Federal Member for Gilmore Fiona Phillips (left) joined Member for South Coast Liza Butler (centre) and NSW Minister for Transport Jo Haylen to announce plans for an electric bus manufacturing facility at South Nowra. Photos: Supplied.
A new electric bus manufacturing facility at South Nowra is expected to create around 100 new skilled jobs in the Shoalhaven.
Australian-owned bus manufacturer Foton Mobility Distribution plans to build a 6000-square-metre manufacturing facility at South Nowra from late 2025, subject to Shoalhaven City Council approval.
Federal Member for Gilmore Fiona Phillips joined Member for South Coast Liza Butler and NSW Minister for Transport Jo Haylen on Thursday (30 January) to announce the State Government had awarded a contract to Foton for the delivery of 126 battery electric buses that will be built in Nowra and service routes across Greater Sydney.
The facility will also produce battery electric trucks, as well as hydrogen fuel cell engines, creating about 100 ongoing quality, skilled manufacturing jobs for local workers.
“This is fantastic news for our region,” Mrs Phillips said.
“Making more things in Australia, right here on our NSW South Coast – that’s what we want.
Foton Mobility Distribution owner Neil Wang (right) explains his plans for an electric bus manufacturing facility at South Nowra.
“This project is all about investment in local manufacturing, creating really good local jobs and moving towards transitioning NSW’s public transport bus fleet to zero-emissions technology.”
Mrs Phillips said the announcement aligned with the Federal Government’s Future Made in Australia Bill, which was passed in November 2024.
“The goal of Future Made in Australia is to make more things in Australia, particularly in regional areas like Gilmore, to create jobs and to ensure the economy becomes more resilient and secure into the future,” she said.
“Right here in the Shoalhaven, we already have internationally recognised businesses like Air Affairs Australia, now known as QinetiQ, and Alkath’s Global Defence Solutions manufacturing things locally to support HMAS Albatross.
“The Albatross Aviation Technology Park was designed specifically to support defence and aviation industries, and to create and support local jobs.
“In Gilmore we also have innovative local businesses building boats, making construction materials, producing chemicals, and manufacturing food and pharmaceuticals.
“Now we will be making electric buses here too, which will open more doors for our young people, and local people wanting to retrain and work in the manufacturing industry.”
While a development application has been lodged with Shoalhaven Council for the construction of a manufacturing facility in Oxford Street, a nearby building has been leased to enable work to start as soon as possible. Positions at the facility are expected to be advertised soon.
Foton’s contract was one of the first bus orders made through the NSW Government’s Zero Emission Buses (ZEB) program.
The program is also converting 11 existing bus depots in Greater Sydney to battery electric technology, building a new battery electric depot at Macquarie Park and procuring about 1200 new electric buses by 2028.
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