategy is to maximise local supply chain content in buses, supplemented with select strategic collaborations with proven international suppliers.”
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