Tiger’s custom design for the retail giant is a tri-axle box van, with a double-deck interior featuring a three-quarter length moving deck.

The buses, which are the first of a 15-strong order which will be fulfilled before the end of the year, are Mercedes-Benz ‘Intouro’ intercity buses which Safra has retrofitted with electric drivetrain components, fuel cells, and hydrogen storage tanks.

The delivery was part of an order for ten double-deck coaches fitted with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and five single-deck buses placed by the bus operator last year, as it looked to fulfil growing demand for inter-state road travel.

Of the firm order for 80 buses, 32 will be fitted with another set of doors on the other side of the vehicle, allowing for dual-side boarding.

This is claimed to be the first time school minibuses have been fitted with automatic transmissions.

The total value of the orders, including 10-year service contracts, amounts to EUR200m, making it one of the largest in the company’s history, according to Solaris.

Suez has ordered 52 ‘Elite+’ truck chassis, the latest purpose-built waste collection vehicle range from Dennis Eagle with low-entry cab and five-star visibility (according to Direct Vision standards).

The contract for 15 buses is worth over EUR10m and includes the provision of 15 stationary chargers at the depot and two pantograph stations located in the city.

“The supply to Expresso Nordeste confirms the brand's growth potential," said Danilo Fetzner, director of IVECO BUS for Latin America.

Some 1,000 units are to be made up of approximately 800, FCmove-HD 70 kW and 200, FCmove-HD+ 100 kW engines which will be integrated into the Solaris 12-metre and 18-metre buses. Included in the contract are after-market and extended warranty services. Delivery will occur from 2024 to 2027.

T&BB decided to delve into the reasons for this sales success story by interviewing the top management of Stuart Beeton, Head of Sales & Marketing and Peter Murphy, Managing Director of Isuzu Truck UK.

Higer imports buses to South America via a JV in Brazil.