São Paulo secures BNDES financing for 1,300 more electric buses
By Jose Secco - 20th February 2025
Scania-Caio electric bus operating in São Paulo
Brazil – The City Hall of São Paulo has signed a BRA2.5 billion (USD 430 million) loan agreement with the National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES), marking a significant step in the city's plan to electrify its public transportation network. The new funding is expected to allow the acquisition of 1,300 additional electric buses.
With the addition of these new electric buses, São Paulo is expected to continue to lead Brazil’s transition to sustainable transportation. Currently, the city operates the largest fleet of electric buses in the country, with 489 units—288 fully electric and 201 trolleybuses. Since 2022, the administration has mandated that all new public transit vehicles must be environmentally friendly, effectively ending the purchase of diesel buses.
