The vehicles were tailor-made for the Middle East market and eighty units of the coach bodies on the Volksbus 17.240 OT chassis were equipped with a removable roof.

The deal includes the Proterra development centre for battery modules and packs in California and an assembly factory in South Carolina. Whilst details remain sparse at this point, the deal is expected to close in early 2024 and remains subject to the approval of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court.

According to data from Bogotá-based Andemos (National Association for Sustainable Mobility) sales in year to September 30, 2023, fell by 35.3% to 19,444 heavy commercial vehicles compared with 30,060 units sold in the same period of 2022.

Ecuador completed the first nine months of this year with registrations of 8,219 heavy commercial vehicles, a decrease of 4.2% compared with 8,581 vehicles sold in the same period of 2022.

With registrations of 12,881 heavy commercial vehicles during the first nine months of this year, the Peruvian market declined by 6.3% compared with 13,750 units invoiced in the same period of 2022.

The economic contraction in Chile went beyond the negative forecasts predicted by the Monthly Economic Activity Indicator in a more pronounced way than estimated and majorly compromised sales of commercial vehicles.

The Uruguayan market in January to September registered 2,242 commercial vehicles (trucks, buses and minibuses) an increase of 8.8% compared with the 2,061 units sold in the same period of 2022.

Brazilian production of bus and coach bodies grew by 9.1% from January to September 2023 with 14,888 units, compared with 13,646 in the same period of the previous year.

According to São Paulo-based ANFAVEA, the result reflected the engine change to Euro 6 compliance in January, which made the vehicles 20% to 30% more expensive.

The German manufacturer showcased a new 'digital cockpit', which will become the standard for MAN and Neoplan coaches produced from next year, and premiered the ‘Lion’s City 12 E LE’.

The new Temsa battery packs boast higher energy capacity and greater durability, while the hydrogen coach is a joint project with CaetanoBus using Toyota fuel cells.

The Euro VI engine's maximum torque has been increased by 50 (to 150 Nm) and offers lower fuel consumption and longer time between service intervals than previous generations due to high torque and low revs. The new powertrains are able to run on HVO biodiesel.