Interview with Félix Fernández, President of Solaris North America
The United States and Canada are among the world’s most important mobility markets — across both rail and bus segments — and represent one of the greatest opportunities for growth and value creation for the CAF Group looking toward 2030. Their scale, strategic relevance and long‑term development potential make North America a natural priority for us. CAF has therefore adopted a comprehensive urban‑mobility approach for the region.
CAF is a highly recognized brand in the United States, having delivered numerous streetcars and light‑rail vehicles to cities such as Boston, Cincinnati, Houston, Kansas City, Maryland and Omaha. As part of CAF Group since 2018, Solaris complements CAF’s strong U.S. presence in rail with a leading zero‑emission bus portfolio. Together we offer integrated, future‑focused urban‑mobility solutions across rail and bus.
I have the privilege of serving as CEO of CAF USA while simultaneously being President of Solaris North America, which allows us to align both sides of the Group's mobility strategy in a coordinated and impactful way.
Solaris is a well‑known bus brand in Europe. What are your plans for the North American market?
Solaris is one of Europe’s leading manufacturers of city and intercity buses. Over the past 30 years, we have delivered more than 28,000 vehicles to nearly 900 cities across 33 countries. Today, the core of our portfolio focuses on zero‑emission vehicles: battery‑electric buses, hydrogen‑fuel‑cell buses, and trolleybuses. We are now ready to bring our most advanced technologies and decades of experience to transit agencies in the United States and Canada. I am confident that our offer will generate strong interest from North Americn.
You have already secured your first orders in the U.S. Could you tell us more about them?
At the end of 2024, we reached a major milestone in our North American strategy by signing our first contract with King County Metro in Seattle. The contract includes the delivery of two 40‑foot and two 60‑foot battery‑electric buses, scheduled for delivery in the second half of this year. These vehicles are built on a new electric platform developed specifically for the North American market, fully compliant with all U.S. regulatory requirements. The platform integrates Solaris’ most advanced European technologies – modern electric drivetrains, proprietary battery solutions, and innovative connectivity and diagnostic features. Additionally, under an option exercised from the same framework contract, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) ordered six buses: three 40‑foot and three 60‑foot battery‑electric units.
Where will the buses for Seattle and San Francisco be produced?
Since these initial contracts are not subject to Buy America requirements, the buses will be manufactured at our facilities in Poland. Our long‑term strategy, however, is to establish production capacity in the United States. To achieve this, we plan to leverage the existing manufacturing footprint of CAF’s rail facility in Elmira, New York, which will serve as a natural base for Solaris’ future U.S. operations.
When and where will Solaris’ U.S. dedicated bus be presented for the first time?
The official premiere will take place at the APTA EXPO in Chicago, held from October 5–7 this year. Our new 40‑foot electric bus will be unveiled during a special launch event on October 5. We warmly invite all interested transit agencies, city representatives, and industry partners to visit our booth. I am confident that this innovative vehicle will be a compelling solution for U.S. operators seeking modern, reliable, and fully zero‑emission city buses.
About Félix Fernández
With over 30 years in the mobility sector and extensive executive experience in the U.S. market, Félix Fernández serves as CEO of CAF USA and President of Solaris North America, leading the Group’s integrated strategy in the region.
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