How SR2 Clean Energy helped Solaris Bus & Coach rapidly secure specialist automotive talent across multiple geographies during a period of intensive expansion.
€1.18B
Revenue in 2025
33
Countries Served
3000+
Employees
86%
Zero/Low Emission Contracts
“
Anna Nowak-Pilarska
Talent Acquisition Manager · Solaris Bus & Coach
The Challenge
Solaris Bus & Coach is one of Europe’s most ambitious clean transport manufacturers – delivering electric, hydrogen, and trolleybus solutions to cities across 33 countries, with revenues exceeding €927 million in 2024.
During a period of intensive expansion across its Polish headquarters and international subsidiary companies, Solaris needed rapid access to highly qualified experts and managers from the automotive sector.
The business was scaling at pace. New contracts were landing. Production targets were growing. But the talent needed to sustain that momentum was not easy to find.
The Pressure
Solaris’s order backlog entering 2025 stood at over €1.4 billion, with 92% of those orders for low or zero-emission vehicles. Every unfilled role risked delaying delivery.
New projects were emerging, technologies were evolving, and competitors across the automotive sector were hiring aggressively for the same specialist profiles.
With teams already under pressure, open roles in engineering and commercial functions weren’t just an inconvenience. They were a risk to strategic momentum.
Secure specialist automotive talent quickly, across multiple locations and business units, without compromising on quality or cultural fit.
The Reality
The roles themselves were far from straightforward. Solaris needed experienced engineering and commercial professionals with highly specific automotive expertise. The kind of candidates who are rarely active on the open market.
Location added another layer of complexity. With operations spanning a headquarters near Poznań and subsidiary companies across different geographies, the company could not rely on a single local talent pool.
The profiles existed. But finding them (and persuading the right people to move) required a recruitment partner with genuine sector depth and a strong passive candidate network.
Technical understanding, real partnership, and the speed to match a fast-moving market.
01
Solaris chose SR2 based on prior experience with smaller placements; consistent quality and delivery that earned trust before the scale increased.
02
SR2 moved fast. Candidate searches were initiated with minimal lag, and regular communication kept the process moving – filling roles in minimum time.
03
The SR2 consultant demonstrated genuine depth in the automotive market, quickly identifying and engaging passive candidates.
04
From weekly check-in calls to direct conversations with hiring managers, SR2 ensured alignment at every stage, resulting in strong conversion rates and smooth onboarding.
The right people, delivered quickly.
SR2 delivered expert and managerial hires across both engineering and commercial functions, consistently matching competency requirements and company culture.
Candidates were delivered quickly and precisely. Key projects continued without delay, maintaining momentum through a critical period of business growth.
SR2 operated across multiple geographies, supporting hiring at Solaris’s headquarters and across subsidiary companies in challenging, talent-sparse locations.
Looking Ahead
Following the success of the engagement, SR2 has become a trusted partner for both national and international recruitment at Solaris, supporting hiring across headquarters and subsidiaries alike.
As Solaris continues to scale in one of the most competitive and fast-changing sectors in Europe, that partnership provides confidence that the right specialist talent can be secured quickly when it matters most.
+
Whether you’re scaling your EV startup, launching a new battery division, or accelerating your energy transition strategy – we’re ready to connect you with the people who make it happen.
©2025 SR2 REC LTD
