Irizar e-mobility, a Spanish electric bus manufacturer, has finished delivering 31 battery-electric buses to Górnośląsko-Zagłębiowska Metropolia (GZM) in Poland’s Upper Silesian metropolitan area. The fleet was formally presented in July following technical acceptance procedures completed earlier in the year. The buses consist of 16 articulated 18-meter vehicles and 15 standard 12-meter models, distributed among four municipal transit operators serving the cities of Sosnowiec, Świerklaniec, Katowice, and Gliwice based on their specific operational needs.
Beyond the vehicles themselves, the project encompassed substantial charging infrastructure development. Irizar supplied 20 depot charging units along with the necessary electrical systems for installation and operation. The charging equipment includes 18 dual 80-kilowatt chargers, one triple 120-kilowatt unit, and one 180-kilowatt charger. The total project value reached PLN133.7 million, with more than 91 percent of eligible costs covered through Poland’s National Recovery Plan. A contract amendment signed in April 2026 formally incorporated the chargers along with warranty, technical support, and operator training services.
The Irizar delivery represents one component of a comprehensive electrification initiative across the GZM region. The metropolitan authority is deploying 73 battery-electric buses through National Recovery Plan projects, with Solaris supplying 42 units alongside Irizar’s 31. The broader program also encompasses 45 charging stations and incorporates multiple zero-emission technologies, including eight hydrogen buses already delivered and plans for 24 additional battery-electric buses with 16 chargers in subsequent phases.
Irizar’s presence in Poland has expanded significantly following an announcement in November 2025 covering 80 electric buses across five Polish cities. Beyond the GZM fleet, the manufacturer is supplying vehicles to Warsaw, Kraków, Bielsko-Biała, and Nowy Sącz. Kraków is receiving 22 additional 12-meter buses to complement four existing vehicles, Bielsko-Biała ordered 12 units, and Nowy Sącz is adding five 10-meter buses. Warsaw’s order includes 10 buses for delivery toward the end of 2026, with an optional additional 10 units featuring integrated solar panels rated above 1 kilowatt.
For both GZM and Irizar, the deployment represents a significant development in Poland’s transit electrification landscape. The metropolitan region is establishing operational experience with multiple zero-emission vehicle types and manufacturers, while Irizar is establishing a more substantial foothold in one of Europe’s established electric bus markets with opportunities for continued expansion through additional cities and planned fleet expansions.
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