The 2nd edition of Busworld Russia, organized by Busworld International and ITEMF Expo (a joint venture company of the international exhibition organizers ITE Group and Messe Frankfurt), opened its doors for all stakeholders in the bus, coach and component industry from world-over at Moscow from October 23 to 25.
Addressing the diverse requirements of mass mobility, the show was a perfect platform for the display of safe, fuel efficient and green technologies. Held over an area of 9,000 sq. m., Busworld Russia 2018 attracted around 5,050 visitors – a 46 per cent increase compared to the previous edition in 2016. A total of 84 companies from 14 countries participated in the three-day exhibition.
Mr. Didier Ramoudt, President, Busworld International, said: “It is overwhelming to see companies take note of the scope of this exhibition and participate to show their developments towards the needs of passengers. I want to thank all the participants for believing in what we are doing. Efficient, comfortable and convenient public transport is like the veins in our body and hence keeping the interest of passengers in mind, Busworld International is committed to expanding the bus business all over the world.”
The business program of the exhibition was opened by the Busworld Academy and TAMA Conference. During the opening ceremony, Mr. Maksim Liksutov, Vice Mayor of Moscow, Head of Transport Department, Mr. Mohamed Mezghani, UITP Secretary General, Brussels, Belgium, Mr. Jan Deman, Director, Busworld Academy, Roeslare, Belgium, along with Dr. Kulwant Singh, Urban Policy, WASH and Mobility Specialist, and Former Regional Advisor (Asia and the Pacific) UN Habitat, Gurugram, India, who was the keynote speaker, took part in the discussions on topics like new mobility services, ride sharing, scope of electric, hybrid and alternative buses in carrying more passengers as well as reducing carbon emission from the environment.
There were also round-table discussions on ‘Digitalization in the field of regulation and organization of inter-city bus service’, ‘Bus passenger transportation safety’ and ‘Autonomous vehicles.’
The Deputy Mayor of the Moscow Government, Head of the Department of Transport and Development of Road and Transport Infrastructure of the Moscow, M.S. Liksutov, also visited the exhibition on one of the days.
Keenly greeting the participants and taking interest in their exhibits, the simple and down-to-earth Deputy Mayor noted the importance and scope of the show.
As seconded by many exhibitors and visitors at the fair, the only specialized exhibition for bus technology in Russia, in the conditions of intensive development of the passenger transport industry in a country that borders European and Asian countries as well as the Pacific and Arctic oceans, offered immense opportunities for the growth of the bus and coach industry in the region.
While the show demonstrated the potential of the Russian manufacturers of buses like KAMAZ, GAZ, Volgabus, MAZ, PC Transport Systems, etc along with local automotive component manufacturers, it also drew attention to the immense opportunities the foreign bus and component manufacturers could tap into.
Leading amongst them were the Chinese, who visibly occupied more than one third of the hall with their display of spare parts including seats, tyres, lubricants, tools & repair equipment, navigation and security systems.
The exposition of Chinese automakers was widely represented by companies like King Long, Yutong, Higer, Ankai and Zhong Tong. Their Russian importers had invested in large booths at the exhibition to promote their latest coaches and city buses.
Electric vehicles by Russian brands
According to Russian Automotive Market Research, over the next 15 years, Moscow will spend 19.3 billion rubles on the purchase of 300 electric buses, their maintenance, as well as the creation of a network of charging stations. Electric vehicles in the capital of Russia will be supplied by KAMAZ and GAZ manufacturers. Each of them is expected to supply 100 electric buses and 31 charging stations by the end of March 2019.
To further showcase its technology prowess, both GAZ and KAMAZ showcased electric as well as autonomous buses. GAZ Group demonstrated the bus Vector NEXT 8.8 with increased passenger capacity and updated CRUISE intercity bus, equipped with automatic driver assistance systems ADAS and off-board system. Also, for the first time at the exhibition, a GAZelle NEXT 4.6 minibus capable of moving 22 passengers was shown.
The exposition included the newest development – an electric bus for 85 passengers with ultra-fast charging; this is an innovative model created for Moscow based on the most modern technologies of the world bus industry. The company also presented – LiAZ-6213 and framed minibus “GAZelle NEXT Citiline”, equipped for the transport of passengers with limited mobility.
The former, the longest domestic low-floor bus designed to operate with intensive passenger traffic, was also presented. Visitors of the exhibition got acquainted with the company’s promising developments: the unmanned vehicle GAZelle NEXT, equipped with a modern navigation system.
KAMAZ showed a large class urban low-floor trolleybus KAMAZ-62825 with an increased autonomous course of more than 20 km. An electric bus KAMAZ-6282, a modification of which is being delivered to Mosgortrans, was also shown.
It was demonstrated in conjunction with the ultrafast charging station UFC-240, designed to charge electric buses on lithium-ion batteries. Also, at the stand of the company a joint project of KAMAZ and NAMI unmanned “Shuttle” KAMAZ was presented.
Minsk Automobile Plant (MAZ) presented a new development at its stand – the first bus of especially large capacity with a “pushing” drive MAZ 216066. For the first time, Belarusian designers placed the drive not in the head, but in the tail part of the bus.
The new model has 40 seats, and the entire cabin can accommodate up to 165 passengers. The bus is equipped with a 326-strong Mercedes engine (OM 926 LA) of Euro-5 class and an Allison automatic transmission.
PC Transport Systems at Busworld Russia 2018 introduced the innovative electric bus “Pioneer”. For the first time in Russia, a unique mobile battery system is used in the Pioneer electric bus, which makes it possible to increase the driving distance of the car, while maintaining the maximum passenger capacity. The main feature of the electric bus is that the main battery pack is located in the trailer and one extra on the roof, which, as the model’s designers claim, is enough for 150 kilometers more.
Volgabus showed at the exhibition a unique electric bus “CityRythm-12E” with night charging and the ability to ride autonomously on the route all day. (autonomous mileage up to 300 km, charging time 5 hours). Due to the use of the latest high-density battery models, Volgabus designers managed to maintain a low-floor body layout and passenger capacity of a city car with traditional fuels.
Foreign brands at the show
MAN displayed its contemporary tourist bus Lion’s Coach, which has a clear separation of the functional areas of the driver workplace and the passenger compartment, luggage compartment and engine compartment.
The coach’s new full-LED headlights also attracted a lot of attention. The second bus at the MAN stand was the NEOPLAN Tourliner L, 13,913 mm long, which can comfortably accommodate up to 59 passengers.
The luggage compartment volume of this model is more than 12 cu. m. Thanks to the new body design, aerodynamic qualities have been improved by more than 20 per cent compared with the previous model.
Caetano Bus, a Portugal bus and coach manufacturer, showed a new CAETANO electric chassis for low-floor buses 10.7 and 12 meters long.
The Turkish company Anadolu Isuzu brought four models of buses: two city semi-low-floor models with rear powerplant location (8-meter AOS NOVO citi life and 9.5-meter AOS Citibus), and also two touristic front-engine models (7,3-meter AOS NOVO ultra and 7,7-meter AOS Turquoise).
In the next year, the company plans not only to open a Russian representative office, but also to organize the assembly of urban vehicles in Russia.
BUSWORLD Central Asia 2019 in June
BUSWORLD Central Asia 2019, the largest international exhibition in the field of bus and coach production, technologies, accessories and services, will be held at Almaty in Kazakhstan during June 25-27 next. The event, an extension of BUSWORLD © which was started more than 47 years, is expected to attract professionals and experts, specialists and entrepreneurs in the bus and coach industry, besides trade visitors.
An extensive business program covering promising areas of technological development of bus transport will bring together a wide range of industry representatives from Russia, Europe, Central Asia and the surrounding regions.
Within the framework of the program, the participants will have the opportunity to demonstrate novelties and developments, share ideas and knowledge on passenger safety and comfort, control and transport management and expand the network of business partners and customers.
Industrialization, gaining momentum in Kazakhstan, should become more innovative with hybrid electrical buses as part of the “smart city” concept.
Hybrid electrical transport will change not only the habits and lifestyle of people, but also the shape of the future cities. Increasing the efficiency of transport and logistics infrastructure will be ensured using modern technologies that effectively solve the problems of fast-growing megacities.
Organizers expect over 150 participants who are key market players such as bus and coach bodybuilders, manufacturers of bus equipment, suppliers of components, dealers, service providers and experts and specialists from other complementary industries.
BUSWORLD Central Asia 2019 will create new prospects for co-operation and mutually beneficial partnership at the highest international level for companies from Kazakhstan, Russia, Europe and Central Asia.
Said Didier Ramoudt, President of Busworld International: “We are very proud of our growing expansion in Asia, and in 2019 we will open the first exposition in Almaty. Kazakhstan is the most beneficial location that provides immense opportunities to enter the other Union members markets also. We are focusing on the neighboring markets such like Uzbekistan, Kirgizstan, Russia, Iran and China. BUSWORLD © is the most famous bus and coach exhibition worldwide, the must-present show for bus and coach manufacturers, bodybuilders, components, accessories, services, ITS and many other experts.”
“I am sure that BUSWORLD Central Asia will bring our loyal members and participants beneficial opportunities in terms of sales, market expenditure and clientele. The show will facilitate updating the existing park of bus fleet, while extensive fringe program will be the organic continuation of the actual topics, such as secure transport, coach tourism and many other.”
“In a one word, we have a great experience and technologies, which will meet the current needs of Central Asian markets, so our penetration to the Central Asian market is a complete win-win. I am sure that BUSWORLD Central Asia will have a sustainable growth and success.” he added.
Being the world’s ninth largest country and located in the Center of Eurasia, Kazakhstan is also the largest landlocked country in the world. Various opportunities to develop the travel and tourism industry, in national parks and protected areas, skiing or trekking in mountains, and water sports attract millions of world tourists to this country every year.