View source for BusTech

{{Short description|Australian bus-building manufacturer}}
{{Use Australian English|date=June 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Infobox company
| name = BusTech Group
| logo = File:Logo-BusTech-Group-2020.png
| caption = 
| type = 
| traded_as = 
| genre = 
| fate = 
| predecessor = 
| successor = 
| foundation = {{Start date and age|1995|df=yes}}
| founder = Tony and Joe Calabro
| defunct = 
| location_city = [[Rocklea, Queensland]]
[[Edinburgh, South Australia]]
| location_country = [[Australia]]
| locations = 
| area_served = 
| key_people = Christian Reynolds, Director and Chairman
Mathew Fitch, Director
Dan Marks, Director
| industry = [[Bus manufacturing]]
| products = 
| production = 
| services = 
| revenue = 
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| net_income = 
| aum = 
| assets = 
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| owner = [[GoZero Group]]
| num_employees = 
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| divisions = 
| subsid = 
| homepage = {{URL|https://bustechgroup.com.au/}}
}}
'''BusTech Group''' is an Australian [[Bus manufacturing|bus-building]] manufacturer with production facilities in [[Rocklea, Queensland]], Edinburgh [[Adelaide|Adelaide, South Australia]] and [[Burnie, Tasmania]]. BusTech Group produces fully built up integral route buses, school buses and double deck buses and also produces single deck bus bodies, largely built on European chassis from manufacturers such as [[Mercedes-Benz]], [[Volvo]] and [[Scania AB|Scania]], predominantly under their VST model line.<ref>{{Cite web|title=About|url=https://bustechgroup.com.au/about/|access-date=2021-01-05|website=BusTech Group|language=en-AU}}</ref> As of 2022, BusTech Group was actively delivering new buses into Queensland, South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania and the ACT.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Australian Bus-Manufacturing Joint Venture Announced|url=https://www.busnews.com.au/industry-news/1906/australian-bus-manufacturing-joint-venture-announced|access-date=2021-01-05|website=BusNews.com.au|date=24 June 2019 |language=en}}</ref>

The company was originally established as '''Bustech''' in 1995 by the then owners of [[Gold Coast, Queensland]] bus operator, [[Surfside Buslines]] the Calabro family. Early production generally focused on producing low entry, route bus bodies with smaller numbers of school buses and charter/touring vehicles were also produced. 

Bustech produced its first integral bus in 2007, a midi-sized route bus with production subsequently expanding into full size route and school buses by 2008. An urban double deck bus began production in 2011 and Australia's first locally engineered and built electric bus was completed by Bustech in 2015.<ref>{{Cite web|title=First all-Aus electric bus|url=https://www.busnews.com.au/product-news/1507/first-all-aus-electric-bus|access-date=2021-01-05|website=BusNews.com.au|date=14 July 2015 |language=en}}</ref>

Bustech formed part of the [[Transit Australia Group]] from 2008 under Calabro family ownership, until the latter was dissolved in 2019 upon the sale of bus operations to AATS Group.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Skybus Operator to Acquire Transit Australia Group – Bustech Not Included!|url=https://www.busnews.com.au/industry-news/1904/skybus-operator-to-acquire-transit-australia-group-bustech-not-included|access-date=2021-01-05|website=BusNews.com.au|date=2 April 2019 |language=en}}</ref>

Bustech formed a joint venture agreement with Precision Components, owned by [http://www.fusion.capital/ Fusion Capital] and began producing buses under the Precision Buses name in 2017. In addition, [[Elphinstone Engineering]] in [[Tasmania]] began assembling buses under agreement in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|title=First Bustech XDi delivered in Tasmania|url=https://www.busnews.com.au/industry-news/1711/first-bustech-xdi-deliveredin-tasmania|access-date=2021-01-05|website=BusNews.com.au|date=22 November 2017 |language=en}}</ref> Bustech and Precision Buses formalised a merger in 2019, with management of the two operations initially known as the Australian Bus Corporation.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bustech and Precision to Merge |url=https://www.truckandbus.net.au/bustech-and-precision-set-to-merge/|access-date=2021-01-05|website=www.truckandbus.net.au}}</ref> The company was rebranded and relaunched as '''BusTech Group''' in December 2020.<ref name=busnews_dec2020>{{Cite web|title='Bustech Group' Announced; Aust Bus Corp Rebranded|url=https://www.busnews.com.au/industry-news/2012/bustech-group-announced-aust-bus-corp-rebranded|date=14 December 2020|access-date=2021-01-05|website=BusNews.com.au|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://bustechgroup.com.au/bustech-group-formed-from-precision-buses-and-bustech/|title=BusTech Group formed from Precision Buses and Bustech|publisher=BusTech Group|date=14 December 2020|access-date=30 March 2021}}</ref>

In February 2021 it was announced that a factory is being planned near [[Newcastle, New South Wales]] to build electric buses for New South Wales operators.<ref name=February2021a/><ref name=February2021b/>

BusTech Group entered administration on 12 August 2024.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Notice Details |url=https://publishednotices.asic.gov.au/browsesearch-notices/notice-details/BusTech-SA-Pty-Ltd-Administrator-Appointed-616559838/563d3224-0406-4f3e-85e8-227c0d6f1322 |access-date=2024-08-13 |website=publishednotices.asic.gov.au |language=en}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:DSC 0075mo8348.jpg|thumb|Bustech bodied [[Mercedes-Benz O405|Mercedes-Benz O405NH]] of 2002 new to Connex NSW]]
[[File:DSC 0428mo2003l.jpg|thumb|Bustech VST body of 2010 built on a Volvo B7RLE chassis]]
[[File:Bustech 'XDi' demonstrator operated by Busabout Wagga in TNSW livery (4).jpg|thumb|Bustech XDi of 2012 with [[Cummins ISL]] engine operating on demonstration with Busabout]]
[[File:Bustech CDi 343.jpg|thumb|Bustech CDi of 2013 with [[Cummins ISC|Cummins ISL]] engine operating a 777 inbound at [[Gold Coast Airport]]]]

=== Calabro family ownership ===
Bustech was founded by the proprietors of [[Surfside Buslines]], Joe and Tony Calabro, on the [[Gold Coast, Queensland|Gold Coast]] in 1995.<ref>"Manufacturing Update" ''Australian Bus Panorama" April 2000 issue 15/5 page 17''</ref> Buses were initially produced on [[Mercedes-Benz buses|Mercedes-Benz]], [[Volvo Buses|Volvo]] and [[Hino Motors|Hino]] chassis with the first such vehicle completed in 1998 from their original Ernest, Queensland factory. In late 2003, Bustech began production of the VST model.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989|url=http://rvcs-prodweb.dot.gov.au/AppDoc/26Nov2003200345.HTML|access-date=2021-01-05|website=rvcs-prodweb.dot.gov.au}}</ref> In October 2004 Bustech moved to a new factory in Calabro Way, [[Burleigh Heads, Queensland|West Burleigh]]. 

Bustech became part of the [[Transit Australia Group]] in 2008 as part of a restructuring of the Calabro operations. In the same year, the company launched its first integral bus the 10.5 metre MDi. This was followed by the 12.5 metre XDi, SDi school bus and in July 2011 by the 12.5 metre CDi double decker, the first double deck citybus built for Australian operation since 1973. In November 2009, Bustech completed its 1000th bus.<ref>[http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2009/12/19/171281_gold-coast-business.html Bustech churns out 1000th vehicle] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309111508/http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2009/12/19/171281_gold-coast-business.html |date=9 March 2012 }} goldcoast.com.au 19 December 2009</ref>

In July 2015, in collaboration with [[Swinburne University of Technology]], the Automotive Cooperative Research Centre (AutoCRC) and the Malaysian Automotive Institute, Bustech unveiled its first electric bus to be designed, engineered and manufactured in Australia, known as the ZDi. Bustech has already signed a AUD$170 million contract to manufacture electric buses for the Malaysian government in late 2014.<ref>[http://www.sciencealert.com/australia-just-built-its-first-electric-bus-and-it-s-super-high-tech Australia just built its first electric bus, and it looks awesome], ''Science Alert'', Retrieved 11 July 2015</ref><ref>[http://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/business/burleigh-company-bustech-driving-future-with-electric-buses-set-to-revolutionise-gold-coast-roads/story-fnjc2dm2-1227434702795 Burleigh company Bustech driving future with electric buses set to revolutionise Gold Coast roads], ''Gold Coast Bulletin'', Retrieved 11 July 2015</ref><ref>[https://uk.news.yahoo.com/australia-unveils-first-electric-bus-141958635.html#Xl1HXWO Australia Unveils Its First Electric Bus And It Looks Amazing], ''Yahoo UK'', Retrieved 11 July 2015</ref> with the first electric prototype bus delivered to Malaysia in 2016 branded as the XDi-E. In 2016, through the [[Transit Australia Group]], Bustech signed a deal with [[Dubai South]] to provide electric buses.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-12-06|title=Coast company's Dubai coup|url=https://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/business/gold-coastbased-transit-australia-group-drives-massive-bus-deal-with-south-dubai/news-story/82d5ed8830d157a95e3e3246be85dbbc|access-date=2021-01-05|website=www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au|language=en}}</ref> One ZDi bus was exported to Dubai for evaluation in 2017.

=== Fusion Capital Holdings ownership ===
Bustech was not included in the April 2019 purchase of the [[Transit Australia Group]] by the AATS Group (now [[Kinetic Group]]).<ref>[https://www.busnews.com.au/industry-news/1904/skybus-operator-to-acquire-transit-australia-group-bustech-not-included Skybus Operator to Acquire Transit Australia Group - Bustech not Included] ''Australasian Bus & Coach'' 2 April 2019</ref> In September 2019, it was announced that Bustech will be merging with its joint venture partner Precision Buses, which is owned by Fusion Capital Holdings.<ref name="merger">{{cite web|url=https://www.busnews.com.au/industry-news/1909/queenslands-bustech-and-south-australias-precision-buses-merge|title=Queensland's Bustech And South Australia's Precision Buses Merge|publisher=Australasian Bus & Coach|date=19 September 2019|access-date=1 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190921235420/https://www.busnews.com.au/industry-news/1909/queenslands-bustech-and-south-australias-precision-buses-merge|archive-date=21 September 2019}}</ref> Both organisations would have a combined strategic management and direction under a new holding company called Australian Bus Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Fusion. However, each of them would retain their own brand identities and continue to operate in their own capacity at their respective facilities.

In June 2020, Bustech formed a partnership with [https://www.ebusco.com/ Ebusco] to produce the zero emission Ebusco 2.2 model and the next generation, carbon based Ebusco 3.0 model in Australia in a purpose built high tech facility.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-06-03|title=Bustech, Precision Buses (SA) and Ebusco to partner on the future of zero emission buses in Australasia.|url=https://www.ebusco.com/au/bustech-precision-buses-sa-and-ebusco-to-partner-on-the-future-of-zero-emission-buses-in-australasia/|access-date=2021-01-05|website=Ebusco|language=en-AU}}</ref>

In August 2020, Bustech and [[Proterra (bus manufacturer)|Proterra]] announced a new collaboration to manufacture the all-electric ZDi 12.5m city bus utilizing Proterra’s battery technology platform.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bustech selects Proterra as battery technology supplier for new electric transit bus in Australia|url=https://www.greencarcongress.com/2020/08/20200819-bustech.html|access-date=2021-01-05|website=Green Car Congress}}</ref>

On 14 December 2020, it was announced that the group including Precision Buses and [[Elphinstone Engineering|Elphinstone]], was rebranded as the BusTech Group.<ref name=busnews_dec2020/>

In late 2023, production was moved from Burleigh Heads, to Rocklea in Brisbane.
https://www.busnews.com.au/bus-stop-helps-bustech-group-complete-successful-relocation/

=== GoZero Group ownership ===
On 12 August 2024, BusTech (SA) and BusTech (QLD) were placed into [[administration (law)|administration]]. In September 2024, both BusTech companies were officially acquired by the [[GoZero Group]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.busnews.com.au/bustech-finds-buyer-acquisition-approved/|title=BusTech finds buyer, acquisition approved|publisher=Australasian Bus and Coach|date=18 September 2024}}</ref>

==Products==

=== Early bus bodies ===
Most of the early buses from 1998 to 2003 were built for the Calabro's operations [[Surfside Buslines]] and other operators such as [[Clarks Logan City Bus Service|Clark's Logan City Bus Service]] and Whitsunday Transit in Queensland and [[Buslines Group]], Oliveri's Metro-Link and King Brothers in New South Wales. Following the collapse of the [[Clifford Corporation]], Bustech was successful in winning further orders from a variety of operators such as [[Sunbus]] and the [[Pulitano Group]] in Queensland and Connex, [[Forest Coach Lines|Forest Coachlines]] and Calabro family relation [[Busabout Sydney|Busabout]] in New South Wales from 2000 to 2002. The in-house name for the early body names were "ULF" for low floor units, such as the B12BLE, O405NH and L94UB units built, whereas the high floor units were named "UHF" for models such as the RG230 and O400.

=== VST ===
The VST model commenced production in 2003 on a variety of chassis with more than 1,500 vehicles produced. It is a low-floor city's body, available in single and dual door configurations. Various seating options are also available. The naming of VST means "Versatile".
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Body
!Length
!Chassis
!Operators
|-
|VST
|11.7m (K320UB/K320CB)
12.5m
|
* MAN (18.310, 19.320)
* Mercedes-Benz ([[Mercedes-Benz OC 500 LE|0500LE]])
* [[Scania K series|Scania K Series]] (K280UB, K310UB, K320UB, K360UA, K320CB)
* Volvo ([[Volvo B12BLE|B12BLE]], [[Volvo B7RLE|B7RLE]], [[Volvo B8RLE|B8RLE]])
|11.7m - [[Adelaide Metro]] ([[Torrens Transit]], [[Busways]], [[SouthLink]])
|-
|VST-A (Articulated)
|18m
|Scania K360UA
|[[Adelaide Metro]] ([[Torrens Transit]], [[Busways]], [[SouthLink]])
|-
|VSTM
|11m
|[[Scania K series|Scania K280UB]]
|[[Transdev John Holland]] Buses
(prev. [[State Transit Authority]])
|-
|VSTC
|13m
|MAN
|[[SkyBus (airport bus)|Skybus]] NZ
|-
|VSTH
|12.5m
|Volvo Hybrid
|
|}

=== SBM/SBV ===
The SBM/SBV is a 12.5m school/charter bus body with a single door and the option for underfloor luggage bins. Commenced production in 2006 branded as the '''Graduate,''' they have been built on a variety of chassis including [[MAN Truck & Bus|MAN]] 18.280 and 19.320, [[Mercedes-Benz]] OH1830L, [[Scania K94IB]], and [[Volvo B7R]]/[[Volvo B8R]]. The naming SBM stands for School Bus MAN/Mercedes-Benz whilst SBV stands for School Bus Volvo<ref>[http://www.bustech.net.au/products_sbv.htm SBV Specifications] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130410104514/http://www.bustech.net.au/products_sbv.htm|date=2013-04-10}} Bustech</ref>

=== Diesel Integral Buses ===
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Body
!Type
!Length
!Seats
!Engine
!Transmission
!Produced From
!Notes
|-
|MDi
|Low-floor City Midi
|10.5m
|43
|[[Caterpillar Inc.|Caterpillar]] C7 (Original), [[Cummins]] ISB/ISL
|[[ZF Friedrichshafen|ZF]]
|2007
|
|-
|XDi
|Low-floor City Bus
|12.5m
|55 (51 w/ Center Door)
|Caterpillar C7 (Original), Cummins ISC/ISB/ISL
|ZF
|2008
|A single '''XDi-E''' (12.5m low-floor electric city bus integral) was produced in 2015 for export to Malaysia
|-
|CDi
|Low-floor Double Deck
|12.5m
|96
|Cummins ISL 9-litre
|[[Allison Transmission|Allison]], ZF
|2011
|Twin Door, Dual Front Steer
|-
|ADi
|Low-floor Tour Bus
|12.5m
|53
|Cummins ISL 9-litre
|Allison, ZF
|2012
|Underfloor Luggage Bins
|-
|SDi
|School Bus
|12.5m
|61
|Cummins ISL 9-litre
|Allison, ZF
|2012
|Underfloor Luggage Bins
|}

=== ZDi (Electric Integral Bus) ===
[[File:NewcastleTransportZDI450.jpg|thumb|Bustech ZDI Electric bus with [[Newcastle Transport]] in [[Newcastle, New South Wales|Newcastle]], 2023 ]]
The ZDi is a 12.5m, 41-seater low-floor integral city bus, with full electric propulsion. The models produced between 2015 and 2022 were produced with ZF axles and Toshiba batteries. Three ZDi evaluation and test buses have been produced, with one exported for trialed in Dubai, and the remaining two built for operation in Adelaide, however remaining under test as at 2021. Only one of the Adelaide buses saw service, with the other never leaving the factory site.

In 2023, Hunter Valley based transit operator [[Newcastle Transport]] begun using 3 Bustech ZDi's<ref>{{Cite news |date=22 March 2023 |title=Newcastle Transport Begins Journey With First Electric Bus |work=Australasian Bus & Coach |url=https://www.busnews.com.au/industry-news/2302/newcastle-transport-begins-journey-with-first-electric-bus}}</ref> as part of the New South Wales governments move to a fully zero emissions bus fleet by 2047<ref>{{Cite web |title=Zero Emission Buses, New South Wales Government |url=https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/projects/current-projects/zero-emission-buses#:~:text=Under%20the%20Zero%20Emission%20Buses,Greater%20Sydney%20customers%20by%202028. |website=Transport New South Wales| date=26 August 2024 }}</ref>

The ZDi model has been approved as a "Panel 3-approved Australian vehicle for NSW" by [[Transport for NSW]].<ref name="February2021a">[https://thedriven.io/2021/02/19/electric-bus-maker-bustech-plans-nsw-factory-to-meet-state-demand/amp/ Electric bus maker BusTech plans NSW factory to meet state demand] The Driven 19 February 2021</ref><ref name="February2021b">[https://www.busnews.com.au/industry-news/2102/bustech-e-bus-nsw-panel-3-approved Bustech E-Bus NSW 'Panel 3' Approved] Australian Bus & Coach 19 February 2021</ref><ref>[https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/operations/buses-and-coaches/tfnsw-bus-procurement-panel Bus Specifications for Transport for NSW Bus Procurement Panel Number 3] Transport for NSW</ref>"

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category-inline|Bustech}}

{{Automotive industry in Australia}}
{{Australian bus manufacturers}}

[[Category:Bus manufacturers of Australia]]
[[Category:Manufacturing companies based on the Gold Coast, Queensland]]
[[Category:Australian companies established in 1998]]
[[Category:Australian brands]]
[[Category:Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1998]]