Key Takeaways from Busworld 2025
From 4 to 9 October, Busworld Europe opened its doors for another edition and, of course, UITP was right there!
This year, one topic dominated the halls: zero-emission mobility. From battery-electric buses to hydrogen fuel cell buses, the transition is moving fast and is more global than ever. Traditional manufacturing regions are evolving and new players from Turkey, China, India, and Vietnam are scaling up at remarkable speed.
Meanwhile the questions are getting more complex. How do we electrify fleets and depots? How do we keep our systems safe and secure as AI advances? And above all, how do we make sure that innovation delivers for passengers, workers, and the cities?
Electrification Needs Infrastructure, Commitment and Funding
During the Zero Emission Bus Conference, held alongside Busworld, Arno Kerkhof, UITP’s Head of Bus Unit, presented UITP’s expertise and work on the field, including new insights and trends from UITP’s Global Urban Mobility Indicators.
Cities with extensive bus networks do not always lead in electrification. In fact, he emphasised that electrification progress depends less on fleet size and more on policy, infrastructure, and long-term commitment.
Electrification is not just about buying e-buses but rather building the network that supports them. Without well-planned routes, good connections, and reliable operations, even the greenest bus cannot reach its full potential.
That’s why policy commitment and infrastructure matter so much. Across Europe and Latin America, cities with long-term strategies and stable funding are showing how consistency pays off.
But, electrifying doesn’t only concern buses, it also means electrifying depots. And it is actually where the transition really starts. Installing chargers, upgrading power grids, and retraining maintenance teams are just as crucial as deploying the buses.
Of course, the necessary funding is also needed. Upgrading depots requires funding and long-term partnerships with energy providers – and it tends to happen first in cities that already show strong political commitment to zero-emission fleets.
The bottom line is: it is not just technology, but also efficiency and trust that make or break a network. So how do we bring both together? That’s exactly what UITP is testing through coordinating the eBRT2030 project, looking at how new vehicles, charging methods and IoT connectivity can strengthen modern BRT systems across Europe and beyond.
Insights from the UITP Bus Committee
Shedding light on UITP’s ongoing work to advance the bus sector, Arno noted that, collectively through UITP’s Bus Committee, members continue to exchange operational data via the ZEB Observatory, revealing how performance improves with better planning.
One finding stood out: battery-electric buses can be up to 20% more energy-efficient at moderate speeds, thanks to smoother traffic flow and priority measures. UITP’s publication on congestion-free bus networks goes more in depth on the benefits for bus networks with less congestion.
The Committee also developed the Thermal Comfort Toolkit, helping operators balance passenger comfort with energy efficiency. From Ottawa to Oslo and Dubai, the data shows that heating can consume over half of a bus’s energy in cold climates, while cooling can reach 30% in hot ones. Smart management of these systems is crucial to achieving both environmental and operational goals.
Putting People and Safety First
Still, no matter how advanced the vehicles or systems become, it’s people (passengers and workers) who keep transport moving forward.
That was the message echoed in the Busworld session on safety and security, where Carmela Canonico, UITP’s Senior Manager for Safety and Security, joined the discussion. And for the first time, the official Busworld agenda included a dedicated focus on anti-terrorism in bus and coaches.
Collaboration is essential in reducing risks and finding approaches to prevent the potential use of buses and coaches for terrorist attacks. The session explored the current security threats but more importantly, dived into the solutions: the training, the technology and the innovation that are making a real difference.
Building on the successful results of SAFE-BUS, a UITP-led project, Carmela emphasised that a strong security culture depends on regular, practical training. “Security isn’t about passing a test” she said, “it must be our daily bread and butter”.
Training is essential for everyone, but it must be tailored to each role. That’s why SAFE-BUS developed specific handbooks for drivers and managers, recognising the different needs of the roles they play to prevent threats.
As the discussion turned to AI, speakers also reflected on the new questions these technologies raise – from privacy concerns to the protection of vulnerable passengers.
These are precisely the issues that future research and training must continue to explore. UITP has already worked on the topic in its AI in Public Transport publication which showcases 17 global examples of how to use AI in urban mobility.
To continue building on the topic of security, UITP has launched a three-part webinar series on public transport security. The first session “Mapping the Risk: Understanding Threats to Public Transport at Major Events” takes place on 14 October – an opportunity to explore how risk assessment and preparedness keep networks resilient.
Bus Community Meets at UITP Stand
The exchanges at the UITP stand reflected that same spirit – a community determined to keep public transport safe, sustainable, accessible and inclusive.
Among the hive of activity at the UITP Stand was a meeting between UITP Secretary General Mohamed Mezghani and UITP’s new member CANAPAT (Cámara Nacional del Autotransporte de Pasaje y Turismo), the national chamber representing Mexico’s intercity and tourism bus operators, which includes over 600 companies with 52,000 vehicles which move over 3.8 billion people every year. The moment was a chance to celebrate CANAPAT’s membership and UITP’s growing presence in Mexico and the Latin America region at large.
Also at the UITP stand was the chair of our Bus Committee Christophe Martin (Tec Wallonia) and Eduardo Zbikoski (Metropol), proud member of the UITP Bus Committee operating in Buenos Aires with 1,500 buses and Santiago de Chile with 800 buses, half of which are electric.
During the meeting, Metropol formally invited the UITP Bus Committee to host its Autumn 2026 meeting in Buenos Aires and also shared their experience, know-how, and insights into current challenges and strengths, and outlined an inspiring and enriching programme to share with fellow bus operators from all regions of the world.
Looking Ahead to Dubai
But not all good things come to an end (it’s really just a pause!). The conversation will continue at the UITP Summit on 21-23 April in Dubai, where the entire public transport sector will once again meet to continue on the discussions.
