Norway proposes new security safeguards for bus procurement as buses from non-allied countries surge

The following is based on an official press release from the Norwegian Ministry of Transport (Samferdselsdepartementet), published 19 August 2026. Norway is opening a public consultation on new measures aimed at reducing the security risk tied to buses manufactured in countries Norway has no security policy cooperation with, following what the ministry describes as a rapid rise in their share of the country’s bus fleet.

Chinese made buses Norway: a fast growing share of the fleet

According to the ministry’s own risk assessment, the share of buses in Norway built in countries outside Norway’s security cooperation network has climbed sharply in recent years. Data from the Norwegian Public Roads Administration’s vehicle register shows the share of newly registered buses from these countries rising from 0 percent in 2018 to 65 percent in 2025.

As of 13 August 2026, Norway’s vehicle register counted 12,603 registered buses in the M3 class, of which 19 percent were manufactured in countries outside Norway’s security cooperation network. Figures from the vehicle register may differ somewhat from numbers reported by public transport operators themselves, as the release notes.

Why the ministry is treating this as a security question

According to the press release, Transport Minister Jon-Ivar Nygård framed the proposal around the idea that, in a more tense geopolitical climate, safeguarding national security interests has become essential. Buses matter for everyday travel, he noted, but also for both civilian and military needs during crises or war, making it important that Norway avoid becoming too dependent on a single supplier or country for its bus transport.

The ministry’s assessment concludes that the fast growing share of buses from non-allied countries could pose an increased risk to national security if the broader security or trade policy situation were to deteriorate. The risk assessment itself drew on a wide evidence base, including input from Norway’s county authorities, national ministries, the Norwegian National Security Authority (NSM), the Police Security Service (PST), the Norwegian Public Roads Administration and the Norwegian Railway Directorate, alongside findings from other relevant reports and projects. The public portion of that assessment is included in the consultation document itself.

Norway zero emission bus exemption proposed alongside new guidance

Two concrete measures are now out for consultation. The first is a change to Norway’s zero emission regulation for publicly procured road vehicles, introducing a new exemption from the emissions requirement for buses specifically, where necessary to safeguard security and preparedness. In practice, that would let county authorities choose a diesel bus where a zero emission option isn’t technically feasible or would carry significantly higher costs.

The second measure is a new guidance document for county authorities and other public procurers, covering how to weigh security and preparedness considerations when buying buses and bus services. The guidance recommends that a substantial share of buses operating in county level public transport come from countries Norway has security policy cooperation with, that procurers factor in the risk of relying on one or few suppliers, and that they account for the risk of disruption to supply chains and access to critical components. Existing procurement law already allows public procurers to include security and preparedness requirements at any stage of a procurement process, and the ministry expects risk assessments to already be taking place in bus procurement in line with that law.

Balancing climate goals with security concerns

Nygård acknowledged the tension this creates with Norway’s climate ambitions, according to the release, stressing that Norway’s climate policy remains ambitious and its goals for phasing in zero emission vehicles unchanged. At the same time, he argued that in a period marked by rising international instability, climate and environmental rules need to be designed in a way that considers both concerns together, allowing necessary security and preparedness while still accounting for climate and environmental goals.

He also tied the proposal to the government’s broader transport strategy, noting that a resilient transport sector supporting Norway’s overall defence capability has been written in as a specific goal in the new National Transport Plan for 2029-2040, with these consultation measures built to support that goal directly.

The consultation document is open for public feedback until 19 November 2026.