The bus market in Sweden experienced a significant contraction in 2024, with a 30% drop in registrations compared to the previous year, amounting to only 783 registrations across light and heavy buses.
However, this decline did not halt the electrification of the sector: electric buses accounted for 32% of new registrations, up from 28% in 2023.
Market Context: A Widespread Decline
The market contraction was not evenly distributed.
For heavy buses, annual figures revealed a 39% drop, with 512 units registered compared to 847 the previous year.
This trend was largely driven by supply chain issues affecting multiple manufacturers.
December offered no relief, with only 139 buses registered—a 24.9% decline from the 185 recorded in December 2023.
Registrations of light buses and gas-powered models mirrored this downward trend, with gas-powered buses disappearing entirely from the registration figures for the final month of the year.
Despite the challenging market conditions, electric buses stood out with an annual growth of 5.6%.
While 235 units were registered in 2024 compared to 249 the year before, December was particularly notable: 99 electric buses were registered, an 800% increase from the 11 registered in December 2023.
This growth contrasts sharply with a more than 50% drop in diesel bus registrations during the same period.
The near-elimination of gas-powered buses, with annual registrations plummeting by 91% (from 144 to just 13 units), further underscores the move towards cleaner technologies.
The trade association Mobility Sweden highlights the need to bolster climate incentives to support the deployment of electric buses, particularly for regional and long-distance routes.
Furthermore, it stresses the importance of expanding charging infrastructure to ensure the operational viability of these growing fleets.
Market Leaders: MAN and Mercedes-Benz Take the Lead
Among manufacturers, MAN led December’s heavy bus registrations with 60 units, followed by Solaris (33), Setra (19), and Mercedes-Benz (16).
Annually, Mercedes-Benz topped the charts with 144 registrations, with MAN coming in second at 109.
Other players like Setra and Scania also maintained a notable presence, albeit with more modest figures.
