The NSW Government has marked the start of construction on a new 6000sqm Foton Mobility Distribution bus manufacturing facility in Nowra.
Foton Mobility Distribution is an Australian-owned electric bus and truck manufacturing business currently delivering an order for 128 buses as part of the Transport for NSW Zero Emissions Bus program.
The new manufacturing hub will allow Foton to scale up to 127 workers, from 19 at their current temporary facility.
Twenty-five Foton buses are already in service at the Bradbury depot Western Sydney and more will soon go into service from the Brookvale depot on the Northern Beaches.
“This new facility is a strong example of private investment responding to global shifts toward electrification and choosing to back NSW with new capability and skilled jobs,” said Minister for Domestic Manufacturing and Government Procurement, Courtney Houssos.
Construction of the new Foton facility will roll out in three phases, with the first phase commencing today and delivering a new manufacturing shed in the third quarter of this year, and a second and third phase expected to deliver a pre-delivery shed and office space in 2027.
The next round of recruitment for 27 positions is expected to be advertised in June, including leading hands, assembly workers, electricians, production line engineer, quality control engineers, payroll and office admin.
Those workers are due to start when the first phase of the new facility is completed in the third quarter of this year.
“This facility will provide much needed economic opportunities for locals in Nowra,” said Minister for Transport, John Graham.
The benefits will flow beyond the employees with Foton already using six local suppliers: John K Engineering, Lee Sandstrom for auto electrical, Mark Burton for quality assurance, Nowra Signs, Total Tools, and Multiparas Unanderra for components.
