Largest electric bus order in Ikarus’ history includes 150 battery-electric solo city buses and 75 charging stations
Hungarian bus manufacturer Ikarus has secured a major contract to support the electrification of public transport in North Macedonia. Together with its partners, Ikarus will supply 150 fully electric urban solo buses and 75 charging stations. Around 100 buses are intended for the capital Skopje, while the remaining 50 vehicles will be deployed in other cities across the country.
The contract represents the largest electric bus procurement in Ikarus’ history by unit volume and is also an important strategic step in the company’s expansion in Central and South-Eastern Europe.
Ikarus 120e V4: 12.9-metre electric solo bus
The vehicles supplied under the contract will be the Ikarus 120e V4, the latest version of Ikarus’ electric city bus. The low-floor solo bus is 12.9 metres long and is designed for urban public transport. Depending on the LFP battery configuration, the model offers a stated range of approximately 350 to 580 kilometres.
The tender specifications required a minimum battery capacity of 360 kWh and a minimum range of 325 kilometres. The procurement also includes a four-year warranty for the buses and batteries as well as a ten-year supply of spare parts.
150 buses and 75 charging stations
The project includes not only the vehicles but also the associated charging infrastructure. A total of 75 charging stations, each with a minimum output of 120 kW, will be supplied as part of the package.
The deliveries are scheduled in three stages:
| Delivery period | Electric buses | Charging stations |
|---|---|---|
| Within 6 months | 30 | 15 |
| Within 12 months | 60 | 30 |
| Within 18 months | 60 | 30 |
| Total | 150 | 75 |
The procurement is intended to modernise public transport and improve the efficiency and environmental performance of urban mobility in Skopje and other North Macedonian municipalities. The total tender value was reported at more than MKD 3.1 billion excluding VAT, equivalent to around €50.9 million.
Ikarus-led consortium wins tender
The contract was awarded following a public procurement procedure launched by the North Macedonian Ministry of Transport. Ikarus’ subsidiary Electrobus Europe emerged as the best bidder.
According to Ikarus, the project is based on cooperation between international and local partners. This approach is intended to maximise local added value and involve North Macedonian companies in key stages of the project and throughout the vehicles’ lifecycle. (Ikarus)
For Ikarus, the project is therefore not simply a vehicle supply contract. The company sees it as an important regional reference and a foundation for further expansion in the Balkan market.
Strategic milestone for Ikarus
The North Macedonian order significantly strengthens Ikarus’ position in the European electric mobility market. The company, which dates back to 1895, has been rebuilding its presence in the European bus market and has increasingly focused on battery-electric vehicles.
The Ikarus 120e forms the core of this strategy. The latest V4 version combines a low-floor urban bus concept with battery-electric propulsion and flexible battery configurations. The North Macedonian order provides Ikarus with a major reference project at a time when cities across Central and South-Eastern Europe are increasingly investing in zero-emission public transport.
With 150 Ikarus 120e V4 buses and 75 charging stations, the project is also one of the more substantial recent electric bus procurements in the region. For Skopje in particular, the introduction of around 100 battery-electric buses will represent a significant expansion of the city’s zero-emission public transport fleet.
A major reference for South-Eastern Europe
The project demonstrates how the electrification of public transport is increasingly moving beyond Western and Northern European markets. Cities in South-Eastern Europe are also beginning to invest in complete electric bus systems, combining vehicles, charging infrastructure and long-term maintenance arrangements.
For Ikarus, the North Macedonian contract provides a significant reference for future tenders in the region. For North Macedonia, it represents an opportunity to modernise its urban bus fleets while reducing local emissions and potentially lowering energy and maintenance costs over the vehicles’ operating life.
The first deliveries are scheduled within six months, with the complete fleet of 150 buses and 75 charging stations to be delivered within 18 months.
21.08.2026
