The bus in question is a battery-electric Volvo, which was handed over to the public transport authority of Perth in Western Australia as part of an order for 18 buses announced last year.

The state government of Western Australia, together with the federal government, is committing AUD125m towards the manufacture of buses on the BZL Electric chassis in Perth.

Optibus and Stoneridge’s software offerings will be made available by Volvo Bus to pilot customers in selected markets this year.

Media reports from 4 July were corroborated by an announcement on Sunsundegui’s website; T&BB reached out to Volvo, which confirmed the reports but provided no further comment.

26 of the ‘9700 DD’ coaches will operate in express traffic in the city of Gothenburg, while the remaining 5 will be put on an intercity route to the town of Borås in Sweden.

Volvo Buses will roll out its active safety systems not only in its Euro VI and electric vehicles but also across its Euro III and V vehicles, intended for markets where such safety features are not legally required.

The Swedish manufacturer announced its financial results for 2023, reporting net sales of SEK552.8bn and an adjusted operating income of SEK77.6bn.

The new model is a battery electric version of the longstanding ‘8900’ range, designed for extended city, intercity, and commuter operations.

MCV will produce the buses under licence at its facility in Egypt, employing chassis supplied from Volvo’s factories in Sweden.

Starting next year, Sunsundegui will be licensed to produce the Volvo ‘9700’ and ‘9900’ coach models, based on a new chassis which Volvo Buses introduced last year.

Volvo will supply 150 double deck and 20 single deck buses based on its ‘BZL Electric’ chassis to Stagecoach, who will put them on the roads of Manchester from Summer 2024.

The range, called ‘Luminus’, is based on the BZL Electric chassis and is available in lengths varying between 9.7 and 13 metres.