Mercedes-Benz, through MFTB Taiwan, launched a touring coach for the Taiwanese market built on the OC500 RF Euro VI-compliant chassis in April this year, fitted with the 12-litre Mercedes-Benz OM 470 diesel engine.

While the European market is growing at a phenomenal rate – the European electric bus market is forecast to grow from 2,114 units registered in 2020 to more than 12,760 units in 2030 - the market in Asia really accounts for the lion share of the electric city bus market, stated Rueben Scriven - Senior Analyst at Interact Analysis, during an on-line presentation at the Sustainability Bus conference last month.

The BYD-ADL partnership for the British market is introducing additional electric bus charging options to improve operational flexibility. In addition to AC plug charging, all zero emission buses can now be specified with DC sockets, while double deck buses also have the option of roof-mounted connector rails for OppCharge pantographs.

FPT Industrial of Turin, Italy, the powertrain division of CNH Industrial, has launched three new versions of its Cursor 9, Cursor 11, and Cursor 13 engines in advance of the GBVI emission standards requirements in China effective from July 1.

BYD Co Ltd of Shenzhen is to introduce what it calls new Blade Battery technology, which it claims will revolutionise EV development.

Daimler Buses, a division of Daimler Trucks AG of Stuttgart, Germany is launching its first Euro VI touring coach for the Taiwanese market. The vehicle is based on the Spanish-made Mercedes-Benz OC 500 chassis built at the Sámano plant.

An order for 56 Enviro500 three-axle double deck buses from Alexander Dennis Ltd of Larbert, UK by Hong Kong’s largest bus operator, The Kowloon Motor Bus Co (1933) Ltd (KMB) has resulted in orders of the current generation model (launched in 2012) to exceed 2,500 units.

Electric bus manufacturer, BYD Co Ltd of Shenzhen has expanded its footprint in Europe with a first order from Romania.

The Yutong Group of Zhengzhou in December 2020 made a strategic investment of USD200m in WeRide, an autonomous driving technology start-up company.

The world’s largest bus builder, Zhengzhou Yutong Bus Co Ltd announced total deliveries (sales) of 41,756 Yutong buses to customers worldwide in 2020, which was considerably lower than the 58,688 units sold in 2019.

Yutong, together with its joint venture project partner, autonomous driving technology start-up, WeRide, has announced the companies are to deliver 200 of mini Robobus autonomous passenger transport vehicles for operations in a dedicated zone or area within Zhengzhou in the first half of 2021.

In response to growing demand in the UK for zero emission buses, Alexander Dennis Ltd and BYD UK, are extending their business partnership with the announcement they plan to assemble electric bus chassis in the UK starting in the second half of 2021.