Scania Commercial Vehicles India unveiled its flagship Citywide bus which is capable of running on fossil fuels (diesel) as well as renewable fuels (bio-ethanol, bio-diesel, and bio-methane). Scania also launched its premium, high performance G310 haulage tractor for the Indian market at the show.
First seen in Busworld 2015 Kortrijk, Scania Citywide is India’s first biofuel-powered commercial bus and comes with low floor and low entry for better and greater passenger flow and comfort. The bus is compatible with all commercially available biofuels complying with the Bharat Stage (BS) 4, Euro 5 and Euro 6 norms. It is believed countries that the use of biofuels in public transport improves air quality, reduces CO2 emission and makes city cleaner and smarter. With the Citywide bus launch in India, Scania moves a step closer towards realising a sustainable transport system in the country.
Mr. Mikael Benje, Managing Director, Business Unit, Scania India, said: “We are delighted to announce the global launch of the most anticipated Scania Citywide bus at this Auto Expo in India. Scania Citywide buses can be run on biofuels and will offer a whole new level of travel comfort and aid great passenger flow and safety. Passengers continue to seek a more luxurious and comfortable journey even for a small distance. This is yet another testimony to our strong commitment to ‘make in India’ and implementing safe, comfortable and world-class sustainable transport in India.” Mr. Klas Dahlberg, Senior Vice President, Buses & Coaches, Sales & Marketing, Scania Group, said: “Scania has been the pioneer in providing sustainable transport, offering industry-best Total Operating Economy (TOE) and vehicles running on alternative fuels. The Scania Citywide bus is our latest contribution towards envisaging a sustainable future for India. Sustainable transport solutions will help India leapfrog technology steps and boost the nation’s economy by broadening the business ecosystem and creating new employment.”
The other new product, the premium G310 truck, is a haulage tractor that creates a new category for Scania. The truck is equipped with Scania OptiCruise, a fully automatic gear change system that improves the vehicle’s performance by selecting gears that are most appropriate. The truck offers high performance with electronic load transfer, allowing the driver to transfer more load to the drive axle, thereby increasing the traction. Active traction control is its another key feature which, is coupled with ABS, ensures that all wheels have enough traction to keep the vehicle stable in case of wheel slips.
Scania also showcased the industry leading Scania R580 truck that comes with a V8 engine and the premium coach ‘Metrolink 14.5 m’ bus that offers unmatched safety and comfort. Also on display was the company’s model/process of converting local waste to local fuel for local transport with Scania’s globally acclaimed ethanol engine. The Scania R580, the most powerful on road truck, has been certified by ARAI under a brand new category named ‘puller’.
The Metrolink premium coach, 200 of which in various lengths are on the road since its launch in 2013, was also displayed in its 14.5m version. This coach complies with the R66 Standard, offering best possible safety even in case of vehicle roll over and accident, tested and certified by TUV Germany.
Further, the Scania Driver Coaching programme uses the individual driver data from the fleet management system to highlight drivers’ strengths and improvement areas, which benefits even the most skilled drivers. Driver coaching engages with drivers to increase the uptime and service life of customers’ fleet, while decreasing the accident rate, fuel consumption and the total cost of ownership.
Scania has been the pioneer in manufacturing sustainable vehicles that offer the best Total Operating Economy (TOE). Scania has also been an active proponent of ‘Swach Bharat’, ‘Smart Cities’ and ‘Make in India’, and its products offer outstanding fuel efficiency and increased vehicle uptime.
