High-end city buses are in demand. Estimated at approximately 500 units per annum, it is expected to grow 20 per cent each year. Mercedes-Benz India sees potential in this niche market and has plans to offer solutions as available in other parts of the world. The company is now busy conducting product clinics and fine-tuning bus designing to the specific needs of Indian city bus operators. It has already imported a low-floor and a semi-low floor city bus for the product clinic.
“Mercedes-Benz is the inventor of the first bus in the world, and ever since we have pioneered innovations that have revolutionized motorized public transport. In India, our 2- and 3-axle luxury coaches have been received very well. We would now like to expand into the city bus segment. To create a bus suited to the exact requirements of the users, it is essential to understand our customer needs: our trial buses will achieve this objective”, commented Dr. Wilfried Aulbur, Managing Director and CEO of Mercedes-Benz India.
With improving infrastructure and growing urban vehicle population, there is greater need now for safe, reliable and robust mass transit system. Mercedes-Benz city buses, with their superior quality, dynamic design, robust build, star comfort and global standard will be targeted to satisfy such needs of urban mobility.
Mercedes is bringing to India its body builder partner, MCV of Egypt. Mercedes and MCV work together in Egypt, Africa, Cuba and the UK. MCV India will build bodies of buses at a new factory that is coming up at the Mercedes’ plant site next to the bus assembly line, Dr. Aulbur said.
