A milestone Down Under: the 70th MAN bus for the Fallon Bus Group
At the Australasia Bus & Coach Expo in Sydney, MAN, together with importer Penske Australia & New Zealand, showcased the MAN Lion's Chassis IC (RR8) and celebrated the delivery of the 70th bus to Australian family business Fallon Bus Group. The appearance is a prime example of how MAN is expanding its bus chassis business outside Europe.
- Trade show highlight: together with Penske, MAN puts the chassis business centre stage – with the focus on the MAN Lion's Chassis IC (RR8)
- Strong in school bus transport: here, assistance systems, reliability and low operating costs are the deciding factors
- Next step, electromobility: the first buses based on the MAN Lion's Chassis E are set to enter customer service in the region
The Australasia Bus & Coach Expo, held on 15 and 16 July 2026 at Sydney Showground, is the region's leading industry trade fair. MAN Truck & Bus took part for the second time – together with long-standing importer Penske Australia & New Zealand. The focus was on the chassis business in general, and in particular on the new generation of the MAN Lion's Chassis IC (RR8).
70 buses for a family business
Alongside the chassis range, the 70th MAN bus on display for the Fallon Bus Group was a highlight of the appearance. The company, based in the Australian state of Victoria, dates back to 1962 and is now run by the third generation of the family. Fallon has predominantly relied on MAN since 2012. The anniversary bus is based on the 330 hp MAN Lion's Chassis IC (RR8) and features a body built by Coach Concepts.
“The combination of modern safety technology, high reliability and low operating costs makes MAN a compelling choice for us,” says Luke Fallon, Director of the Fallon Bus Group. “Equally important is the exceptional support from MAN and Penske, which keeps our fleet running every day.”
Safety is the deciding factor in school bus transport
MAN is particularly successful in the region's school bus segment – an area where operators are placing increasing emphasis on assistance systems. Emergency brake assist, adaptive cruise control, electronic stability programme, and lane departure and lane return assist are all part of the standard equipment on the innovative Lion's Chassis models, making MAN, together with low total cost of ownership, the preferred solution for many operators.
“With a reliable customer service infrastructure of more than 60 authorised dealers and workshops across Australia, Penske is excellently positioned to support the growing demand from school, charter and regional operators throughout the entire operating cycle,” says Tom Kuiphuis, Head of Bus for the Australasia Cluster at MAN Truck & Bus.
Next step: electric buses for Australasia
At its previous appearance at the Australasia Bus & Coach Expo, MAN unveiled the Lion's Chassis E – the first fully electric MAN chassis for markets outside Europe. Going forward, the first eBuses built on this chassis are set to enter customer service in the region, supporting operators on their journey towards lower-emission public transport.
“Australia and New Zealand are very important markets for our international bus business,” says Tom Kuiphuis, summarising the trade fair appearance. “Together with Penske, we want to continue strengthening our position and grow our business in a region that promises enormous growth in the years ahead.” Penske Australia recently secured an order from local transport operator Kinetic for 22 MAN Lion's Chassis LE (RC2), with delivery scheduled for early 2027.
A model that works worldwide
Success in Australasia follows the same pattern seen in other markets outside Europe: MAN supplies the chassis, while experienced local body manufacturers and importers take responsibility for bodywork, sales and service. In this way, 311 coaches were recently produced in Thailand, and in Indonesia, MAN showcased its chassis solutions for the first time at Busworld Southeast Asia in May 2026. MAN has also appointed three body manufacturers – TopBest, Modasa and Geyushi – as “MAN Lead Bodybuilders”.
“Countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Thailand and Indonesia are excellent examples of how our international chassis strategy works: we provide the technical foundation, and our local partners contribute bodybuilding expertise and customer proximity,” says Barbaros Oktay, Head of Bus at MAN Truck & Bus. “This is how we are growing in markets that demand the very highest standards of safety and reliability.”
