San Francisco orders six Solaris battery-electric buses

Vehicles |Bus and Coach

Solaris signed its first U.S. contract to supply 4 battery-electric buses to King County Metro (Seattle) and secured an additional order from SFMTA (San Francisco) for 6 electric buses (three 40-ft and three 60-ft articulated), expanding its North American presence.

511 views | Date: November 14, 2025

San Francisco orders six Solaris battery-electric buses

Bolechowo, Poland- Solaris Bus & Coach sp. z o.o., has taken a major step into the North American market by signing its first U.S. contract for bus deliveries. The initial customer is King County Metro in Seattle, Washington, which has ordered four battery-electric buses, with options in place for additional vehicles in the future.

Momentum continued as the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) exercised options under its agreement and placed an order for six Solaris electric buses. The San Francisco batch includes three 40-foot battery-electric buses and three 60-foot articulated battery-electric buses. While the overall specifications will closely match the vehicles destined for Seattle, Solaris will tailor operational and revenue equipment to meet San Francisco’s specific requirements.

Solaris CEO Agata Stańda described the San Francisco order as a key milestone in the company’s U.S. expansion strategy, emphasizing Solaris’ commitment to delivering advanced zero-emission vehicles that comply with local standards. SFMTA’s Director of Transportation, Julie Kirschbaum, said the agency is looking forward to working with Solaris, highlighting passenger-focused amenities, accessibility, operator safety, and reliability as priorities alongside San Francisco’s broader goal of transitioning to zero-emission transit.

A European leader in electric buses and trolleybuses, Solaris is steadily building its presence in North America. Alongside the Seattle electric-bus contract, the company has also secured a deal to supply trolleybuses to Vancouver, Canada, strengthening its footprint across the region.

Globally, Solaris has delivered more than 6,000 zero-emission vehicles including battery-electric, hydrogen-powered, and trolleybuses operating in nearly 30 countries. The company offers a broad portfolio across multiple bus lengths and propulsion technologies, focused on low- and zero-emission solutions. Solaris’ technology and innovation have also been recognized through major industry awards, including “Bus of the Year” honors for the Urbino 12 electric (2017) and the Urbino 18 hydrogen (2025) in Europe.