Kinetic has been awarded a set of four contract units as part of Auckland Transport’s (AT) Tranche 3 bus services tender, which have been valued at 755 million NZD – the company’s largest contract award in Auckland to date.
The central three units will operate for a term of 11 years, whilst the eastern unit will run for 8.6 years, and will see Kinetic invest over 121 million NZD to secure new zero-emission buses, as well as upgrades for existing depot infrastructure and expanding charging systems across several of its Auckland depots.
Kinetic will supply vehicles for the largest day-one zero-emission buss rollout in the country’s history
© Kinetic
Infrastructure upgrades will include the installation of an additional overhead gantry charging system at Kinetic’s City depot, building on New Zealand’s first large-scale gantry installation at the Glenfield depot.
Kinetic will operate 201 zero-emission buses over the life of the contract, including 125 new vehicles, which are set to enter service in 2027. In total, 165 zero-emission buses will be deployed from day one of the central units in July 2027, the largest single rollout of zero-emission buses at mobilisation in New Zealand.
The award will retain Kinetic’s existing central and east Auckland services whilst integrating new eastern routes into its wider operations. Currently, the company operates over 630 buses across Auckland’s bus network, with the new investment set to contribute to AT’s Low Emission Roadmap, which aims to transition the city’s bus fleet to zero emissions by 2035.
New services under the Eastern unit will commence in December 2026, which will be followed by central Auckland routes in July 2027, operating a 100% zero-emission fleet from day one.
Kinetic has also stated an intention to introduce enhanced, real-time operational systems across all services, which will aim to both improve network visibility and help services run more reliably for customers.
Kinetic Group CEO Michael Sewards said:
This is a landmark contract for Kinetic and a major step forward for zero-emission public transport in Auckland.
We are investing in the fleet, depot infrastructure and people required to support Auckland Transport’s decarbonisation objectives and the city’s continued growth.
New Zealand represents our most advanced zero-emission market within Australasia, and the Auckland award further strengthens that position while reinforcing Kinetic’s leadership in electrification at scale across the region.
The new fleet will include a number of next-generation, lightweight electric double-decker buses, all of which will be built utilising advanced aerospace-grade aluminium technology. This design allows the manufacturer to reduce vehicle weight whilst maintaining strength and overall passenger capacity.
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