Red Movilidad consolidates electromobility with 55% of the electric fleet in Santiago
• 3,544 units of electric buses are already operating in different corners of the capital, and it is expected that by March 2025 the zero-emission fleet will reach 68%.
• The authorities presented new electric articulated buses that will also be incorporated into the Red Movilidad fleet in the coming weeks.
Santiago, November 2, 2025.- The Minister of Transport and Telecommunications, Juan Carlos Muñoz, reported that more than half of the public transport buses that circulate today through different districts of Greater Santiago are electric, allowing the 5 million passengers who use it daily to have more comfortable, safer and zero emissions trips.
The authority indicated that 3,544 electric buses are in operation, which represents 55% of the city’s total public transport fleet, and this Sunday presented part of the new electric articulated buses, belonging to the Metbus company, which will soon be operating on axes such as Alameda and Providencia.
The implementation of the Vías 2 Tender and the renewal of the fleet of the operating companies have been fundamental in this progress of electromobility in Santiago, said the Secretary of State, while stressing that these advances are also materializing in regions.
“President Boric’s government has strongly promoted sustainable public transport and we have made progress that thousands of people are already seeing. In Santiago, more than half of the buses are already electric, and we have had a growth of 355% during this administration. Electric buses are already operating in 9 cities in the country and we will continue on that path. This is a profound change that is transforming public transport at the national level,” said Minister Muñoz.
In this sense, Minister Muñoz stressed that electric buses, in addition to their low pollution, have air conditioning, security cameras and Wi-Fi connection, among other attributes, giving more comfort and safety in people’s trips.
The director of Metropolitan Public Transport, Paola Tapia Salas, said that this advance positions Chile as a regional leader in electric mobility and Santiago as the city with the most electric buses outside China.
“After 18 months testing a prototype, starting in the next few weeks, 94 articulated buses will be incorporated into services 406 and 506 connecting sectors from Pudahuel to Cantagallo, or also from Maipú to Peñalolén. Articulated buses have been 17 years old, a cycle that needs to be renewed and we do it hand in hand with electric technology, more comfort for people, and greater capacity in those services that require it, being able to transport more than 140 people, which is another advance of Red Movilidad,” emphasized Paola Tapia.
Humberto Franchini, operations manager of Metbus, called on users to take care of the buses, “that users value the effort involved in bringing this type of buses, the first fleet in South America of electric articulated buses, which are very necessary for high-demand services and that seek to better the quality of service we provide.”
Meanwhile, Tamara Berríos, Country Manager of BYD Chile, said that “BYD’s leadership in electromobility is reflected in the premiere of this fleet of 94 articulated electric buses, the largest in the region. We are committed to being able to make electric buses available that fit the necessary typologies for the country. With the arrival of these units, in addition to double-decker, 12 and 9-meter buses, Chile is a benchmark for public transport at a global level.”
The incorporation of electromobility in Santiago has made it possible to reduce emissions of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) by 80%, reduce environmental noise in the Alameda axis by up to 44%, and save more than 60 million liters of diesel.
