Alexander Dennis has announced plans to expand its Larbert head office and facility into a manufacturing site for the future.
The site will focus on the production of the new Enviro400EV zero-emission bus from August, assembling the body on a battery-electric chassis.
The decision follows a pilot programme to build hydrogen fuel cell buses in Larbert.
The move expands Alexander Dennis’s UK manufacturing footprint from two to three production sites, meeting increasing demand for decarbonisation of public transport.
The Larbert expansion, which converts existing warehouse space into production lines, supports the company’s more than 690 'green' manufacturing jobs in Scotland.
The Enviro400EV double decker that will be assembled in Scotland has been designed to move large numbers of people on busy urban corridors and interurban expresses with a total capacity of up to 96 passengers and an operational range of up to 260 miles on a single charge.
The Alexander Dennis head office remains at Larbert, with work already completed to revamp the office space to equip it for the hybrid working arrangements that are now standard across the business.
The changes are part of a company-wide modernisation journey that started with the opening of the new Farnborough facility in 2022 and which will continue in coming years as further members of zero-emission buses are added to the portfolio.
President and managing director Paul Davies said: “Over the past couple of years we have been laser focused on a modernisation agenda, underpinned by significant investment in our people, our products and our facilities.
“We not only need to future-proof our manufacturing capabilities for the ZEvolution, but we also need to ensure that we create the best possible working environment in which our people can excel.
“This is another step on our Alexander Dennis journey to build a sustainable company for the future, with zero emission buses being at the core of the repurposed and upgraded Larbert site.”
Councillor Cecil Meiklejohn, leader of Falkirk Council, added: “Alexander Dennis is a world class leader in bus production and this announcement reinforces their position as a key employer in the Falkirk area.
“Their modernisation and adaptation to changing markets shows how they are at the forefront of their industry, and we are proud to have them based in our area providing employment and investment opportunities in the coming years.”
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