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Osaka Metro to Return EV Bus Subsidies, Presses Supplier on Costs

The move signals a push for vendor accountability that could escalate into a lawsuit.

Overview

  • Osaka Metro told shareholder Osaka City it will give back more than ¥4 billion in national, prefectural, and municipal subsidies tied to its 190 electric buses.
  • The operator said it will seek cost coverage from EV Motors Japan and warned it may file suit if the company refuses.
  • Osaka Metro ordered the supplier to remove the buses from its property by the end of June.
  • The 190 buses, bought in 2022–24 for Expo shuttles, in‑venue transport, and on‑demand city service, were sidelined in March after repeated running problems.
  • More than 100 unused buses are lined up on Osaka Metro land in Jōtō Ward, a sight dubbed an “EV bus graveyard” on social media that highlights the post‑Expo strain on city plans and finances.