Ikarus and Yutong are jointly bidding to Budapest’s tender for up to 160 trolleybuses

Hungarian bus builder Ikarus and Yutong, the world’s largest bus manufacturer, have formed a consortium to participate in a trolleybus tender in Hungary for solo and articulated vehicles issued by BKK (Budapesti Közlekedési Központ Zrt) in Hungary (up to 160 units).

Ikarus has already in force a cooperation with Chinese CRRC in the electric bus segment, while Yutong hasn’t been present in the European trolleybus market so far (but has delivered some 130 vehicles in Mexico City – picture above).

Ikarus – Yutong consortium for trolleybuses in Budapest

The open negotiation procurement procedure called “Trolleybus Vehicle Acquisition IV Phase” initiated by the Budapest Transport Center is scheduled from 2025 to 2027, and it includes the purchase of a total of 160 articulated and solo trolleybuses equipped with battery-powered off-wire propulsion capability, Ikarus states.

And adds: “The current consortium partnership allows for effective cooperation between the two bus manufacturers in project implementation, leveraging coordinated resources for successful tendering. While Ikarus has previously manufactured trolleybuses in Hungary, compliance with the BKK tender required an international partner with the necessary trolleybus manufacturing capacity, and Yutong gladly accepted the partnership request”.