Kinetic to deliver New Zealand’s largest day-one zero-emission bus rollout under Auckland Transport’s Tranche 3 tender

(Pictured from Left to Right: Stacey van der Putten. Director Public Transport and Active Modes, Auckland Transport and Calum Haslop. Managing Director, Kinetic New Zealand)

Global mass transit operator Kinetic has been awarded all four contract units in Auckland Transport's (AT) Tranche 3 bus services tender, valued at NZD755 million – the company’s largest contract award in Auckland to date.

The three central units will operate for a term of 11 years, while the eastern unit will run for 8.6 years, providing long-term certainty and stability across key parts of Auckland’s bus network.

Under the contract, Kinetic will invest more than NZD121 million to procure new zero-emission buses, alongside upgrading depot infrastructure and expanding charging systems across several of its Auckland depots.

The infrastructure upgrades include the installation of a second overhead gantry charging system at Kinetic’s City depot, building on New Zealand’s first large-scale gantry installation at its Glenfield depot.

In total, Kinetic will operate 201 zero-emission buses over the life of the contract, including 125 new vehicles entering service in 2027. Overall, 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 retains Kinetic’s central and east Auckland services while integrating new eastern routes into its operations, strengthening its position as Auckland’s largest bus operator. 

Kinetic already operates more than 630 buses across Auckland’s bus network, providing established scale, infrastructure capability, and operational experience across the city.

Covering routes across central and east Auckland, the investment represents a significant contribution to AT’s Low Emission Bus Roadmap, which commits to transitioning Auckland’s entire bus fleet to zero emissions by 2035.

Services under the new Eastern unit will commence in December 2026, followed by central Auckland routes in July 2027, operating a 100 per cent zero-emission fleet from day one.

Kinetic will also introduce enhanced real-time operational systems across services, improving network visibility and helping services run more reliably for customers.

Kinetic Group CEO Michael Sewards said the award reflects both the scale of the Auckland opportunity and the company’s long-term commitment to zero-emission public transport across Australasia.

“This is a landmark contract for Kinetic and a major step forward for zero-emission public transport in Auckland,” Mr Sewards said.

“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.”

Kinetic Managing Director (New Zealand) Calum Haslop said the award reflects the strength of Kinetic’s Auckland operations and provides long-term certainty for its local workforce.

“We’re proud to continue our partnership with Auckland Transport, retaining our central services while integrating additional Eastern routes into our operations,” Mr Haslop said.

“This contract delivers a fully electric fleet across the isthmus from day one and represents a significant investment in modern fleet, depot infrastructure and operational systems to support a reliable, customer-focused network.

“This contract will shape how thousands of Aucklanders move across the city every day for more than a decade.

“It also provides long-term confidence for our people, ensuring our drivers and operational teams have the fleet, systems and support they need to deliver safe and dependable services for the communities we serve."

The investment comes as Auckland enters a period of significant growth, with the city’s population forecast to reach two million in the early 2030s and major infrastructure projects, including the City Rail Link, set to reshape how people move across the region.

Kinetic’s electrification program in Auckland builds on its proven track record of zero-emission deployment at scale, including Australasia’s largest all-electric bus depot at New Lynn, New Zealand’s first large-scale overhead gantry charging system at Glenfield, and Australia’s first overhead gantry and cable reel charging infrastructure delivered at its newest depot in Melbourne.

The new fleet will also include next-generation lightweight electric double-decker buses, built using advanced aerospace-grade aluminium technology.

The lighter design reduces vehicle weight while maintaining strength and passenger capacity, supporting more efficient operations and long-term network sustainability across Auckland. 

The Auckland award follows Kinetic’s recent NZD100 million contract award in Dunedin, where 37 new electric buses will join the network from October.

Across its global operations, Kinetic now operates more than 1,500 zero-emission buses across 33 electrified depots worldwide.