The Zero-Emission Bus Transition in the CEE

The Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) region presents a particularly compelling case for zero-emission mobility transition. With rapid urbanisation, persistent air quality challenges in major cities like Warsaw, Budapest and Prague, and strong policy momentum driven by EU integration, CEE countries are positioned to leapfrog traditional transport infrastructure. The region's lower operational costs, combined with substantial EU funding support through mechanisms like the Recovery and Resilience Facility, create unique conditions for accelerated zero-emissions bus deployment that can serve as a model for emerging markets globally. Recent data underscores this potential, with several CEE countries now achieving over 50% zero-emission shares in new bus sales, demonstrating the region's ability to rapidly scale once deployment begins.

At Amber Infrastructure, we have witnessed firsthand the region's infrastructure transformation through our role as investment adviser to the Three Seas Initiative Investment Fund, overseeing the investment of c.€1bn across CEE markets. The zero-emission mobility transition represents a niche, but crucial illustration of the broader infrastructure modernisation taking place across the region—combining environmental imperatives with commercial opportunities. This report draws on our significant regional and sectoral experience to outline not just the scale of the opportunity, but the practical pathways for infrastructure investors to participate in what we believe will be one of the defining infrastructure themes of the next decade across CEE.

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