Following the launch of MyCiti’s first electric bus (e-bus), in Cape Town, last month, as well as the increasing diesel price, more bus operators have started inquiring about the possibility of adopting e-buses.
Bus manufacturer Gauteng Bus and Coach Centre (GBCC) finance head Dirk van der Merwe told Engineering News the e-buses being piloted by MyCiti were paving the way for increased confidence in the technology.
GBCC was selected as the local body manufacturer for the City of Cape Town’s 12-m-long Volvo BZRLE electric fleet. As previously reported in Engineering News, Cape Town is set to take delivery of 38 e-buses this year, with the first bus expected to start operating by July 1, 2027.
Following December 2025 regulation amendments, GBCC registered its assembly facility, in Johannesburg, Gauteng, with the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (Itac) to expand its offering to electric chassis assembly for fleet operators and municipalities.
With a focus on local content, the planned addition of electric chassis assembly will enable GBCC to further develop local skills and increase localisation, while also helping to lower the buying cost, as opposed to e-buses that are fully imported.
