The Mexican state of Jalisco is accelerating its transition to sustainable public transportation with an order for 53 electric Volvo buses, destined for the Guadalajara metropolitan area.
The initiative marks a significant milestone in Mexico’s path toward cleaner urban mobility, reaffirming Volvo Buses commitment to driving innovation that benefits both people and society.
“This project positions Guadalajara as one of the leading Mexican cities in adopting electromobility solutions. It reflects the state’s forward-looking approach to sustainable public transport – and Volvo Buses ongoing mission to help cities build cleaner, quieter, and more efficient urban transport systems,” says Rafael Kisel, Managing Director at Volvo Buses Mexico.
The order includes 31 LUMINUS high-floor buses, built on the Volvo BZR chassis, 12 LUMINUS low-floor buses, built on the Volvo BZL chassis, and 10 Volvo 7800 Electric articulated buses. All units are manufactured in Mexico, supporting national sustainability goals through local production, job creation, and a strengthened domestic supply chain.
The first 12 LUMINUS low-floor buses will begin operating in December 2025, followed by the remaining units in May 2026. The entire system is expected to be fully operational ahead of the 2026 World Cup in soccer, showcasing Mexico’s progress toward modern, zero-emission transit. According to preliminary calculations, the 53 electric buses will reduce CO₂ emissions by more than 35% compared to equivalent diesel models – a saving of over 140 tons of CO₂ per year.
The buses are designed for city traffic and will rely primarily on night charging, with daytime top-ups via CS2 connections to extend service hours when needed.
Unlike other projects where Volvo Buses provides full turnkey solutions, this initiative focuses on vehicle delivery. Nevertheless, Volvo Buses continues to guarantee strong uptime support through its national service network.
“The proven quality and durability of Volvo Buses products are among the key reasons Guadalajara has once again chosen our solutions, demonstrated by the fleet of Volvo articulated buses that inaugurated the city’s first BRT corridor 15 years ago. However, the decisive factor this time is that field tests confirmed that the performance of our electric buses is better than others, primarily in energy consumption and range – in addition to the support we guarantee to ensure uptime through our service network,” concludes Rafael Kisel.
