Buses World News

In brief: Worldwide montly news & informations about Buses, Busmakers, Passengers' and the Transport Industry

20.10.15

BUSMAKERS NEWS * Africa: "The ‘East’ assault onto the ‘West’ "

* Tanzania - When Chinese wheels roll into northern zone

-- Since their landing on Tanzania, Scania products, both trucks and buses were to become the sole choice among transporters in the country. Tanzania Automobile Manufacturers (TAMCO), located in Kibaha, Coastal region was the initial assembly plant for the Swedish Marquee... Commanding the largest share in commercial trucks and buses, Scania led the pack ahead of other European Manufacturers such as Mercedes Benz, Iveco (Fiat) and DAF (Leyland)... The entrance of China’s Foton Daimler into the Northern Zone’s transport industry is described by experts here as the ‘East’ assault onto the ‘West’ ... The Foton distributors explained that, their trucks were fitted with engines made by Mercedes-Benz of Germany, or with ‘Cummings’ machinery from the United States... But Foton-Daimler isn’t the only Chinese vehicle manufacturer, too ‘Yutong’ has been filling the local roads with low, mid and high-end buses. China is also importing here brands such as Zonda, Howo and Zhong-Tong all parading trucks and buses... Still Foton does it better in planning to build manufacturing plants in East African countries already an assembly plant is operational in Nairobi, near Arusha... So are the Northern Zone transporters ready to switch their wheels from West to East?...
(Photo by Marc Nkwame - Dodoma Transport Agency’s Director, Mr Pamu Mand -left- displays one of the Auman trucks made by Foton-Daimler) -- Arusha, Tanzania - The Daily News, by Marc Nkwame - 29 Sept 2015

Labels: busmakers' news worldwide

28.2.11

BUSMAKERS NEWS * UK - County Antrim bus builders secure £55m order

Wrightbus have announced a major new order from the UK for 334 new buses

(Image: A Wrightbus)

County Antrim,NI,UK -BBC News Northen Ireland -23 February 2011: -- Its the biggest order the company has had in 'several years'... The contract with bus operator Arriva is valued at around £55m and consists of 204 double-deck and 130 single-deck buses... Arriva runs several routes in cities across the UK including, London and Glasgow... The order also includes the first Wrightbus StreetLite midi-buses to be delivered to an international public transport operator... The order from Arriva represented six months' work which would take the company up to the end of December 2011...

* UK - Bus makers and operators must work together says minister at bus industry event

London,EN,UK -MHW -23 February 2011: -- Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport, Norman Baker MP, told delegates at the Bus and Coach Engineering Conference that he wanted to "encourage even closer co-operation between manufacturers and operators" in order to help the passenger carrying vehicle sector meet its onerous targets and deadlines for compliance... Speaking at the conference - organised by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), Institute of Road Transport Engineers (IRTE), a professional sector of the SOE (Society of Operations Engineers), and Passengerfta, on 16 February in London - Mr Baker alluded to the challenge faced by operators to meet legislative deadlines and the need for manufacturers to help meet them... The conference looked at the maintenance of vehicles, the design of lighter vehicles and included a presentation about the design of the new bus for London from Wright Bus...

Labels: busmakers' news worldwide

15.4.10

BUSMAKERS' NEWS * WORLDWIDE

* USA - American busmaker Gillig and its workers, a stimulus success story

CAL,USA -Fav Stocks/by The White House Blog -9 April 2010: -- The other day, I heard a great success story from a man who thanked me for the work DOT’s Recovery Act grants had stimulated. He had in mind, specifically, our Federal Transit Administration grants that have allowed local and regional transit districts to upgrade and expand their fleets in times of strapped budgets... Because of the Obama Administration’s stimulus, he said, the Gillig Corporation, a 100% American bus manufacturer in California, had not only been able to retain its workforce in threatening times, but had added workers and was even working a shift on Saturdays... Now, I’ve heard a lot of anecdotes like this in the past 14 months. Recovery Act grants have allowed transit agencies to purchase over 12,000 new buses, rail cars, and paratransit vans. In Tennessee, for example, a grant to the Memphis Area Transit Authority allowed them to order 26 new vehicles from Gillig... (Photo: The first of 14 new Gillig-made buses for the Whatcom Transportation Authority)

* Germany - MB buses meet EEV emissions standard without diesel particulate filter

Stuttgart,Germany -Transport Weekly (Letonia) -15 April 2010: -- The Mercedes-Benz bus range for travel and regular transport services is to feature even more environmentally friendly specifications in the future. Over and above the proven BlueTec 5 diesel technology, the buses are now being made available in EEV (Enhanced Environmentally Friendly Vehicle) versions. The optional EEV emissions standard is currently the strictest European emissions standard, with limits which are below those of the Euro 5 standard. This translates into even lower pollutant emissions, thereby undercutting the Euro 5 standard in terms of particle emissions, for example, by around 30%, but without a fuel economy penalty. The most significant aspect of this result, however, is that it has been achieved solely by means of internal engine measures and without an additional particulate filter in the case of the Mercedes-Benz BlueTec engines. Previously the BlueTec engines were able to fulfil the optional EEV emissions standard through a combination of SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) technology and an additional diesel particulate filter. This system will also continue to be available...

* Hungary - Bus makers establish business cluster

Budapest,Hungary -Real Deal/MTI-ECONEWS -April 08, 2010: -- Nineteen Hungarian bus makers have established the Hungarian Bus Makers Cluster, government commissioner in charge of a programme supporting the bus-making industry Istvan Forian said at a press conference on Wednesday... The aim of the cluster is to promote cooperation among Hungarian companies in the industry, increasing their chances amidst fierce international competition, Mr Forian said... The founders of the cluster are Alfa Busz Projekt, Auto Rad Controlle, Auto Univerzal, I-Cell, IK Femtechnika, IK Jarmutechnika, Ikarus Bus, Jaszi-Autokut, Kti Kozlekedestudomanyi Intezet Nonprofit, Liberatus Hungary, Magyar Autobuszgyarto, Nor-Service, Omnex, Oroshazaglas, Raba Jarmu, Silex, Trezor-Liktor, Tuv Nord and Vill-Cad...

Labels: busmakers' news worldwide

7.4.10

BUSMAKERS' NEWS * WORLDWIDE

* UK - TfL Orders 50 More Hybrid Buses from Volvo and Alexander Dennis

London,UK -Green Car Congress (USA) -29 March 2010: -- Transport for London (TfL) will buy its latest batch of 50 hybrid buses from two vendors: Volvo (20 buses to be operated by Arriva) and Alexander Dennis (ADL) (10 to be operated by Metroline and 20 to be operated by London United). The buses are expected to enter service by the end of the year... There are currently 56 hybrid buses operating in London; a further six hybrid buses are on order and will be joining the bus fleet in 2010... The new buses are a key element of TfL’s strategy to increase hybrid buses on London’s roads. By next year, TfL expect to have 300 hybrid buses operating and by 2012 all new buses coming on to London’s roads will be hybrids... The Mayor has set a target of reducing CO2 emissions by 60% by 2025 from 1990 levels... (Photo from alexander-dennis: An Alexander Dennis bus)

* South Africa - Last chassis comes off-line in World Cup bus order

East London,SA -Engineering News, by Irma Venter -31 March 2010: -- Mercedes-Benz South Africa (MBSA) on Tuesday delivered the last chassis in the order for 460 buses from the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa), for use during the 2010 FIFA World Cup... The chassis came off-line at the company’s East London plant... Some of the chassis were still being fitted with bus bodies by MBSA’s Johannesburg-based partner, Marcopolo, with the completion date for the full contract set for May... The order include 168 inter-city coaches and 292 semi-luxury coaches... The 460 buses, including 44 from another manufacturer, are being financed through Mercedes-Benz Financial Services, in a six-year deal worth R1,2-billion... (Picture by Irma Venter - The last 2010 bus chassis to come off-line in East London)

* India - Ashok Leyland has converted 761 BEST buses to now run on CNG

Mumbai,India -Livemint/TWSJ -30 March 2010: -- The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply & Transport Undertaking (BEST) and Ashok Leyland, today joined hands to implement a green initiative in BEST’s bus fleet... Under this initiative, Ashok Leyland has converted 761 BEST buses to now run on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), a press release said here... Currently, over 6,500 CNG buses from Ashok Leyland are in operation in the country, the release said... (Photo from Ashkok Leyland: A 12 M Bus - BS II)

* USA - Thomas Built Rolls Out Hybrid Buses

High Point,N.C.,USA -WXII12, by PAM HAYNES -April 2, 2010: -- Thomas Built Buses manufacturer recently released a hybrid school bus onto the market, known formerly as the Saf-T-Liner C2^e diesel-electric hybrid. The bus uses a regenerative technology that cuts the amount of fuel usage by using some electrical power... Each time the accelerator is pressed on the hybrid bus, it runs on electrical power for the first one-eighth of a mile. After that, the diesel fuel system kicks in. The buses also look and operate the same as a regular diesel bus... The system has a “30 percent better fuel economy” than the standard diesel bus, which should save school districts big bucks in fuel expenses. But going greener isn’t always cheaper in the beginning...

Labels: busmakers' news worldwide

27.3.10

BUSMAKERS NEWS * China's Market

* Jiangxi - Analysis of Bonluck bus export to Australia, U.S.A., markets

Nanchang,Jiangxi,China -China Buses, by Eric -22 March, 2010: -- Bonluck, a little known China bus maker, has decided to sell their buses and coaches in Europe, Middle East as well as South America... Last year, their export got great-leap-forward development, up 60%, as general bus industry were down 45%... And we may find some valuable experience in overseas marketing by analyzing Bonluck bus...

1. Vehicle certification scheme under WTO frame: Many domestic bus makers are not clear about vehicle certification scheme in Europe and American markets, and they prefer imitating manufacturer technology and profile of their buses, but actually a bus cannot meet their test standards without complete technology. Bonluck Bus has passed Australian ADR, American DOT as well EU ECE vehicle certification.

2. Local needs for quality as well as performance of buses: Most China bus makers are lack of survey of local needs, and they usually export domestic mature bus models with some changes, which cannot meet requirements of overseas markets.

3. Strategic partners with local dealers: China bus makers have to ensure their exported buses meet requirements of local markets, and they should provide long term technology supporting service.

4. Brand construction: Bonluck Bus explore European and American markets via kinds of sales channels and flexible mechanism as well as CKD in Middle East and South America. And these efforts changed negative image of China buses in overseas markets and also helps for their brand construction... (Photo: Bonluck JXK6110 low floor bus designed for Australian markets)

* Chongquing - 20 New Products Show the strength of Hengtong bus 2010

District Chongqing, Chongqing, China -China Buses, by Andrea -22 March 2010: -- Hengtong Bus held "New Product Appraisal 2010" on 19 March in Kingworld Hotel Chongqing... Apart from 20 new products, this activity will mainly introduce the brand position of Hengtong Bus as "expert of public transport solution"... The various buses produced by Hentong Bus not only realized the fast, steady growth but also made breakthrough in emerging market... Introducing the new models in 2010... Hengtong Bus takes leading in the respects of energy-saving, environment, safety, applicability and commonality, especially CNG buses. It is regarded as “No. 1 Brand of China CNG Bus". In 2010, Hengtong Bus will focus on new energy buses and the independent development of bus chassis... In 2009, it produced the first gas/electric hybrid power city bus in China with the complete proprietary intellectual property rights in October 2009... (Image: Hengtong Buses. This appraisal mainly improve the brand image of " No.1 Brand of China CNG Bus" to enhance customers' cognition, attractiveness and loyalty to Hengtong through special development, professional products, quality and meeting the customers' requirements)

* Henan - Shaolin Pure Electric City Buses off Production Line

(Photo: Henan Shaolin Bus factory)
Xingyang,Zhengzhou,Henan,China -China Buses, by Eric -22 March 2010: -- Recently Henan Shaolin Bus Co., Ltd. self-developed pure electric city bus 10.5m SLG6105EV rolled off production line, and they would be put into markets soon... It is introduced that the bus is designed according to daily running distance of city buses, and it can run as long as 250km～300km with single charge.

(Photo: Shaolin SLG6105EV pure electric city bus)
The bus integrates high efficient engine, and controller, lithium iron phosphate battery and its management system, CAN, HCU, high and low voltage control, HPS, etc technology, air compressor etc, and it can also get the running information via GPS. Safety design on whole vehicle, high voltage protection, emergency etc are adopted. The battery box can be changed as required by customers. In addition, battery and running information of the bus can be printed at any time. Infinitely variable speeds and finitely variable speeds are provided according to different driving habits. And real zero emission is achieved in this bus...

* Anhui -The Joint Bus of Ankai and Big Bus for the World Expo Shows in Chengdu

Hefei,Anhui,China -China Buses, by Andrea -22 March 2010: -- On 18 March, the double-deck bus jointly produced by Britain Big Bus and Anhui Ankai Automobile Co., Ltd. showed and attracted the citizen's attention in Chengdu...This cross-country tour of World Expo coaches starts from Chengdu, via Chongqing, Changsha, Nanchang, Fuzhou and finally comes to Shanghai. It aims at the publicity of related activities of British pavilion for World Expo and the celebration of 10-year's anniversary of the British Consulate-General in Chongqing.

* Anhui - Ankai Bus Accounts for almost 30% Shares of Guangzhou Buses

(Photo: 4 Ankai models show on Guangzhou Transport Expo)

Hefei,Anhui,China -chinabuses, by Andrea -16 March 2010: -- 4 Ankai models all city buses. showed on 2010 Guangzhou International Transport Exhibition namely, Guangzhou International City Public Transport Exhibition held on 9 March in Guangzhou... Newly developed HFF6140G06D bus is 13.7 meters long and owns big carrier space with the capacity of up to 130 people compared with the conventional 12-meter city bus... At the beginning of this year, Shenzhen Bus Group purchased 35 units from Ankai Bus. This is another batch quantity of Ankai buses after the order of 86 units in Shenzhen market. There have been more than 3000 Ankai buses operated in Guangzhou with almost 30% market shares...

* Shandong - Zhongtong Bus to Attend Expo with Three Buses in Tianjin

Shandong,China -China Buses, by Andrea -18 March 2010: -- China (Tianjin) International Bus and Parts Expo, namely, the fifth China International Bus Competition will be held in Tianjin on 31 March, which takes "safe, green, energy-saving, emission-reducing and low-carbon transport" as the topic. There will be about 100 companies home and abroad participating it... As the navigator of new energy buses, Zhongtong Bus Holding Co., Ltd., will take three new products there:

Zhongtong 10-meter intercity LCK6105GM, 12-meter energy-saving is equipped with six-speed gear, more adaptable to the demand on both city bus and coach and saves fuel of 2~3L/100 km，compared with five-speed gear model.

Zhongtong 12-meter energy-saving city bus LCK6125HG, is provided with square outline, small round corner, crystal phoenix eyes-style lamp, generosity and gentleness.

New fuel-electric hybrid power city bus Zhongtong 10-meter fuel-electric hybrid power city bus LCK6101GHEV, means several honorable titles: It is the first hybrid power bus that is 10 meters long. It is No.1 hybrid power bus in fuel economy as well as cost performance: With full loading body, light body, big capacity (up to 88 people), deploys matching engine and motor and remains effective working of engine with 10% fuel-saving; this model applies high-end configuration such as non-stage transmission and front/rear air suspension with the price of 80% of a ordinary hybrid power bus...

* Shanghai - Zonda Plans Sales Promotion at Busworld Asia

Shanghai,Shanghai,China -China Buses, by Eric -19 March 2010: -- 2010 Shanghai World Expo is bound to be held soon, and its theme of “Better City, Better Life” inspires both customers and bus makers. And Zonda Bus offers discount for purchasing buses as well as tickets of World Expo...

Sixty Zonda B6 luxurious coaches with 20 per cent discount are available from March 20 to May 18, 2010. The Zonda B6 YCK6126HG4 coach, adopts integral bodywork design and reliable assemble. Huge luggage room and 53+1+1 seats are equipped, and the streamline body provide fashionable traveling experience for both drivers and passengers... The buyers of Zonda YCK6126HG4 can also get the following preferential measures: the first is that customers can pay in two years with down payment of 20 percent, the second is that Zonda Bus can cooperate with passenger transport company by injecting investment or becoming a shareholder, the third is that spare parts or fuel fees valuing ￥20,000 will be presented if more than five vehicles or vehicles valuing more than ￥2m, the fourth is that Zonda Bus will bear expenses is customers want to inspect the plant in the period, and the fifth is that five tickets for the Shanghai World Expo will be given to the customers...

Labels: busmakers' news worldwide

19.3.10

BUSMAKERS' NEWS WORLDWIDE * Germany - Mercedes hybrid buses put to the test

Hamburg,Germany -The Green Car Website -17 March 2010: -- Two Mercedes-Benz series hybrid Citaro G BlueTec Hybrid buses are being put through their paces as part of a field test led by the Hamburger Hochbahn Transit Company... The 18-metre hybrid buses are powered in part by four electric motors that are integrated into the wheel hubs on the centre and rear axles, and have a total output of 320kW. The vehicle also uses a combustion engine but it has only 4.8litres displacement compared to the standard 12 and with an output of 160kW it is around a third lower than the normal. It is also comparatively lightweight at around 450kg instead of 1,000kg... The buses can run solely on electric power for stretches without making use of the diesel engine and they are the first vehicles to be sold and used within the framework of a customer field test in Germany... It is expected that Mercedes Benz parent-company Daimler will test around 30 Citaro G BlueTec Hybrid buses in selected regions later this year to demonstrate their suitability for everyday use... (Photo: Citaro G BlueTec Hybrid buses)

* USA - Thomas Built Buses receives large order

High Point,NC,USA -The Business Journal of the Greater Triad Area -March 17, 2010: -- Durham School Services, a third-party provider of school transportation, has ordered 288 Thomas Built buses to be used in the Indianapolis Public Schools... The buses will feature Selective Catalytic Reduction technology, which allows the bus to maximize fuel efficiency as well as meet new tighter federal emissions standards... Thomas Built Buses is the leading manufacturer of school buses in North America. It is a subsidiary of Daimler Trucks North America LLC, the largest heavy-duty truck maker in North America... (Photo from freewebs: Thomas HDX Jakes Bus Yard)

* Germany - Daimler Buses Expects Unit Sales To Rise 8% In 2010

Frankfurt,Germany -Dow Jones, by Katharina Becker -March 17, 2010: -- German auto maker Daimler AG plans to sell about 8% more buses in 2010 than in the previous year, it said Wednesday... The global market is expected to grow around 4% in 2010... In 2009, unit sales at Daimler Buses fell 20% to 32,482... (Logo Daimler from secure.demonweb.co.uk)

* USA - EPA Certifies 2010 MaxxForce Diesel Engine for School Buses

Warrenville,ILL,USA -School Transportation News, by Ryan Gray -18 March 2010: -- The two main diesel engine options for school buses that meet 2010 EPA emissions regulations are now certified... Navistar, Inc., the parent company of IC Bus, said today that its mid-range line of 2010 MaxxForce DT Advanced EGR mid-range diesel engines has received a thumbs up from the EPA in meeting emissions regulations of Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx) and Particulate Matter (PM) emissions levels of 0.2 grams and 0.01 grams per brake-horsepower-hour... Cummins, whose mid-range ISB6.7 and ISC8.3 for school bus applications use SCR that uses diesel exhaust fluid, or urea, to meet the same standards, announced EPA certification in January... (Images from cygnuspub: MaxxForce with chassis)

* Japan - Public Transport Gets Citaro Buses

Tokyo,Japan -Autoevolution, by Alina Dumitrache -18 March 2010: -- German manufacturer Daimler announced today it has delivered ten new Citaro articulated buses to Keisei Bus, one of the top mass transit companies in Japan, which transports around 250,000 passengers per day. The new buses will primarily be used in east Tokyo. The company also announced it is planning to put five more of the buses into operation in late 2010... The turquoise-colored Citaro buses delivered to Japan are right-hand drive vehicles, but the company says their equipment is similar to that used by mass transit companies in Europe... (Photo: Mercedes-Benz Citaro)

* USA - New Flyer Recalls Transit Buses

Washington,DC,USA -Automotive Fleet -March 17, 2010: -- New Flyer Industries Ltd. is recalling more than 1,800 MY 2004-2009 transit buses... The recalled models have an inspection panel located above the drive shaft in the passenger compartment flooring for easy inspection and removal of the drive shaft. This panel may not be strong enough to prevent foreign matter from entering the passenger compartment in the event of a drive shaft failure, the National Highway Safety Administration said. Failure of the drive shaft access panel to maintain passenger compartment integrity poses a safety risk... Dealers will remedy the problem by incorporating an energy-absorbing honeycomb material to the underside of the access panel. The recall is expected to begin this month... (Photo from valleymetro.org: VM New Flyer bus)

Labels: busmakers' news worldwide

25.2.10

BUSMAKERS' NEWS * WORLDWIDE

* India - Ashok Leyland to shift the offerings to fully-built buses

Tiruchirapalli,Tamil Nadu,India -My Digital FC, by G Balachandar -Feb 19 2010: -- With changing market dynamics and customer preferences in the bus segment in the wake of entry of new big players, Hinduja flagship Ashok Leyland is gearing up to have larger share of fully-built buses in its offering over the next three years... The company, which earlier used to market mostly bus chassis, is keen to increase the share of fully-built bus in it offerings from the present level of 30 per cent to 60 per cent next year and 85-90 per cent over the next three years. “Though some customers are still opting for chassis, there is a shift towards fully-built buses. We are also moving towards offering more fully-built buses,” R Seshasayee, managing director, Ashok Leyland Ltd said at the launch of Irizar-TVS new bus assembly lines at Viralimalai, about 320 km south of Chennai... (Photo from ashokleyland: Panther bus

* USA - More layoffs are slated for a Mohawk Valley bus company

Oriskany,N.Y.,USA -WKTV, by PAT BAILEY -Feb 18, 2010: -- Daimler Buses of North America announced Thursday that 27 people will be laid off at Orion Bus in Oriskany... In December, employees were asked to enroll in the voluntary termination of employment program... Six from Orion did so, but their parent company, Daimler, decided more layoffs were needed... As a result, 27 union employees at Orion will be terminated next Friday... The company says the layoffs are a result of many factors, including the overall economic downturn... The Oriskany company employs 429 unionized workers...

Labels: busmakers' news worldwide

14.1.10

BUSMAKERS' NEWS * Sweden - Volvo Buses wins Swedish Traffic Safety Award

Stockholm,Sweden -BUSINESS WIRE -January 14, 2010: -- Volvo Buses has been named the winner of the Swedish Traffic Safety Award 2010. The company was awarded the prize for its work on an alcolock specially adapted for buses... The Swedish Motor Vehicle Inspection Company is the prize’s main partner... In its commendation, the jury said that Volvo Buses was awarded the prize for developing an alcolock that was specially adapted to the requirements of the bus sector, such as enabling the rapid changeover of drivers out in services. The engine can be started without the need for a breath test, but the brakes remain locked if the driver fails the test. Read more about the alcolock here...

* Canada - Ballard Announces Sale of Fuel Cell Power Modules to Advanced Public Transportation Systems bv in Europe

The Netherlands -PRNewswire-FirstCall (Vancouver,BC,Canada) -Jan. 11, 2010: -- Ballard Power Systems announced that it has received a sales order for five FCvelocity(TM)-HD6 power modules from Advanced Public Transportation Systems bv (APTS), a specialty bus OEM in The Netherlands, part of the VDL Group. The 150-kilowatt power modules will be installed and integrated by Vossloh-Kiepe with hybrid electric drive systems in 18-meter (60-foot) articulated Phileas buses manufactured by APTS... Phileas is a new concept for passenger transport on high frequency dedicated bus lanes. When running on a free bus lane and equipped with magnetic markers for electronic lane assistance and precision docking, Phileas buses can offer the advantages of rapid rail transport... (Picture from green.autoblog: h2 Olympics power BC Transit gets first fuel cell bus)

Labels: busmakers' news worldwide

9.11.09

BUSMAKERS' NEWS * USA - IC Corp. ceasing bus assembly at Conway plant

Conway,Ark,USA -The Cabin Net, by Rachel Parker Dickerson -November 5, 2009: -- IC Corp.’s parent company, Navistar, told employees Thursday it is ceasing bus production operations at its Conway plant... He said the economy makes for a “terrible time” for the industry, with school districts not being able to purchase many buses... Conway Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO, Brad Lacy, said “It’s horrible news. I think it’s horrible on a variety of levels. That number of people losing their jobs is a horrible thing. I think emotionally, too, this community has been in bus production since the 1930s, and it was something we identified with our community. When you lose that, you lose a piece of your history"... (Photo from cdn-9.psndealer)

Labels: busmakers' news worldwide

16.10.09

BUSMAKERS' NEWS * UK - Smith Electric Vehicles support London bus fleet

Washington, Tyne & Wear,UK -The Green Car Website, by Faye Sunderland -October 13, 2009: -- Bus operator Go-Ahead London has taken delivery of its first Smith Edison vans, following a successful month-long trial of the technology... Produced by Smith Electric Vehicles in Washington, Tyne & Wear, the vans are used as support vehicles to keep London’s bus fleet running and are a key element in Go-Ahead London’s environmental programme, ‘Go Green’... Go-Ahead London, which already operates six hybrid diesel-electric buses, is to be the first bus company in London to operate electric support vehicles. The Smith Edison is a pure electric version of the Ford Transit van. Its lithium-ion batteries deliver top speed of 50mph, a range of up to 100 miles on a single charge and can be recharged from flat to full in 6-8 hours... (Picture from roadtransport: A Smith's van )

* Brazil - Volvo To Sell 100 Bi-Articulated Buses To Sao Paulo

Sao Paulo,Brazil -Automotive Business Review (London,UK) -15 October 2009: -- Volvo Buses has received an order for 100 bi-articulated Volvo B9SALF buses to Sao Paulo in Brazil and an order for a further 84 articulated buses for the BRT system in Bogota, Colombia... The company said that an increasing number of cities are choosing to invest in BRT (Bus Rapid Transit), a bus-based transport system with high passenger capacity that facilitates boarding and disembarking from buses .. Volvo has received its first order for the bus in Latin America. Grupo Ruas, one of Brazil's bus operators, has purchased 100 bi-articulated Volvo B9SALF buses for Sao Paulo... (Photo from volvo.com: Buses Urbanos)

Labels: busmakers' news worldwide

17.9.09

BUSMAKERS WORLDWIDE * Indonesia - Komodo buses to hit the street

Jakarta,Indonesia -Car and Auto Industries - 18 Sept 2009: -- Malaysian-controlled automaker PT Asian Auto International launched its locally manufactured "Komodo" buses Tuesday... Local components used in Komodo buses now account for 50 percent of the total... AAI would produce 13 articulated buses fueled by compressed natural gas for PT Eka Sari Lorena... Lorena won the Jakarta administration public bidding to procure the buses for the Jakarta Bus Rapid Transit System, known locally as the Busway... At 110 centimeters high and 18 meters long, the bus can carry 155 passengers, seating 41 of them, and comes with a 1,100-cc engine... Given its lower cost, the bus is expected to outpace its competitors on the market...

* Japanese bus makers eye tie-up

Tokyo,Japan -The Economic Times (India) -31 Aug 2009: -- Japan's Nissan Diesel Motor Co. and Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corp. said Monday they had agreed to explore a merger of their bus manufacturing operations amid a weak market... The two firms aim to integrate their planning, research and development, production and sales in the bus industry under a joint venture company... The two makers already have a partnership under which they supply certain types of buses and coaches to each other... Germany's Daimler AG has an 85-percent stake in Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus while Nissan Diesel Motor is fully owned by Swedish truck maker Volvo...

* India - Tata Motors, Ashok Leyland fail to meet bus delivery deadline

Delhi / Mumbai, India -The WSJ/Mint (USA) -11 Sept 2009: -- A Rs4,000 crore Centrally funded initiative to boost public transportation in cities has been forced to slow down due to sluggish supply and missed deadlines... Only 283 buses have been delivered of the 11,431 that various state transport authorities ordered from bus makers including Tata Motors Ltd and Ashok Leyland Ltd after the Union government said in January that it would provide financial assistance under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission as part of a government stimulus package to buy the buses... (Photo by Ramesh Pathania / Mint: Poor show. Only 283 buses have been delivered of the 11,431 that various state transport authorities ordered)

Labels: busmakers' news worldwide