Yutong electric ‘deckers launched by Xplore Dundee

A new fleet of 12 electric Yutong U11DD double-deckers has been unveiled by Xplore Dundee today (28 march 2025).

The £8.4 million investment by McGill’s Group, owned by Sandy and James Easdale, was unveiled at an event attended by Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Fiona Hyslop MSP and Dundee City Council Leader, Mark Flynn.

The new Yutong U11DDs can each carry up to 84 passengers and feature air conditioning and USB charging sockets. They each have 422kWh capacity batteries, which will be charged at Xplore Dundee’s East Dock Street depot. McGill’s has previously invested £7.6 million in electric vehicles and infrastructure in Dundee.

This latest purchase brings the total number of electric buses in the McGill’s Group fleet to 121, with a further 30 due to be delivered this summer. The investment has been supported by around £2.7m from the Scottish Government’s Scottish Zero Emission Bus Challenge Fund (ScotZEB).

Charging infrastructure at McGill’s Group is provided by Zenobē. The Zenobē-led ScotZEB 2 consortium is deploying over 250 zero-emission vehicles and creating a network of shared charging infrastructure across Scotland.

Tony Williamson, Chief Executive of McGill’s Group, said: “We are thrilled to be bringing these state-of-the-art buses to passengers in Dundee, and we’re certain they will enjoy travelling on them in the months and years ahead.

“We were pleased to welcome the Cabinet Secretary and the council leader to the event today and it was a good opportunity to give them a tour of the work that has gone on to support this transition at the depot.

“With this latest roll-out, McGill’s now operates one of the largest electric bus fleets in the UK. We are proud to lead the way in the transition to greener public transport and to provide a cleaner, more comfortable travel experience for our passengers.

“Owners Sandy and James Easdale have made a tremendous investment in McGill’s Group, and this latest addition to our electric fleet is a testament to their commitment to sustainable transport. Their vision and dedication have enabled us to take bold steps in making zero-emission travel a reality for thousands of passengers every day.”

Ian Downie, Head of Yutong UK, commented: “We have worked with McGill’s for a number of years and are absolutely delighted that they have ordered the first Yutong double decks to operate in Scotland. These state-of-the-art vehicles are fitted with customer-centric features such as passenger air conditioning and enhanced passenger information systems, as well as USB charge points. McGill’s have been a pleasure to work with, and we cannot wait to see these vehicles in operation, enhancing the passenger experience and decarbonising the transport system in Dundee.”

Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Fiona Hyslop, said: “I’m pleased to welcome the introduction of 12 new zero-emission buses by Xplore Dundee, supported through investment of around £2.7 million from the Scottish Government.

“This brings our total investment to McGill’s Group, through three previous rounds of subsidy for zero emission buses and charging infrastructure, to over £25 million. This has encouraged early investment and has resulted in 121 zero-emission buses being introduced for their customers since 2020.

“This means high levels of passenger comfort, zero emissions, and better air quality for people and communities in Dundee and across Scotland. This could not be achieved without the leadership and ambition we’ve seen from Xplore Dundee and McGill’s in our shared ambition to protect the climate and encourage more sustainable bus travel.”