Investments to restructure and expand production and in new zero emission technologies at Otokar leads to more jobs at Sakarya, Turkey in 2022

Maumee, Ohio-based Dana Inc has entered an agreement with Lion Electric Co of Saint-Jérôme, Canada, to supply its electric trucks and buses with drive components. The agreement covers electric motors, inverters, controllers, axles, and driveshafts for all of Lion’s electric platforms.

Bus and coach domestic sales (>7.5t gvw) in the financial year ending March 2022 (FY2021-22) reported unit growth figures of 61.20% to 11,804 units, up from 7,322 units a year prior.

Pinnacle Mobility, a new entrant in EV manufacturing, is investing up to USD261.5m to make 9m and 12m electric buses and electric mini-trucks to cater to the booming last-mile mobility space.

‘Vehicle markets worldwide are seeing governments introduce legislation to fast track the shift in powertrain type from vehicles with traditional combustion engine technology to vehicles powered using zero emission electric drive systems,’ writes Voith Turbo of Heidenheim in a recent press release.

Greenpower Motor Co, based in Vancouver, British Columbia, has launched a Type A battery electric school bus named Nano BEAST (Battery Electric Automotive School Transportation) for the US market. The firm claims the Nano BEAST is the only purpose-built zero-emission Type A school bus on the market. In addition, GreenPower claims that the vehicle will feature the largest standard battery pack for a Type A school bus on the market, providing up to 150 miles of range.

The Czech manufacturing plant of Turin, Italy-based Iveco Bus, located in Vysoké Mýto, has produced its 150,000th bus. Located around 150km east of Prague, the plant has been producing vehicles since 1895, previously for historical Czech companies Sodomka and Karosa.

Lightning eMotors Corp, based in Loveland, Colorado, has completed the expansion of its manufacturing facility to more than 226,000sq-ft, doubling its production capacity. The firm expects the investment of more than USD5 million to support an annual production capacity of up to 1,500 zero emission vehicles and powertrain systems by the end of 2022.

HVAC systems supplier for bus and coach and rail, Hispacold SA has opened a climate testing laboratory at its headquarters in Seville. The new purpose-built facility has two separate climate chambers, one for bus and one for rail. Hispacold says it has invested close to EUR1million in the centre, with initial plans first drawn up as far back as 2010.

BYD Inc, the US subsidiary of Shenzhen-based BYD Auto Co Ltd, headquartered in Los Angeles, California, has announced the launch of its Type A electric school bus for the North American market.

Sentient Labs demonstrated a 9-metre hydrogen fuel cell bus, providing a range of 450 kilometres while utilising 30 kg of hydrogen.

Tata Motors has delivered 60 Ultra Urban 9/9 AC electric buses to Ahmedabad for operation throughout the city's BRTS corridor, and is now also installing charging infrastructure and support systems.