Bus and coach deliveries in Europe* reversed a three year downward trend in 2023 increasing by almost 21% (*Countries EU27+UK+ICE+NO+CH).

Inflation, higher energy costs, supply chain disruptions, and the continuing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the company’s finances were cited as reasons behind the decision to slash the company workforce.

For the first time, the legislation covers cars, vans, and heavy-duty vehicles in one single piece of legislation. The above-mentioned agreement retains the Euro 6 emissions limits for cars and vans but adds stricter limits for buses and trucks, whilst introducing new limits for particles emitted from the exhaust, tyres and brakes.

BYD Europe is set to supply 92 electric buses to the Flanders-based public transport operator, De Lijn. The EUR 42 million order consists of 92 standard 12-metre electric buses, set to be delivered next year.

European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) has elected Domenico Nucera (President of Iveco Bus) as Chairman of its bus and coach division for the year 2024.

The decline in demand for coaches and the higher cost of raw materials had a “major impact” on the company’s finances, which are only just beginning to recover.

On the stand BAE Systems displayed its current family of motors and inverters; these included the GPM-10 and GPM-12 direct drive motors alongside a GPM-5 motor with an Eaton MD4 (Medium-Duty 4-speed) gearbox, as well as the MAPS*, MPCS**, and GPI-10 inverters.

Automecanica is a branch of an 80-year-old manufacturing company in Romania. its manufacturing routes trace back to the 1940s in designing and manufacturing machinery, truck superstructures, low-bed semitrailers and containers.

On its stand, Altas Auto premiered a new-sized 7.5 metre 37 passenger capacity electric midibus, designed for narrow city streets difficult for conventional sized buses to maneuverer.

At the show, Schunk demonstrated its latest products from the SLS range of pantographs and presented a new ‘Underbody Charger System’.

At its stand, Webasto presented a mock-up of a passenger shuttle “installed” with components from its wide portfolio of electrical products.

The vehicle showcased at Busworld (called the ‘E-Civitas’) was based on a Volkswagen ‘Crafter, while the new flooring concept, called ‘Triflex Air 2.0 Flooring System’, is based on a structure made of aluminium and composites.