North Macedonia targets 100-120 electric buses

According to regional news sources, the government is currently analyzing the market and looking for the fastest possible solution. The announcement on e-buses comes at a time when the public transport company JSP Skopje has had to reduce the number of buses on the roads due to fuel problems. This involved having to lend fuel to agricultural operations.

Prime Minister Mickoski has made assurances that the city transport situation is under the municipal jurisdiction of the City of Skopje, but that he expects it to stabilize in the meantime. The financing of electric buses for local authorities will also include the provision of around 50 charging units for the buses.

North Macedonia, a region of the former state of Yugoslavia, is now called North Macedonia to differentiate it from the Macedonian region within Greece. North Macedonia is home to a BMZ battery plant, which supplies electric buses, as well as a Van Hool electric bus plant. The Belgian manufacturer recently declared bankruptcy  and trustees have now accepted the takeover bid from VDL and the German trailer specialist Schmitz Cargobull so the future of electric bus plant is unclear.

Update 1 August 2025

North Macedonia’s transport ministry has cancelled the tender for 120 environmentally friendly buses intended for public transport in Skopje and other cities. The tender, launched on 17 June and open until 24 July, received only one bid, which failed to meet the required criteria.

The planned procurement included 80 buses for Skopje and 40 for other urban centres, aimed at enhancing public transport, reducing air pollution, and supporting sustainable development.

The ministry has stated that it will undertake further analyses before proceeding with future purchases of electric buses. This development delays North Macedonia’s efforts to modernise its urban mobility fleets with zero-emission vehicles.

balkangreenenergynews.com, seenews.com (update)