Bolloré Plans Discontinuation of Bluebus Electric Bus Production

Bolloré, a French conglomerate, announced plans to discontinue the production of its electric buses through its subsidiary, Bluebus, as part of a broader strategy shift. The decision, which affects 74 positions over a three-year period, comes after years of struggling with slower-than-anticipated growth in the French market, intense competition, and sustained pricing pressure.

Since 2011, Bluebus has been at the forefront of electric bus manufacturing in France, leveraging the solid-state lithium metal polymer (LMP) technology developed by its sister company, Blue Solutions. The company has deployed nearly 700 six- and twelve-meter electric buses across France and Europe, contributing significantly to the development of low-carbon mobility. However, despite these efforts, Bluebus has failed to achieve the scale required to compete effectively with other industry players.

To ensure the continuity of its commitments, including after-sales services and support for vehicles currently in operation, Bluebus will maintain a leaner organization. The company is also exploring the possibility of transferring 17 employment contracts to a European industrial player, which would enable the reduction of job eliminations currently envisaged.

Simultaneously, Blue Solutions, the battery development arm of Bolloré, is refocusing its strategy for its next-generation battery technology, Gen4. The company is facing significant challenges in the European battery and automotive sectors and is proposing to streamline its organization to advance its technology towards industrial scale alongside a strategic investor. This initiative is expected to affect 41 positions and is subject to the completion of an information and consultation process with employee representative bodies.

The Bolloré Group emphasizes its commitment to the future of Gen4 technology and is confident in its long-term potential. The company remains proud of the achievements of the teams involved and is focused on supporting every employee affected by these plans with seriousness, respect, and consideration.

These strategic moves reflect the ongoing efforts of the Bolloré Group to adapt and innovate in response to the evolving landscape of the energy and transportation sectors.