On the one hand, the ÖDA secures the status quo of Wolfsburg's public transport system, but on the other hand it leaves room for necessary changes - such as making the bus service more flexible, electrifying the bus fleet or offering on-demand services in the city area.

"We want to continue to ensure high-quality and attractive public transport in Wolfsburg in the future and maintain WVG as a reliable partner - that was the primary objective of the negotiations that have now been concluded," says Lord Mayor Dennis Weilmann, explaining the background. "With the contract now awarded to WVG, we are putting our public transport on a new, sustainable footing."

"I am delighted that the city of Wolfsburg and the regional association are once again placing their trust in WVG and putting local public transport in our hands for the next 15 years. The extended term in particular enables us to continue to work consistently on developing local public transport in Wolfsburg into an important part of an attractive, sustainable and future-proof mobility solution. I would particularly like to thank the city of Wolfsburg and the regional association for the very constructive negotiations on the ÖDA," says Timo Kaupert, Managing Director of WVG.

Ralf Sygusch, Association Director of the regional association, explains: "The new ÖDA was granted for a term from January 2026 to the end of 2040 and now for the first time for 15 years. We have thus created a reliable perspective for WVG and the city of Wolfsburg for their considerable investments in infrastructure and e-mobility. WVG's services will therefore continue to be a reliable part of our overall regional public transport offering on rail and road."

Over the past few months, the city, WVG and the regional association have worked together constructively to create the legal basis to ensure that a direct award to WVG remains possible. There were no other potential bidders for the route network in the necessary, upstream EU-wide award procedure in summer 2024.

Current award period expires at the end of 2025

Over the past ten years - since the last award of the bus route network to WVG - the legal framework for direct awards has changed. In order to take these changes into account, the new public service contract replaces the previous joint award of the network by the city and the regional association. This is necessary because the current award period expires on December 31. The regional association remains the legally designated public transport authority.
Both the city of Wolfsburg and the regional association will shortly obtain the necessary resolutions from the relevant bodies. The submission process will start in the Strategy Committee on June 11. A decision will be made by the Wolfsburg City Council at its meeting on June 18.