The UK’s first full-sized autonomous bus has begun trials in a Manchester bus depot.

The City of Liverpool is set to be the first place in the North of England to trial hydrogen fuel cell buses following a successful GBP6.4m bid to the government’s Office for Low Emission Vehicles.

JBM Solaris Electric Vehicles Pvt Ltd, a joint venture between Polish bus maker, Solaris Bus & Coach SA and the Indian firm, JBM Auto Ltd, has announced that it has begun trials of the Ecolife electric bus in New Delhi.

Eberspächer Exhaust Technology International and Sharda Motor Industries Ltd last month signed an agreement to create a joint venture of parity (50:50) ownership to supply exhaust after-treatment systems for trucks and buses to enable compliance with the new Bharat Stage VI  emission standards, which come into force from April 1, 2020.

EvoBus GmbH, a marketing brand of Daimler Buses, has invested in digital mobility through the acquisition of a 5.25% stake in transport logistics software firm, IVU Traffic Technologies AG from the charitable foundation, Gerlind & Ernst Denert-Stiftung.

BYD Company Ltd has announced its 13m electric coach is undergoing in-service trial operations with French operator, TransDev.

Daimler Buses has reported major sales growth, selling 30,900 buses and chassis worldwide, which is an increase of 2,200 units compared with 28,700 units in 2017.

Akasol AG, producer of high-performance lithium-ion battery systems, has announced it is expanding its long-term framework agreement to supply a Swedish commercial vehicle manufacturer with high-performance battery systems for electric buses and trucks.

Nobina AB, Scandinavia’s largest public transport operator, and truck and bus builder, Scania AB, are collaborating to start trials of autonomous buses on regular bus routes in the Stockholm area from 2020.

At the beginning of the year, Daimler Buses launched two new public transport bus models on the Indonesian market, these were based on the chassis models of Mercedes-Benz OF 1623 RF and O500RS 1836, which the company says offer passengers improved levels of safety and comfort.

Scania AB inaugurated a new THB800m (USD26m) assembly plant in Thailand in February, as it looks to expand its presence in the region’s truck and bus market.

Volvo Buses UK Ltd has been awarded a contract to supply Ireland’s first electric bus: The Crowne Plaza Dublin Airport Hotel and energy supplier, ESB, have awarded Volvo a contract to supply a single-deck electric 12m Volvo 7900e bus for the city of Dublin.