Yutong debut in Austria: Amstetten launches the country’s first Yutong electric buses

A significant milestone has been reached in the city of Amstetten, Lower Austria, where, as of July 1, 2025, only fully electric buses will operate on local routes. The fleet of seven buses was delivered by Yutong, the world’s largest bus manufacturer from China, and will be operated by N-Bus GmbH, based in St. Pölten. This new service provider replaces ÖBB Postbus AG, which had previously served the city with five Solaris Urbino 8.9 LE midi-buses. The network, formerly known as Citybus, will now operate under the name Stadtbus, entirely powered by Yutong electric buses. The introduction of this model in Amstetten also marks the brand’s debut in the Austrian market.

N-Bus GmbH secured the operating rights through a public tender. They purchased seven pure electric Yutong U10 midi-buses. Although delivering all seven vehicles on time was logistically challenging, they arrived in Amstetten before entering service.

This fleet replacement not only signifies a technological shift but also a significant improvement in service quality. Following the deployment of the new electric buses, the available capacity will noticeably increase; according to city officials, this development boosts service performance by approximately 50% compared to before. The seven buses will serve seven different routes: Line 1 – Allersdorf, Line 2 – Landesklinikum, Line 3 – Parksiedlung, Line 4 – Leharstraße, Line 5 – Greimpersdorf, Line 6 – Hans Kudlich-Straße, and Line 7 – Greinsfurth / Waldheim. A new schedule will also be implemented alongside the launch, featuring more frequent departures and extended operating hours for passengers.

In addition to increased service performance, the energy supply will focus on sustainability. Amstetten is the first community in Lower Austria to operate its entire local public transport system on electric power, city officials highlight. The fleet is expected to cover 340,000 kilometers annually, up from 230,000 previously. The electricity needed for the buses will be supplied by the city’s own hydroelectric plant, which is over 120 years old. Overnight charging will take place at Kerschner’s premises, where multiple Siemens Sicharge D charging units have been installed as part of the necessary infrastructure.

The city estimates that this transition will reduce the need for transport subsidies by approximately 900,000 euros annually, thanks largely to the lower operating and maintenance costs of electric vehicles.

Despite these advancements, the tender process has not been without its critics. Several industry and public commentators have expressed concerns about the decision to use Chinese-manufactured buses, arguing that competitive European alternatives were available. There have also been concerns regarding the ecological footprint of long supply chains, as well as the environmental and geopolitical implications of importing from China. However, city officials emphasize that the tender focused on operations, and the choice of vehicles was the responsibility of the bidder. The winning proposal met all expectations in terms of operating costs, service level, and sustainability.