Volvo Bus Australia and Express Coach Builders have teamed up to offer the New South Wales bus industry with fully compliant and high-quality vehicles built in the state.
While Volvo and Express aren’t a new pairing, with a partnership spanning over 20 years and more than 120 Express-bodied Volvo diesel buses being already on Australian roads, but Volvo is currently delivering its Transport for NSW order from Keolis Downer for 35 Volvo B8RLE Euro 6 diesel buses fitted with Express bodies.
The partnership has seen 24 buses been delivered since 2023, with the 11 remaining on schedule to be delivered before the end of 2026.
The buses will join the Keolis fleet that is more than 85 per cent Volvo – a figure that reflects operator confidence built over years of consistent performance and Volvo’s strength in providing a reliable and strong support network in New South Wales. The relationship is a practical example of how the right procurement decision continues to pay off well beyond handover.
Express Coach Builders, based in Macksville in regional NSW, has a long-standing presence in the bus manufacturing industry. With over 30 years of continuous supply to state governments and private sector operators across Australia, combined with modern production facilities and a highly skilled local workforce, Express has established itself as a leading manufacturer of high-quality, durable and reliable bus bodies, supporting local jobs and contributing to the strength of the NSW manufacturing sector.
Volvo’s history in New South Wales stretches back to 1976 – currently more than 4,000 Volvo buses operate across the state.
Volvo continues to invest in its extensive NSW dealer network including three company owned dealerships that support employment of over 410 people in New South Wales – many who are dedicated to ongoing bus fleet support.
Volvo’s National Parts Distribution Centre in Minto, New South Wales is currently undergoing a major upgrade which will see an investment from Volvo which exceeds $130 million over the next 15 years.
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“NSW is of critical importance to Volvo Bus Australia. As part of Volvo Group, we continue to invest in NSW to ensure we can continue to provide the support Volvo pride themselves on,” Volvo Bus Australia general manager Mitch Peden says.
“The investment in our National Parts Centre is a clear example as we understand to keep buses on the road, we need to an extensive dealer network and spare parts in country. We are proud to already have an exceptionally high pick-rate – which will only improve with this investment.
“NSW sets a high bar for suppliers in the bus industry – safety, sustainability, reliability, local content, long-term support to name a few. These are not boxes to tick; they are the baseline. Volvo only partners with suppliers who can deliver on these expectations to secure Volvo’s long-standing reputation of reliability.”
In recent times, Express has further expanded its capabilities to also build on zero-emissions battery electric buses. At the end of 2024, Express, in partnership with Volvo, developed and built on a Volvo BZL chassis to showcase the capabilities of a NSW bodybuilder working alongside a global OEM.
The bus completed 12 months of live trials across multiple NSW operators, with extremely positive results and feedback on quality and performance. The bus was also utilised during a visit from the Royal Family of Sweden, showcasing the strong relationship between Sweden and Australia to the Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel of Sweden.
“We were extremely proud of what we were able to achieve, and look forward to building on more zero emission bus chassis for TfNSW operators,” Heather says.
“The bus industry is currently well underway in its transition to sustainable transportation, and it is a transition we are very much ready for and looking forward to being part of.”
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