Chinese brands 'taking money from UK taxpayers' as Wrightbus boss slams 'national scandal'

Transport Scotland confirmed that £13.2million would be allocated for Ember towards the purchase of 100 coaches from Chinese manufacturer Yutong.

A further £4.6million was given to Stagecoach for seven coaches, 21 single-decker buses, and 16 double-deckers - all of which also come from Yutong.

Yutong manufactures its electric buses at the Yutong New Energy Vehicle Plant in the Eastern International Logistics Park of Zhengzhou.

The decision to award much of the funding to the Chinese manufacturer has been criticised by Jo Bamford for awarding taxpayer-funded grants to overseas firms.

Mr Bamford rescued Wrightbus from administration in 2019 and turned it into one of the UK's leading manufacturers and the nation's last remaining domestic bus manufacturer.

He explained how Wrightbus had been one of the biggest UK firms to support the transition to zero emission vehicles.

The manufacturer produces single- and double-deck electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles from its facilities in Ballymena, Northern Ireland.

Mr Bamford said: "Money from the pockets of the UK taxpayer should not be being used to boost factories overseas - it is nothing short of a national scandal.

"The UK bus industry employs thousands of people directly and tens of thousands more across its supply chain and has achieved success not just domestically, but around the world.

"Decisions like this risk undermining a strategically important sector at a critical moment in its development, and the whole sector is together on this."

Through the ScotZEB3 Awards, which included £45million in grant funding, Wrightbus received a number of orders.

This included 10 single-deck orders from Rock Road, who received £11.5million in total, as well as 20 double-deckers for Lothian.

Wrightbus was also recently selected by the Mayor of Greater Manchester to supply 55 electric buses for the region's successful Bee Network.

Andy Burnham made the announcement after visting the Ballymena facility, where he viewed the production of 76 electric double-deck buses from a previous order.

Mr Bamford called on policymakers around the UK to focus on UK-based manufacturers to accelerate business across the nation.

He added: "We have the capability, the workforce, and the technology right here in the UK. What we need now is a level playing field and a commitment to back UK industry."

The Government's Electric Car Grant has strict environmental requirements, which effectively outlaw Chinese manufacturers from being included, despite initial concern around the rules.

Transport Minister Lilian Greenwood suggested that Chinese brands would not benefit, given that many of the production facilities are powered by fossil fuels, negating possible benefits from the zero emission vehicles.