Last year Volkswagen Caminhões e Ônibus announced plans to allocate BRA110m million (USD27m) to make the necessary adjustments at its Resende (RJ) plant to tailor its production lines to begin assembling electric trucks as soon as 2020.

Following its launch at the Global Public Transport Summit in Stockholm (organised by UITP in June this year), the hydrogen-fuelled Solaris Urbino 12 Hydrogen immediately underwent trials by operators in Austria, Italy and Germany.

Bus manufacturer, Otokar, used the UITP Congress in Stockholm last month to launch its first full-sized electric bus.

BYD Europe NV of Amsterdam, The Netherlands is planning to sell electric trucks in Europe starting with Spain through its network of forklift distributors.

Volvo Bus Corporation announced at UITP in Stockholm an all-electric articulated bus with space for up to 150 passengers for market introduction from this autumn.

With its first electric bus orders having taken place to Strasburg last December, series production has started for Alstom’s purpose-designed full electric 12m Aptis city buses at its two factories near Alsace.

Volvo Trucks India Pvt Ltd, the wholly owned subsidiary of Swedish AB Volvo has introduced the FM 380 8x41 rigid truck to enhance its presence in the Indian construction and other heavy-duty truck segment.