Only 31% of the 523 electric buses funded by the SNP’s Zero Emission Bus Challenge Fund have been manufactured in Scotland, while over half were built in China, raising concerns over the future of Scottish busmaking jobs as Alexander Dennis Limited moves to close factories in Falkirk and Larbert.
Less than a third of the electric buses funded by the Scottish National Party (SNP) Government’s Zero Emission Bus Challenge Fund (ScotZEB) have been manufactured in Scotland, sparking concerns over the impact on local jobs and industry. Of the 523 buses ordered under the scheme, only 162—or 31 per cent—were built in Scotland, with the majority produced overseas. Notably, 287 buses, constituting 55 per cent of the total, were made in China, exceeding the number manufactured across the entire UK.
The figure has raised particular concern amid the backdrop of job losses and manufacturing contractions in the Falkirk area. Alexander Dennis Limited (ADL), once a cornerstone of Scottish bus manufacturing with plants in Falkirk and Larbert, recently entered a consultation process proposing factory closures and consolidation of production in Scarborough, England. This restructuring threatens around 400 jobs and ends a century of bus-making heritage in the region, compounding economic blows including the recent closure of an oil refinery nearby.
Labour politicians have sharply criticised the SNP Government’s approach, framing it as a failure to support Scottish industry despite significant public investment. Euan Stainbank, Labour MP for Falkirk, stressed that the government’s green industrial ambitions starkly contrast with their funding allocations, which have seen public money facilitate foreign manufacturing rather than preserve skilled local employment. He condemned the fact that nearly three-quarters of the buses funded were built outside Scotland, calling it “an insult to the workers” fighting to keep heavy industry alive in their communities.
Supporting these concerns, Glasgow Labour MSP Paul Sweeney highlighted that the Scottish Government does not currently gather data on the manufacturing locations of these buses, suggesting that the social value measures in public procurement are inadequate. He called for a bolstering of policies to prioritise Scottish manufacturers and protect skilled jobs from foreign competition subsidised by Scottish taxpayers.
The Scottish Government, while acknowledging the consultation process at ADL, insists it is actively exploring options to retain manufacturing jobs and facilities at Falkirk and Larbert. It emphasises that since 2020, ADL has secured more zero-emission bus orders through ScotZEB and its predecessor programme than any other manufacturer, receiving £58 million in subsidies and securing over 360 orders through these government schemes. This includes a recent deal for 137 battery-electric buses to be built in Falkirk, reinforcing some local manufacturing and green job retention.
ScotZEB itself is part of a broader government strategy to decarbonise Scotland’s public transport fleet. With over £62 million invested in the first phase, the fund aims to replace 276 old diesel buses with zero-emission models and establish the necessary charging infrastructure, contributing to ambitious climate change targets. Between 2020 and 2025, the number of zero-emission buses in Scotland has risen from fewer than 20 to over 800, reflecting a significant shift towards sustainable transport although challenges remain in sourcing production locally.
However, the dynamics of the global bus market and competition from Chinese manufacturers have placed pressure on UK producers like ADL. Industry observers note that consolidation efforts by ADL reflect the changing market landscape and the difficulty of maintaining multiple production sites amid increasing foreign competition.
The current situation highlights a tension between ambitious environmental goals and the realities of industrial policy and economic geography. While the transition to zero-emission transport is critical for Scotland’s climate commitments, the localisation of the manufacturing supply chain remains a key issue. The closure of plants and job losses in Falkirk underline the need for procurement policies that better align green targets with industrial preservation, ensuring public investment both advances decarbonisation and sustains local economies.
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Source: Noah Wire Services
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative presents recent data on the manufacturing origins of electric buses funded by the ScotZEB fund. The earliest known publication date of similar content is 28 February 2022, when Alexander Dennis Limited (ADL) was awarded funding for 137 zero-emission buses to be built in Falkirk. ([alexander-dennis.com](https://www.alexander-dennis.com/alexander-dennis-welcomes-scotzeb-funding-for-137-scottish-built-zero-emission-buses/?utm_source=openai)) The report does not appear to be recycled or republished across low-quality sites. The inclusion of updated data on the manufacturing locations of these buses justifies a higher freshness score. However, the report may still be flagged for recycling older material. ([scottishdailyexpress.co.uk](https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/snp-face-backlash-contracts-build-26606076?utm_source=openai)) The narrative does not appear to be based on a press release. No discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes were identified. The content does not appear to have appeared more than 7 days earlier. The update may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged. ([scottishdailyexpress.co.uk](https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/snp-face-backlash-contracts-build-26606076?utm_source=openai))
Quotes check
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative includes direct quotes from Euan Stainbank, Labour MP for Falkirk, and Glasgow Labour MSP Paul Sweeney. The earliest known usage of these quotes is in the report dated 9 July 2025. No identical quotes appear in earlier material, suggesting potentially original or exclusive content. No variations in quote wording were noted. No online matches were found for these quotes, raising the score but flagging them as potentially original or exclusive content.
Source reliability
Score:
7
Notes:
The narrative originates from the Daily Record, a reputable Scottish newspaper. However, the report includes information from various sources, including government publications and press releases. The presence of multiple sources enhances the reliability of the information presented. The narrative does not originate from an obscure, unverifiable, or single-outlet source. No person, organisation, or company mentioned in the report appears to be unverifiable online. The source reliability is considered strong.
Plausability check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative presents plausible claims regarding the manufacturing origins of electric buses funded by the ScotZEB fund. Time-sensitive claims, such as the number of buses ordered and their manufacturing locations, are verified against recent online information. The narrative is covered elsewhere, reducing suspicion. Supporting details from reputable outlets are included. The report includes specific factual anchors, such as names, institutions, and dates. The language and tone are consistent with the region and topic. The structure does not include excessive or off-topic detail unrelated to the claim. The tone is not unusually dramatic, vague, or inconsistent with typical corporate or official language. The plausibility of the narrative is high.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative presents recent and plausible information regarding the manufacturing origins of electric buses funded by the ScotZEB fund. The quotes appear original, and the source is reliable. No significant issues were identified in the freshness, quotes, source reliability, or plausibility checks. Therefore, the overall assessment is a PASS with high confidence.
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