Government Announces 40 New Electric Tallinja Buses As Part Of €14 Million Public Transport Investment

Malta Public Transport is set to introduce 40 new electric buses as part of a €14 million investment announced under the Government’s “Malta in Motion” transport plan.

The investment aims to continue modernising Malta’s public transport system while pushing towards cleaner and more sustainable mobility. The addition of the new electric Tallinja buses is expected to more than double the company’s electric fleet over time, while also supporting the Government’s goal of eventually making Gozo’s public transport fleet fully electric.

The announcement was made by Transport Minister Chris Bonett, who described the project as another concrete step towards a more modern and environmentally friendly transport system. He said the initiative forms part of a wider long-term vision focused on improving mobility through investment in public transport, infrastructure and innovative technologies.

Alongside the new buses, the Government also announced a pilot project involving an autonomous electric shuttle. The self-driving vehicle recently arrived in Malta and will undergo at least six months of testing across selected routes in Malta and Gozo. The shuttle, which can carry up to 15 passengers, will initially operate through controlled trials with a trained safety operator onboard at all times.

The autonomous shuttle project is being carried out in collaboration with University of Malta and is co-financed by the European Union through the Horizon Europe programme under the metaCCAZE initiative, which is exploring smart mobility solutions across several European cities.

The Ministry also announced that new bus routes, route extensions and increased frequencies on popular services are expected to come into effect from next Sunday as part of the continued investment in public transport.

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