Iveco to manufacture electric buses, batteries and fuel cells in Italy

Iveco stopped manufacturing buses in Italy 11 years ago when it used to be a part of Fiat Industrial. Now the company is independent again, having separated last January, and it plans to return bus manufacturing to Foggia, southern Italy.

The buses are to be assembled with the chassis produced at other European locations. Batteries and fuel cells required for the new buses will be manufactured in Turin with majority of all components coming from Italian suppliers.

Iveco Bus applied for a Development Contract of the Ministry of Economic Development for funding to help with converting the existing factory. The funds will come from the EU National Recovery Plan. If the application is approved the funds will cover up to 25% of all costs involved.

Providing everything goes according to the plan, the production will start in 2023. The new factory will be very important to the local area with a substantial number of new jobs being created. Italy is betting on the Iveco to renew the country's ageing public transport fleet.

Iveco will focus on expanding its fleet of battery-electric vehicles as well as fuel cell electric to create a zero-emissions fleet. The low-emissions fleet will be manufactured with the latest methane and biomethane as well as biodiesel powered buses.

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