Construction has begun on a new bus manufacturing facility in Nowra, marking a significant step toward rebuilding local bus manufacturing capacity in New South Wales.
The NSW government confirmed this week that the 6,000sqm Foton Mobility Distribution site will create more than 100 jobs on the South Coast as it ramps up production of electric buses.
The facility will allow Foton to expand its workforce from 19 employees at its current temporary site to up to 127 staff once fully operational.
The next recruitment phase is expected to begin in June, with 27 roles to be advertised across production, engineering and administration, including assembly workers, electricians and quality control engineers.
Workers hired in this round are scheduled to commence when the first stage of construction is completed in the third quarter of 2026.
The new facility will be delivered in three stages, with the initial phase focusing on a manufacturing shed, followed by additional pre-delivery and office facilities, with the latter expected by 2027.
Foton Mobility Distribution is currently supplying buses under the Transport for NSW Zero Emissions Bus program, with an order of 128 vehicles already underway.
Twenty-five of these buses are already in service at the Bradbury depot in Western Sydney, with further vehicles expected to enter service from Brookvale.
Foton Mobility Distribution CEO Neil Wang says the day was “very special” for him and his team.
“We officially broke ground on our new facility in Nowra, a project that means a lot, both professionally and personally,” Wang says.
“The Illawarra is a very special place to me. It’s where I built my life, married my beautiful wife, raised my family and grew this business. To now be investing back into this region, creating jobs and opportunities for local people, is something I’m incredibly proud of.
“This is just the beginning. I’m excited to see this facility grow, to build a strong local team and to see electric buses rolling out of Nowra in the near future.”
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NSW transport minister John Graham says the project will support both employment and industry capability in the region.
“This facility will provide much-needed economic opportunities for locals in Nowra,” Graham says.
“After watching so many transport manufacturing jobs go offshore under the former government, it’s great to see Nowra benefiting from the increase in local manufacturing.”
The development is also expected to support local supply chains, with Foton already engaging several regional suppliers for components, electrical work and quality assurance.
Minister for the Illawarra and the South Coast Ryan Park says the investment will strengthen local industry.
“This is a win for the region and a win for workers in Nowra who will benefit from this new facility and the jobs it will help deliver,” Park says.
“This government is taking action to restore domestic manufacturing in the South Coast and right across NSW, while ensuring we develop the skills, capacity, and resilience we need for the future.”
NSW domestic manufacturing and government procurement minister Courtney Houssos says the project reflects broader shifts toward electrification.
“This new facility is a strong example of private investment responding to global shifts toward electrification and choosing to back NSW with new capability and skilled jobs,” Houssos says.
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