Anticipation for the new season and more titles is running high as FC Bayern Munich kicks off the 2026–2027 season at the end of August. The team, led by head coach Vincent Kompany, is welcoming a special new addition: MAN Truck & Bus has delivered a new MAN Lion’s Coach L to the German record champions. Featuring the eye-catching FC Bayern red and a large club logo, the bus will become an unmistakable companion for the team on their travels throughout Germany and Europe. This makes the bus not only a real head-turner but, above all, an important retreat for the team before and after games.

“We are very pleased to continue our long-standing partnership with FC Bayern Munich and to continue accompanying the team safely and comfortably to their matches with a MAN Lion’s Coach,” says Michael Kobriger, Executive Board Member for Production and Logistics at MAN Truck & Bus, adding: “The bus combines state-of-the-art technology, the highest level of comfort, and an unmistakable design – making it a worthy companion for the German record champions.”

The handover took place at the FCB club grounds on Säbener Straße and marks another milestone in the long-standing collaboration between MAN and FC Bayern Munich.

Rouven Kasper, FC Bayern’s Board Member for Marketing & Sales: “The long-standing partnership between FC Bayern and MAN demonstrates how top-level football and cutting-edge technology go hand in hand. The new MAN team bus, specially tailored to our team’s needs, reflects our commitment to the highest level of professionalism in every detail. The innovative features we’ve developed together show how we’re shaping progress side by side. Wherever FC Bayern stops on its travels, the distinctive design makes it clear at first glance who is visiting.”

Powerful drive train and state-of-the-art driver’s cabin

The new MAN Lion’s Coach L combines impressive travel comfort with innovative safety and vehicle technology. The 13.9-meter-long three-axle coach is powered by the efficient yet powerful D2676 LOH 6-cylinder diesel engine, which delivers 382 kW (520 PS) and meets the Euro 6e emissions standard. The driver’s digital cockpit meets the highest ergonomic standards, features a clear layout, and is intuitive to operate. This ensures outstanding comfort and excellent visibility on long trips to away games throughout Europe.

A retreat and place of comfort for the entire team

Players, coaches, and support staff also travel in utmost comfort. The interior was custom-designed by the experts at MAN Bus Modification exclusively to meet the team’s needs. In the rear, for example, a fully equipped kitchen with refrigerators, a sink, a fully automatic coffee machine, and ample space for preparing and storing meals ensures the team’s physical well-being. Four height-adjustable face-to-face tables provide space for discussions between coaches and players before and after games. The interior is complemented by spacious storage cabinets as well as table and leg rests.

Premium Wi-Fi, technical support for streaming services, three HD monitors, a high-performance sound system, LED ambient lighting, and a starlit ceiling inside the vehicle ensure relaxation and entertainment on longer trips.

Innovative driver assistance systems for maximum safety

In addition to comfort, safety was a key priority. As a result, the team bus is equipped with numerous innovative driver assistance and safety systems. These include, among others, the Electronic Stability Program (ESP), the lane departure warning system with haptic alerts, Lane Change Assist and Lane Keeping Assist, radar-based turn assist, a collision warning system with pedestrian detection, MAN SafeStop Assist, adaptive cruise control with traffic jam assist, the MAN AttentionGuard, the enhanced Emergency Brake Assist (EBA Plus), and 360-degree bird view via six cameras.

Outlook: Fully electric team bus coming in the 26/27 season

The collaboration between the two Munich-based partners dates back to 2008 and continues to evolve. A key focus of this partnership is the goal of reducing mobility-related greenhouse gas emissions. Over the course of the upcoming season, FC Bayern’s existing fleet will therefore be expanded to include a fully electric MAN Lion’s Coach E. Following the successful world premiere of the electric coach, extensive testing and preparations for production are currently in full swing. MAN and FC Bayern Munich are also already working closely together on the necessary charging infrastructure: Together, the partners are establishing a public charging station for e-trucks and e-buses at the Allianz Arena. In doing so, they are laying the groundwork for reducing mobility-related greenhouse gas emissions (compared to trucks and buses with conventional powertrains) in professional sports and beyond, and sending a strong signal in support of future-oriented innovations.

Unlike in Europe, where MAN produces and sells complete buses, the company focuses primarily on the sale of chassis in the global market. Certified local bodybuilders convert the chassis into market-specific vehicle solutions. “This allows us to respond flexibly to varying regional requirements and customer needs while simultaneously expanding our presence in emerging markets worldwide,” says Katzer.

Indonesia is one of Asia’s most significant bus markets

Indonesia is one of the most important growth markets for bus and passenger transport in Southeast Asia. The expansion of transportation infrastructure, rising mobility demands, and growth in tourism are driving high demand for modern, high-quality, and durable bus solutions. At the same time, issues such as safety, efficiency, and comfort are becoming increasingly important. “Our debut at Busworld Southeast Asia is an important step for us in sustainably strengthening our bus business in the region. With our proven range of chassis and strong local partners, we are ideally positioned to meet the growing demand for high-quality bus solutions in Indonesia,” adds Katzer.

MAN’s goal is to further strengthen its position in the local bus segment together with Inframach. While Inframach has been an established partner in MAN’s truck business for many years, the trade show appearance marks an important step toward the sustainable development of the bus business in the region.

MAN Lion’s Chassis: a versatile platform for the global market

The highlight of the trade show presentation was the three-axle Lion’s Chassis CO (RR4). This modern chassis stands out in particular for its adaptability: It serves as the basis for a wide variety of body types and is suitable for a diverse range of applications – from long-distance travel and tourism to premium passenger services. “The Lion’s Chassis CO is designed to support a wide range of bus body types. It offers a flexible foundation for configurations tailored to local operating conditions and specific customer requirements – with a particular focus on advanced safety features for passengers and drivers,” explained Roland Kopp, Program Lead Bus Chassis at MAN Truck & Bus.

The double-decker bus based on the MAN RR4 chassis also attracted attention at the trade show. The body was built by New Armada, a leading Indonesian manufacturer. MAN thus presented both the chassis and the complete, market-ready vehicle solution. After all, double-decker buses are no longer a rarity on long-distance routes within Indonesia. “The collaboration with Inframach and New Armada demonstrates how our engineering expertise and local bodywork expertise can work together. This is exactly the kind of partnership that will help us grow internationally,” says Kopp.

Busworld Southeast Asia is regarded as a major platform for the bus and coach industry in Southeast Asia. The trade show brings together vehicle manufacturers, bodybuilders, suppliers, transportation companies, and industry representatives to discuss – and showcase – current developments and future trends such as electrification, safety, and new mobility solutions.

“The city bus is the segment within the entire European automotive industry that is the most decarbonized. At the same time, the daily lives of millions of Europeans would be almost unimaginable without buses. That is why it is particularly important that legislators take the following into account when drafting new regulations: Those who want social, sustainable mobility in cities and regions from Portugal to Poland, from Sweden to Sicily, must not undermine the competitiveness of European bus manufacturers. We need more political support for competitiveness and innovation,” stated Barbaros Oktay upon his appointment.

Industrial Accelerator Act Shapes Industrial Value Creation

At the heart of the Industrial Accelerator Act recently presented by the European Commission are so-called “Buy European regulations.” According to the plans, for example, only manufacturers with a high proportion of European products in their value chain will be allowed to sell buses in Europe through public tenders. Significant changes are expected in the legislative process now getting underway. Barbaros Oktay says: “In principle, European bus manufacturers welcome the ‘Buy European’ requirements. However, the proposed plans are likely to lead to significant bureaucracy. And we want to invest our resources more wisely in the further development of products that benefit our customers and make transportation even more sustainable and better.”

Electrification as a Growth Driver for the Bus Industry

Barbaros Oktay has been actively driving this transformation as Head of Bus at MAN Truck & Bus since 2023. During this period, the company significantly strengthened its market position in the bus business and achieved sales of over 7,000 buses in the 2025 fiscal year – returning to pre-pandemic levels. The electric mobility sector was particularly successful: Sales of electric city buses rose by more than 118 percent to over 1,300 units, setting a record. “The bus sector is one of the segments of the European commercial vehicle industry that is developing particularly dynamically toward zero-emission powertrains. The city bus is one of the pioneers of electrification within the automotive industry,” said Oktay.

Electric mobility is also gaining increasing importance in intercity travel: With the MAN Lion’s Coach E, announced for late 2026, a fully electric coach from a European manufacturer will be ready for use in long-distance travel and tourism applications for the first time. Its trade show debut in Brussels last fall marked an important milestone on the path to electrified bus applications across all areas of use.

Call for focused expansion of the charging infrastructure

Despite positive market trends, infrastructure remains a key challenge. While electrification is already well advanced in the city bus segment, there is still a significant need to catch up, particularly with regard to the charging infrastructure for coaches. The bus industry is therefore calling for targeted political support to establish a Europe-wide, high-performance charging infrastructure for coaches, particularly at transportation hubs, long-distance bus terminals, tourist hotspots, and along major long-distance routes. “Without a comprehensive and high-performance charging infrastructure for coaches, the full potential of electric mobility in long-distance transport cannot be realized,” emphasizes Oktay. “The policy decisions made in the coming years will be decisive in determining how quickly and successfully the transformation takes place.”

About Barbaros Oktay

Barbaros Oktay began his career at MAN Truck & Bus in 2004 at MAN Türkiye A.Ş. at the production site in Ankara.

He has held various bus management positions within the group. Among other roles, he served as Senior Vice President, Head of Bus Solutions at TRATON, and Head of Bus Engineering, Product & Project Management at MAN Truck & Bus SE.

Since 2023, he has led the MAN bus business as Head of Bus.

“With the launch of e-bus production in Ankara, we are setting a significant milestone on our path to electromobility,” says Barbaros Oktay, Head of Bus at MAN Truck & Bus, adding: “We are expanding our production capacities, strengthening our global bus network, and can meet rising customer demands even faster and more flexibly. Ankara will play a key role in our e-mobility strategy going forward.”

MAN transitions its production network to the electric era

The conversion of the Ankara plant is part of MAN’s comprehensive transformation toward becoming a provider of sustainable transport solutions. With the launch of the MAN Lion’s City E in 2020, the Starachowice site in Poland became the first MAN plant in the production network to be fully equipped for the large-scale production of electric vehicles. The Lion’s Explorer E has been built in Olifantsfontein for two years. Series production of the fully electric, heavy-duty MAN eTGS and eTGX trucks began at the Munich plant in 2025. The production team in Krakow is also currently preparing intensively for the series production of the first electric trucks. Series production of the MAN eTGL light-duty truck will begin here in the coming months. MAN will unveil another electric model to round out its all-electric product portfolio in May at the Transpotec trade show in Milan. This truck will also be produced in Krakow in the future. Finally, with the establishment of MAN’s own battery production, the Nuremberg plant has evolved from a pure engine manufacturing site into a development and production site for both state-of-the-art diesel engines and alternative drive concepts.

Ankara as a key component of the e-strategy

In recent years, the infrastructure in Ankara has been modernized, production processes optimized, and the workforce specifically trained to meet the demands of electric mobility. “Through these steps and the investments we’ve made, we are laying the groundwork to offer high-volume, high-quality, zero-emission mobility solutions in the long term,” says Oktay. In the future, in addition to the Lion’s City E, electric intercity buses and the new Lion’s Coach E for tourist travel in Turkey will also be manufactured there. “Our goal is for Ankara, just like Starachowice, to play a key role in the e-mobility transformation of MAN’s bus business,” Oktay continues.

“Ankara is developing into one of MAN’s central e-mobility hubs. Thanks to our flexible production structure, we can manufacture both various electric bus models and conventionally powered buses on the same production line. This enables us to respond efficiently to different market requirements,” emphasizes Mehmet Şermet, Head of Production Bus at MAN Truck & Bus.

The MAN Lion’s City E: a success story

Since its market launch in 2019, the MAN Lion’s City E has become a success story in Europe and is now in service in numerous European cities. A total of around 3,300 vehicles have already been produced and delivered to customers. In daily operation, these vehicles have collectively covered approximately 250 million kilometers, saving around 150,000 tons of CO₂ compared to conventional diesel buses thanks to their locally emission-free operation. The increase in sales figures impressively underscores this dynamic development. In the 2025 fiscal year, electric mobility gained significantly in importance at MAN. Sales of fully electric trucks and buses rose by 168 percent to a total of 1,970 units. The MAN Lion’s City E alone achieved 118 percent growth compared to the previous year, with more than 1,300 e-buses sold in total. This marks a new record for MAN. In Europe, roughly one in every two city buses sold by MAN is now electrically powered.

In addition to the reliability, range, and sustainability of the Lion’s City E, this success is also based on the broad portfolio of zero-emission buses, which is being continuously expanded. It includes compact 10-meter vehicles, classic 12-meter solo buses, 18-meter articulated buses for high passenger volumes, and electric low-entry variants for intercity use. The Lion’s Chassis E also enables the company to serve markets outside Europe. The fully electric MAN Lion’s Coach E also marks the beginning of a new era of zero-emission travel – the first vehicles are scheduled to be delivered to customers by the end of the year. With this diverse range of models, MAN covers all relevant application scenarios and makes a decisive contribution to sustainable mobility in cities, regions, and, in the future, long-distance transport – all over the world.

Thousands of test kilometers in ice and snow

The Lion's Coach E was tested in northern Sweden near the Arctic Circle and in Erzurum, Turkey, regions known for their harsh winters. A total of four electric coaches covered thousands of test kilometers under the most demanding conditions, including snowy and icy roads and temperatures as low as minus 30 degrees Celsius. The engineers focused in particular on the behavior of the high-voltage battery system at extremely low temperatures, energy management including preconditioning and charging performance, the powertrain with electric motor, and the thermal management of the interior. Cold weather poses a particular challenge for electric coaches, as they must not only deliver a stable range but also ensure efficient and reliable heating of the passenger compartment. “But even in these freezing temperatures, the Lion's Coach E fully met our expectations. All components and systems functioned reliably despite the cold,” says Oktay.

eCoach proves its suitability for practical use

As with all MAN tests, not only were all individual components tested, but above all the interaction of the entire vehicle under the most difficult conditions. Hundreds of sensors continuously recorded data on temperatures, pressure values, energy flows, and system statuses during the trips. This enabled the developers to gain valuable insights and validate optimizations directly. The successful winter test is thus another milestone on the road to series production of the Lion's Coach E and underlines its suitability for year-round use in international travel – whether to the south or the far north.

A total of nine vehicles took part in the 2026 bus winter test. In addition to the four Lion's Coach E vehicles, conventional coaches as well as city and intercity models with electric or hybrid drives were also tested. MAN has been conducting winter testing in northern Sweden for more than 30 years. "The combination of double-digit sub-zero temperatures, snow, and ice provides the ideal conditions for putting vehicles through their paces in the overall system. The successful debut of the Lion's Coach E shows that electric mobility in passenger transport is reliable and economically feasible even under extreme conditions," explains Roland Scharl, Head of Engineering Bus at MAN Truck & Bus.

MAN's first fully electric coach

With the Lion's Coach 14 E, MAN is launching its first battery-electric coach, underscoring its consistent transformation toward sustainable mobility. The coach features the proven drive technology from the successfully mass-produced eTruck as well as innovative NMC battery packs. These are manufactured in large series at the Nuremberg plant. The Lion's Coach E has a usable energy capacity of 320 to 480 kWh. Under optimal conditions, it can achieve ranges of up to 650 kilometers – a distance that allows many typical travel routes to be covered without recharging. In addition to the technology, the smart design concept, which significantly reduces the drag coefficient (Cw value), is also impressive. At the same time, the eCoach offers space for up to 63 passengers without any restrictions on luggage volume compared to the diesel version. Following its successful world premiere last fall, extensive testing and trial cycles are currently underway, and preparations for production in Ankara are in full swing. The first vehicles are scheduled to roll out to selected customers before the end of this year.

MAN TGX D30 PowerLion impresses with outstanding efficiency

The award for the MAN TGX D30 PowerLion recognizes, above all, the high efficiency of its newly developed driveline. At its core is the all-new D30 engine, featuring a maximum efficiency of over 50 percent, making it one of the most advanced commercial vehicle engines in the world. Combined with the also new MAN TipMatic 14 transmission and aerodynamic enhancements, the driveline enables fuel savings of up to five percent. This not only reduces CO₂ emissions but also sustainably lowers total operating costs for transport companies through reduced fuel consumption and CO₂‑based toll systems.

MAN Lion’s Coach E – a milestone in sustainable travel

MAN also made a strong statement in the coach segment. The fully electric MAN Lion’s Coach E marks the beginning of a new era of zero‑emission long‑distance travel. As a battery‑electric coach, it combines the proven quality of the Lion’s Coach product family with innovative electric technology. With a usable energy capacity ranging from 320 to 480 kWh, the vehicle can achieve ranges of up to 650 kilometers under optimal conditions. Modern NMC battery packs produced at MAN’s Nuremberg plant, proven eTruck technology, and aerodynamically optimized design ensure high efficiency and reliability. Series production is currently being prepared at MAN’s Ankara plant, with the first vehicles scheduled for delivery to customers later this year.

MAN TGE Next Level convinces with new electronic architecture

In the light commercial vehicle segment, the MAN TGE impressed in collaboration with Spanish bodybuilder Burillo. The 2025 model year of the MAN TGE, known as Next Level, has undergone a comprehensive technical upgrade. The entire electronic architecture has been redesigned, meaning the vehicle now features new control units, sensors, and cameras. This enables new and enhanced assistance systems and increases safety for occupants and other road users. The new, more comfortable driver’s cockpit comes standard with a digital instrument cluster, the central MAN Media Van touchscreen display, and an ergonomic multifunction steering wheel. The redesigned dashboard also provides additional space within the cabin.

About the Spanish National Transport Awards

The National Transport Awards were established more than 35 years ago by the industry magazines “Transporte 3” and “Viajeros”. A jury of 886 entrepreneurs from the transport sector and experts from the automotive industry selects the best vehicle introduced to the Spanish market each year across ten categories. Their decisions are based on a comprehensive assessment of safety, reliability, profitability, and efficiency.

The Sby Award has now been presented for the eighth time. As in previous years, the jury recognized only the most innovative and sustainable buses on the European market. “In the past two years, we won the award in the intercity and city bus categories with our MAN Lion’s City 12 E LE and Lion’s City 10 E. This year, our MAN Lion’s Coach E convinced the jury and prevailed over the competition,” explained Heinz Kiess, Head of Product Marketing Bus, adding: “This underscores our leading position in the eBus sector – and we’re very pleased about that.”

The Sby Award is the only European accolade that honors innovative and sustainable technologies shaping the future of mobility. It is awarded by a jury of specialist journalists from ten European countries. They presented the award to the MAN Lion’s Coach E because the eCoach sets technological standards for sustainable long-distance travel. The coach features a fully electric drivetrain with a continuous output of 330 kW and a usable battery capacity of up to 480 kWh, enabling fast charging and a range of up to 650 kilometers – ideal for tourism. The MAN Lion’s Coach E also excels in safety, equipped with an advanced driver assistance package including Emergency Brake Assist EBA Plus with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control ACC with Stop & Go function, lane-keeping assist, the OptiView mirror replacement system, and the innovative MAN Safe StopAssist. These technologies ensure compliance with the latest active and passive safety standards. In terms of comfort, the vehicle offers numerous options and solutions for a customizable and barrier-free interior. The jury particularly emphasized the sustainability aspect: the model achieves a recycling rate of over 95% of its components, is manufactured in facilities certified to international environmental standards, and features responsible battery lifecycle management.

“That our eCoach received such a prestigious bus award at its world premiere is a tremendous success. Behind it is a dedicated team passionately committed to sustainable and innovative solutions,” concluded Oktay, adding: “Our goal is for all our eBuses to impress every day – with range, reliability, comfort, and environmental friendliness that excite drivers, passengers, and operators alike.”

Overview of press releases in the press kit:

1. Exhibition overview: MAN at Busworld Europe 2025
2. Sustainable travel: MAN's first fully electric coach
3. More flexible, more efficient, safer: MAN eBuses to feature new batteries from in-house production from 2025
4. Economical and safe on intercity routes: MAN Lion’s Intercity now with EfficientHybrid drive
5. Safer and more comfortable: New MAN minibuses based on TGE Next Level
6. Brand flagship NEOPLAN Skyliner debuts at Busworld as a state-of-the-art ‘Auwärter Edition’
7. For greater safety: Intelligent support and protection for drivers and passengers

"We are delighted that our innovations have impressed the expert jury and that MAN has won the Busworld Digital Award for the second time," said Heinz Kiess, Head of Product Marketing Bus at MAN Truck & Bus, at the award ceremony. This took place yesterday during the official Busworld press conference in Brussels. This was the second edition of the competition, which focuses on digital solutions that make public transport and travel safer, more efficient and more comfortable. In addition to the "Digitally Enhanced Driving" category won by MAN, developments in the categories "Digital Operational Excellence", "E-Mobility Management" and "Digital On-Board Comfort" were also honoured.  A jury of experts from the bus industry, private entrepreneurs, journalists and UX (user experience) designers had compiled a shortlist from a large number of submissions and selected the winners from this list.

Innovation with major safety benefits

The intelligent MAN SafeStop Assist particularly impressed the jury because it helps to prevent serious bus accidents. These occur time and again when drivers are no longer able to control their vehicles due to medical or other emergencies. This is exactly where MAN SafeStop Assist comes in: if the system detects that the driver is no longer able to act, it automatically and safely brings the bus to a halt. This is made possible by the sophisticated interaction of several highly developed systems, such as the attention, lane return and emergency brake assistants.

"It happens time and again that drivers suddenly become unresponsive – with fatal consequences," says Kiess. "With SafeStop Assist, we offer a solution that can prevent such scenarios. In doing so, we are setting new standards in safety for passengers, drivers and other road users."

Unique in the double-decker segment

Since the 2024 model year, MAN SafeStop Assist has been available for the MAN Lion’s Intercity, MAN Lion’s Coach, NEOPLAN Tourliner and NEOPLAN Skyliner – the only European double-decker bus. At Busworld, visitors to the MAN stand can experience a NEOPLAN Skyliner "Auwärter Edition" equipped with the system as standard. The new fully electric MAN Lion's Coach E, which is celebrating its world premiere in Brussels, also features SafeStop Assist.

“No other manufacturer currently offers a comparable system for all current coach models,” emphasises Kiess, adding: “This makes SafeStop Assist one of the most significant innovations in our extensive range of driver assistance systems – not only in technical terms, but above all in terms of safety in coach transport.”

Sustainable in passenger transport: top marks for CO₂ emissions

The Skyliner is not only the flagship of the NEOPLAN model range, it is also a triple champion in the important disciplines of climate protection, efficiency, and safety. Due to its high capacity, which makes maximum use of the physical limits of the vehicle concept, there is hardly a more sustainable way of traveling on the road. With up to 83 (travel version) or 96 (long-distance version “Skyliner Express”) passengers, modern MAN drive technology makes it possible to reduce CO₂ emissions per passenger kilometer to well below ten grams – a top value that has also been confirmed by independent tests. With up to 11 cubic meters of luggage space, the double-decker offers more storage space than other competitors. In addition, the low-floor lower deck with space for up to two wheelchairs makes it ideal for the booming long-distance services in Europe.

Limited Skyliner “Auwärter Edition” to mark anniversary

To mark the 85th birthday of Konrad Auwärter and the 90th anniversary of the NEOPLAN brand, the company is presenting a limited edition of 30 “Auwärter Edition” models at the Busworld Europe trade fair in Brussels. This edition is particularly striking thanks to its classic “stainless steel plank” design with the stylized Auwärter swing arm, which adorned both the front masks and the factory buildings of the traditional brand and its vehicles – as it still does today at the Auwärter car park in Pilsting. These design features are complemented by high-quality aluminum rims. Comparably elegant details are also evident in the cockpit and the high-quality interior. In addition, elegant stainless steel and wood-look details from the NEOPLAN Individual collection have been incorporated. In addition to the optional driver's berth at door 2, the Skyliner offers a practical storage space directly next to the large L-shaped kitchen with access from the inside and outside, as well as a particularly spacious toilet on the lower deck. The experts in bus modification at the Ankara plant are responsible for this high-quality carpentry work. Other features of the new edition include the modern OptiView mirror replacement system, the Lane Return Assist and MAN SafeStop Assist driver assistance systems – for greater safety and comfort on the road.

“To this day, Konrad Auwärter and his life's work remain inextricably linked to our premium brand NEOPLAN,” says Heinz Kiess, Head of Product Marketing Bus at MAN Truck & Bus, adding: "On behalf of the entire MAN and NEOPLAN family, we would like to congratulate him on his 85th birthday with this attractive special model and wish him all the best! The history of NEOPLAN and also that of the Skyliner would be inconceivable without his expertise and unbridled passion for automobiles."

E-Mutiara offers express bus connections to all major cities on the Malaysian peninsula and in Singapore. In future, the 67 new coaches will also be used on these routes. To ensure that passengers and drivers travel as comfortably and safely as possible at all times, the vehicles are equipped with numerous assistance, telematics and safety systems such as emergency brake assist, lane departure warning and cruise control. The innovative systems, as well as the efficiency and environmental friendliness of the chassis, were the key reasons why E-Mutiara chose MAN. In addition, the comprehensive service and maintenance package from MAN Truck & Bus Malaysia offers long-term operational reliability.

For international markets: chassis from MAN

While MAN produces and sells complete buses in Europe, the company mainly offers chassis on the global market. These are then assembled into complete buses in the country by certified body manufacturers - as is the case with the current order from Gemilang. “The order from Malaysia not only marks the important partnership with the E-Mutiara consortium, but also demonstrates the strategic importance of our international chassis business,” says Barbaros Oktay, Head of Bus at MAN Truck & Bus, adding: “We see enormous growth potential not only in Asia.”

About E-Mutiara and Gemilang

E-Mutiara was founded in the 1970s with just two buses. The company is now one of the leading providers of passenger transportation in Malaysia. In 1992, it also entered the express bus sector. Today, E-Mutiara operates a fleet of over 120 modern coaches connecting major cities and towns in Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore. Gemilang Coachwork, based in Malaysia, is one of the world's leading body manufacturer for city buses and coaches. The company has been working successfully with MAN for many years and has built over 1,000 MAN chassis as double-decker, solo and articulated buses for use in Singapore

At the official handover, TSV 1860 Munich's managing director Dr. Christian Werner, team captain Jesper Verlaat, and goalkeeper Thomas Dähne accepted the keys from Dr. Marc Langendorf, Head of Communications & Government Affairs at MAN Truck & Bus. The new team bus will make its debut on September 6, when the Lions take to the road for the first time in their new vehicle for the Toto Cup match against FV Illertissen.

"MAN and TSV 1860 Munich both stand for tradition, passion, and strong roots in the region. We have enjoyed a close partnership for many years that goes far beyond the provision of a team bus,“ said Langendorf. ”For us as a Munich-based company with the lion on our radiator grille, it is something special to have accompanied the Lions on their journey for so long – and to continue traveling together in the future."

TSV 1860 Managing Director Dr. Christian Werner: “The new coach leaves nothing to be desired.” The partnership with the Munich-based company is a success story in any case. “MAN has been accompanying us throughout Germany since 2006, now in its 20th year. Tradition, loyalty, and the lion as our heraldic animal connect us, as does our location in Munich. That's why I'm delighted that we will continue to travel together in the future.”

Luxury over 13.36 meters

The new MAN Lion's Coach C impresses not only with its imposing appearance featuring 1860 branding, but above all with its exceptional interior. The players take their seats in 34 exclusive genuine leather passenger seats – each seat has a massage and heating function that can even be controlled individually via QR code.

Four vis-à-vis tables with integrated LCD monitors, a state-of-the-art multimedia system, and a professional kitchen ensure perfect communication and relaxation. USB-A and USB-C ports under each double seat, 230V sockets, and a Wi-Fi router ensure that the players can stay connected at all times.

As a special highlight, the coach projects the 1860 Lion logo into the entrance area when boarding – a symbol of the club's pride and tradition. In addition, the RGB ambient lighting creates a unique atmosphere in the interior.

Safety and efficiency at the highest level

The 13.36-meter-long coach is powered by a D2676 LOH 6-cylinder diesel engine with an impressive 375 kW (510 hp). The automated 12-speed MAN TipMatic transmission with integrated retarder ensures a particularly smooth and efficient ride – perfect for the players to recharge during the journey.

State-of-the-art safety technology is naturally on board: ESP, LGS, Emergency Brake Assist, and MAN AttentionGuard ensure that the Lions always arrive safely at their destination. The innovative Birdview 360° system with four HD cameras and the MAN OptiView mirror replacement system with Cornereye function offer the driver optimum all-round visibility and enable safe turning and maneuvering.

MAN Truck & Bus has been successfully committed to team sports for many years. In addition to TSV 1860 Munich, other top clubs in German professional football from the 1st and 2nd Bundesliga, such as FC Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, VfL Wolfsburg, Borussia Mönchengladbach, and Hannover 96, also rely on the proven quality and reliability of MAN team buses.

“Passenger numbers have increased, and during peak hours we've seen situations where all tickets are sold out. The addition of 500 extra seats per day should help solve the increasingly pressing issue where people are left without bus tickets during popular times or have to stand for hours on overcrowded trains,” explains Ingmar Roos, member of the management board at Lux Express.

More passengers per journey, less pressure on other modes of transport

From now on, the nine Skyliner double-decker coaches will offer passengers an attractive alternative at hourly intervals: Every day from six o'clock in the morning, they depart from Tartu in the direction of Tallinn; in the opposite direction, the first coach leaves at seven o'clock in the morning. In total, they cover the route more than 30 times a day in both directions.

In addition to more seats, the modernization of the Lux Express bus fleet also brings ecological and logistical benefits: more passengers can now be transported per journey - which helps to reduce the total number of buses on the roads and reduce the pressure on other modes of transport. Lux Express has invested a total of six million euros in this. “This is the largest investment in our company’s history, aimed at offering a more sustainable, higher-capacity, and better-planned service,” says Roos. “The double-decker coaches not only increase our passenger capacity – they also add clear value to the entire mobility system by reducing peak-time congestion and improving access to high-quality transport.”

Two worlds in one coach

The nine Skyliner coaches were handed over to Lux Express in Tallinn by the MAN Sales Bus Team together with the local Estonian sales partner Keil M.A. OÜ. “Commuters and tourists can now travel between the two Estonian cities of Tallinn and Tartu in complete relaxation - thanks to our luxurious double-decker coaches, which offer two worlds in one vehicle: Lounge ambience on the lower level and the light-flooded upper deck with comfortable 2+1 seating and panoramic views,” says Heinz Kiess, Head of Product Marketing Bus at MAN Truck & Bus. “I am particularly pleased that passengers will not only travel in extreme comfort in the future, but will also be extremely sustainable thanks to the highly efficient diesel drive.”

About Lux Express

Lux Express is Estonia's leading long-distance bus company and has developed into one of the largest providers in the Baltic States since it was founded in 1994. The company offers comfortable and reliable connections in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Finland and Russia. The main target groups are business travelers, tourists and commuters who value comfort, punctuality and high-quality services.

MAN eCoach follows consistent zero-emission strategy

To take account of environmental and climate protection, MAN is working with its customers to promote sustainable mobility. The company is pursuing a clear zero-emission strategy and has already been successfully on the road for six years with the Lion's City E family for urban and interurban areas. In the first quarter of 2025 alone, sales amounted to a total of 283 electric buses, which corresponds to more than 50 percent of the city buses sold by MAN in Europe. Consequently, MAN is also focusing on the electrification of coach transport. The MAN Lion's Coach E meets both social requirements for climate protection and customer wishes for sustainable travel.

Series production is scheduled to start in 2026 at MAN's Turkish plant in Ankara, which has been successively converted to eMobility in recent months. “The realignment at the site in Ankara is an important part of MAN's transformation into a provider of sustainable transport solutions,” emphasizes Oktay. In the run-up to series production of the eCoach, an “early fleet” is to go to selected pioneering customers in the European core markets next year.

Wide range of applications: from shuttle services to city trips

In the first stage of the development of the vehicle and public charging infrastructure, the preferred areas of application for the MAN Lion's Coach E will be short and medium distances with a range of up to 650 kilometers. This includes shuttle services, works transport and city trips. “The eCoach is also a real opportunity for coach tourism to reach new target groups for whom sustainability is also a key factor in travel planning,” says Heinz Kiess, Head of Product Marketing Bus. In particular, because with a CCS charging capacity of up to 375 kW in conjunction with the driver's statutory driving and rest periods, a similar usage profile to a diesel bus is already possible today. With the megawatt charging infrastructure (Megawatt Charging System, MCS, up to 750 kW) already under development, the areas of application for electric coaches are also set to expand even further towards long-distance travel in the future.

Proven vehicle concept and dynamic design

The basis for the eCoach is the tried-and-tested Lion's Coach, which was unveiled in 2017. In the first step, the eCoach will hit the road as a 13.9 m long, compact three-axle vehicle with a maximum technically permissible gross weight of 27.3 tons. Up to 61 passengers can travel comfortably in it - with no restrictions on luggage volume from a minimum of 11 to a maximum of 13 cubic meters. Following the electric Lion's Coach 14 E three-axle coach, MAN will be rolling out further models in the coach segment step by step until the turn of the decade.

You can see at first glance that the MAN eCoach is an innovative vehicle. The pioneering “Smart Flow Design” sets new standards. The Lion's Coach E combines smart design with optimum aerodynamic efficiency and innovative details. The aerodynamic precision work of the MAN design team reduces the drag coefficient (Cd value), which is important for coaches, from 0.34 to 0.31 - an impressive value that also has a positive effect on the range. But the “inner workings” of the coach are also ultra-modern. The innovative digital cockpit with intuitive MAN SmartSelect operating concept fits seamlessly into the Lion's Coach E. The absolute driver orientation and the extended assistance systems ensure greater comfort and safety.

The van segment is increasingly becoming a mainstay of MAN Truck & Bus's business. The aim is to sell over 30,000 vans for the first time in 2025, after setting another record in 2024 with around 27,700 units. 98% of vans are still sold in Europe. In future, international markets - including the United Arab Emirates - will also be targeted. The model portfolio is now also complete. After the staggered model year change, MAN minibuses are available again.

‘The van is an enormous growth story for MAN. From zero to 27,700 in the past eight years with a market share of 3.5% in Europe. And we have continuously expanded the portfolio. With the MAN TGE Next Level, we have carried out the most comprehensive update in our model history with a versatile range of state-of-the-art assistance systems. The vehicle forms the basis for our customised individual solutions with complete vehicles ex works and from MAN INDIVIDUAL as an in-house refinement workshop. Together with our comprehensive service network, we have a fantastic offer for our customers,’ says Daniel Holbein, Head of MAN Business Van.

The new MAN TGE Coach and MAN TGE Intercity minibuses based on the 2025 model year, known as the TGE Next Level, complete the MAN range. The basic minibus vehicle, the MAN TGE Next Level, is better protected against digital manipulation thanks to a fundamental adaptation of the on-board network architecture, control units and sensors. The active safety of passengers is of particular importance in passenger transport. This has been significantly improved by new assistance systems in the minibuses. The following systems have been added: Blind Spot and Collision Warning (standard on minibuses), Turn Assist (new option), Cruise Assist Plus incl. Emergency Assist, ACC Stop & Go and Active Lane Keeping and Traffic Jam Assist (new option). The standard assistance systems Emergency Brake Assist and Traffic Sign Recognition also help to increase passenger safety.

The driver also benefits from the MAN minibuses of model year 2025, as their workplace has been completely modernised. The now digital driver's workplace is ergonomically designed with intuitively arranged controls and plenty of storage space. With the digital instrument cluster, the driver always has all the important details in view and, thanks to the newly developed ergonomic multifunction steering wheel, can select the new assistance systems and other functions without letting go of the wheel. Keyless start, electronic parking brake, MAN SmartLink and the new automatic gear lever, which is now located directly on the steering column, make everyday work even easier.

The central MAN Media Van touch display serves as the new command centre in the vehicle and enables the vehicle functions to be controlled. It comes with a 10.4-inch display, DAB+ tuner and Bluetooth interface as standard. Additional functions such as navigation, voice control, media streaming and a 12.9-inch display can be ordered as options.

The MAN TGE Intercity is suitable as a shuttle bus, e.g. for schools and clubs, or for excursions in the hotel industry. It is available with 16 or 19 passenger seats. As a 16-seater, the TGE Intercity offers a wheelchair space in the rear after removing four seats. As a 19-seater, the operator benefits from increased passenger capacity. The MAN TGE Coach is the minibus for demanding tour groups and individual passenger transport. Up to 16 passengers can enjoy high-quality, adjustable leather seats and additional legroom in the TGE Coach. This ensures a comfortable journey, especially on longer journeys. The wood-look floor, the interior panelling with high-quality materials and the ambient lighting set visual accents. Further highlights of the TGE Coach are the spacious boot, which can be accessed via the tailgate, and the privacy glazing.

Both MAN minibuses offer passengers convenient access via the electric swing-out door on the passenger side. The separate air conditioning system in the passenger compartment also comes as standard. The 13 kW auxiliary air conditioning system automatically provides sufficient fresh air and comfortable temperatures. The cooled air reaches every passenger via the luggage racks with service sets and air vents. Rear-wheel drive with 120 kW (163 hp), the minibuses are available with a manual 6-speed gearbox (Intercity only) or the new 8-speed automatic transmission. The permissible total weight of the minibuses is five tonnes.

For passenger transport, the Munich-based commercial vehicle manufacturer also has the MAN TGE combi van with the three product lines Basic, Shuttle and Mobility in its ex-works programme. The 3.5-tonne vehicle for a maximum of eight passengers impresses with the combined transport of passengers and cargo. Two roof heights, two wheelbases and front, rear and all-wheel drive are available for the TGE Combi.

In addition, the MAN TGE is enjoying growing popularity among bus conversion companies throughout Europe. One example is the Civitas Economy low-floor minibus from Dutch manufacturer Tribus. The 3.5-tonne vehicle with a maximum of eight passenger seats can also be used flexibly in public transport thanks to its electronic destination display, low-floor area with wheelchair ramp, variable Triflex Air floor system with folding seats and wide metro doors.

MAN Truck & Bus has won the Telematik Award in the “Telematics Apps” category with the MAN Driver App. The award recognizes outstanding development achievements and solutions in the field of telematics. It is awarded every two years by a specialist jury consisting of renowned members from business and science as well as specialist journalists, users and experts. With the MAN Driver App, MAN is focusing on “making the benefits of digitalisation accessible to drivers”, says Olaf Lies, the patron of the Telematics Award 2024, Lower Saxony's Minister for Economic Affairs, Construction, Transport and Digitalisation.

This is exemplified by the new feature of the MAN Driver App. In conjunction with MAN SimplePay, drivers of MAN trucks and other truck brands can save themselves the way to the checkout at selected acceptance points, as transactions for refuelling can be processed in a contactless manner via the MAN Driver App. For this purpose, fuel cards from the mobility service provider UTA Edenred can be digitally stored in MAN SimplePay. The company's acceptance network comprises around 88,000 outlets in 40 countries.

Around 1,900 petrol stations in Germany, Belgium, Italy, Lithuania, Austria, Poland, Spain and Hungary currently support the contactless fuel card functionality of MAN SimplePay. Further stations and countries will be added continuously. Truck drivers can also use MAN SimplePay and the MAN Driver App to find the right parking space in the TRAVIS Road Services partner network. The booking of parking spaces and the authorization of transactions also take place in a contactless way via the MAN Driver App. The MAN SimplePay digital platform helps fleet managers to manage the operating costs of their fleet even more economically and to identify potential savings more easily.

The National Transport Awards are organized by the trade magazines “Transporte 3” and “Viajeros”. The jury, made up of specialists and industry experts from Spain, including numerous managers from public transport and bus companies, presents the award to the best vehicles in twelve categories. “The jury members have precise knowledge of which vehicles inspire companies, drivers and passengers and which buses impress with their reliability, comfort, safety and economy. That's why the award is so important to us,” summarizes Fraile.

New features ensure greater safety, efficiency and comfort

Among other things, the new features from the 2024 model year, which significantly enhance the coach once again, generated enthusiasm for the MAN Lion's Coach. With the new electronics platform, which has been used in all MAN and NEOPLAN buses since last year, a completely new cockpit with MAN SmartSelect has found its way into the Lion's Coach. It is the central point of vehicle operation, meets the highest ergonomic standards and can be operated intuitively. “This absolute driver orientation and the extended assistance systems ensure greater comfort and safety,” says Heinz Kiess, Head of Product Marketing Bus at MAN Truck & Bus. One of the most relevant developments in terms of safety systems is the radar-assisted turning aid for the unclear right-hand side of the bus, which can be combined with an optional lane change aid on both sides. The new turning aid detects static objects in the lateral area up to 4.5 meters away and also calculates potential paths of movement in advance. This enables the system to assess the situation in advance and, if necessary, issue a visual and acoustic warning in three stages.

MAN Lion's Coach impresses experts and customers

Another new feature is the MAN D26 coach engine with Euro 6e emissions quality. Despite an increase of ten hp and around 50 Newton meters more torque at the peak, the highly developed 12.4-litre unit now consumes up to 2.5 percent less fuel overall - and makes the Lion's Coach even more efficient. “Drivers, passengers and operators all benefit enormously from the new features. But even before the new features were introduced, the Lion's Coach was already one of the most innovative, safest and most comfortable coaches on the market. This has also been confirmed by numerous awards,” explains Kiess. For example, the MAN Lion's Coach won the prestigious Sustainable Bus Award 2022 (Sby Award) in the “Coach” category. The efficiency, environmental friendliness and flexibility of the modern vehicle were particularly impressive. International trade journalists from the “Bus & Coach of the Year Jury” also named the Lion's Coach “Coach of the Year 2020”. In 2018, the coach won the iF Design Award with its timelessly modern design language. The MAN Lion's Coach is now continuing its success story with the “Coach of the Year in Spain” award.

“In addition to the awards, however, it is above all the orders from our customers that show how well received our Lion's Coach is both nationally and internationally,” says Kiess. Since its market launch at Busworld in the fall of 2017, MAN Truck & Bus has delivered almost 4,500 buses of the successful model to customers throughout Europe (as of 12/2024). In Germany alone, 721 MAN Lion's Coach have been registered. This makes Germany the top market, followed by France (605 registered buses), Spain (516), Italy (508) and Poland (273).

MAN success story at the Spanish National Transport Awards

The National Transport Awards were launched over 35 years ago by the trade magazines “Transporte 3” and “Viajeros”. Every year, a jury of more than 800 entrepreneurs from the transport sector and experts from the automotive industry select the best vehicle presented on the Spanish market in twelve categories since the last edition of the awards. The decisions are based on a comprehensive analysis of the safety, reliability, profitability and efficiency of the vehicles. In 2020, the NEOPLAN Sykliner and the MAN Lion's City E won the awards. In 2022, the NEOPLAN Cityliner Platinum special model and the new MAN Lion's Intercity LE were voted “Coach of the Year in Spain” and “Bus of the Year in Spain”. One year later, the MAN Lion's City 10 E received the Spanish award. “Our MAN Lion's Coach joins a long line of awards that we owe to a highly committed team. But we are also grateful to our customers, who have placed their trust in us and our buses for many years,” says Fraile.

It's a frightening scenario: the driver of a bus suddenly passes out and loses control of the vehicle. "It happens again and again that the driver is suddenly unable to act due to unforeseen events, such as medical emergencies. The consequences can be devastating," says Barbaros Oktay, Head of Bus at MAN Truck & Bus. "Experience shows that it is not uncommon for buses and coaches to leave the road or collide with other road users in such cases."

For this reason, the experts at MAN Truck & Bus have been working intensively on a new assistance system: the smart MAN SafeStop Assist, which is now available as an option for the MAN Lion's Intercity, the MAN Lion's Coach, the NEOPLAN Tourliner and the NEOPLAN Skyliner. "No other manufacturer offers such a system for all current coach models. However, this is not the reason why it is one of the most important innovations of the 2024 model year, but rather because it can prevent serious accidents," says Heinz Kiess, Head of Product Marketing Bus at MAN Truck & Bus.

The basis for this is that the active intervention system recognizes when the driver is no longer able to act. For this purpose, the assistance system uses the driving activity recognition of an active lane guard system as well as the functionality of the adaptive cruise control (ACC Stop & Go). With the help of a sensor integrated in the front of the vehicle and a camera positioned behind the windscreen, the system also continuously monitors lane keeping as well as the distance, position and relative speed of objects ahead. "All the data collected is bundled and evaluated. In this way, SafeStop Assist can deduce the status of driver activity - and thus also possible inactivity," explains Kiess, adding: "Thanks to the intelligent interaction of various highly developed systems such as the attention guard, lane guard and emergency brake assistants, we have been able to increase safety for drivers, passengers and other road users enormously."

If the system detects that the driver is no longer active, it intervenes in the driving process in a three-stage warning and braking cascade. In the first stage, the driver is prompted to take over the steering by means of a warning symbol and text messages on the display as well as a slight vibration of the steering wheel. If the driver fails to do so, an acoustic warning is added to the visual and haptic warning messages. The assistance system also carries out increasingly heavy partial braking. If the driver does not react either, MAN SafeStop Assist initiates an emergency stop and brakes the bus to a standstill within the system limits in its own lane - even if it is winding. "Of course, the driver can take back control at any time if possible. An emergency stop initiated by the system can be aborted immediately with a kick-down," says Kiess.

However, if the emergency stop is not canceled, the system automatically activates the hazard warning lights to warn following road users. Immediately after the vehicle has come to a standstill, MAN SafeStop Assist also ensures that the bus cannot roll away. To do this, it switches to neutral transmission mode and automatically engages the electronic parking brake. It also unlocks the doors and switches on the interior lighting so that assistance can be provided without complications in an emergency. "MAN SafeStop Assist increases safety when driving a bus and helps to prevent serious accidents. At the same time, it also enables faster first aid treatment for the driver in the event of a medical emergency - and can therefore be a lifesaver," summarizes Kiess.

E.ON and MAN Truck & Bus are jointly taking a decisive step forward in the expansion of the charging infrastructure for commercial vehicles in Germany and Europe. As part of their new cooperation, the energy company and the commercial vehicle manufacturer will set up around 170 locations with around 400 stations for public charging of electric trucks across Europe. E.ON and MAN are investing in the new charging stations, which will be built along the existing MAN service network and will also be able to charge commercial vehicles from other manufacturers. Around 125 sites are planned in Germany alone. This will create the largest nationwide public charging network for heavy commercial vehicles in the country to date. Additional sites are being built in Austria, the UK, Denmark, Italy, Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary.

“Europe has set itself the goal of reducing emissions from heavy commercial vehicles by 90 percent by 2040. Electric mobility is a central key to achieving this goal,” said Leonhard Birnbaum, CEO of E.ON. “We are investing heavily to give the infrastructure for electric heavy goods transport a decisive boost and to set the course for sustainable logistics and green supply chains. Nearly all major manufacturers are now focusing their development efforts on electric mobility. For the final breakthrough, we need a high-performance charging infrastructure that is designed on a European scale. We are delighted to be leading the way together with MAN.”

Alexander Vlaskamp, CEO of MAN Truck & Bus, adds: “For the mobility transition to be successful, we need around 50,000 charging points for heavy commercial vehicles in Europe by 2030. As a manufacturer of electric trucks, we are of course making our contribution to this. I am delighted that E.ON is now a strong partner for the electrification of our service locations. We are thus laying another foundation stone for a public charging network. However, we still urgently need the support of policymakers to build this network on a large scale.”

The new sites will be located at strategically selected MAN service bases, primarily in industrial areas with high truck volumes or near motorways. This means that public charging can be easily integrated into daily operations. The layout of the sites is specially designed for charging electric commercial vehicles: This includes a drive-through facility through the charging station so that trucks and buses do not have to maneuver. Wherever possible, the stations are installed in separate areas from the MAN service operations - with separate entrances and exits for the charging area - to ensure that they are accessible to the public, regardless of the make of vehicle. During the day, drivers also benefit from the existing infrastructure, such as sanitary facilities and recreation rooms.

The sites will be built in a modular fashion. As a first step, each site will be equipped with several 400 kW charging stations. This will allow an average electric truck to recharge for a range of up to 300 kilometers in about 45 minutes. Later, the sites will be upgraded to the MCS megawatt charging system.

Cross-industry commitment to speed up the expansion of truck charging infrastructure

The first 80 sites of the new charging network are to be built by the end of 2025 Sukhjinder Singh, CEO of E.ON subsidiary E.ON Drive Infrastructure: “The partnership with MAN Truck & Bus is a key milestone on the road to a sustainable future for heavy-duty transport. By combining MAN's extensive service network with E.ON's expertise in charging infrastructure, we are setting a new standard for electromobility in the commercial vehicle sector.”

Friedrich Baumann, Executive Board Member for Sales and Customer Solutions at MAN Truck & Bus SE: “With our new eTruck, we are launching series production this year of a vehicle that is suitable for almost all applications. The response has been very positive. However, the right charging infrastructure will ultimately decide whether our customers actually switch from diesel to electric drive. I am therefore delighted that we are now tackling the electrification of our service network together with E.ON.”

The political goals for decarbonizing transport in Germany and Europe are clear: the German government wants to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from heavy goods traffic in Germany by 55% by 2030 and to be climate neutral by 2045. The EU recently agreed to reduce CO2 emissions from heavy-duty vehicles by 65% by 2035 and 90% by 2040 compared to 2019 levels. Against this backdrop, the industry is investing heavily in vehicles and infrastructure.

The electrification of MAN's product portfolio is gathering pace. The first production-ready electric truck with a daily range of up to 800 kilometers is in the starting blocks for 2024. The range of the electric city bus will be extended by a product update next year. MAN also plans to put its first test fleet of electric coaches on the road in 2025. Meanwhile, as a full-service provider for electromobility and charging solutions, E.ON already offers access to a comprehensive network of more than 500,000 car charging points across Europe. Companies and municipalities also benefit from customized charging infrastructure and electrification strategies for their fleets. E.ON also contributes its expertise in financing, site analysis and grid connection. Grid expansion and digitalization are not only essential for the future supply of renewable energy, but also for an efficient charging infrastructure.

About E.ON

E.ON is an international investor-owned energy company headquartered in Essen, Germany, which focuses on energy networks, customer solutions and energy sales. As one of Europe's largest energy companies, E.ON plays a leading role in shaping a sustainable, digital, decentralized world of energy. To this end, around 75,000 employees develop and sell products and solutions for private, commercial and industrial customers. More than 47 million customers purchase electricity, gas, digital products or solutions for electric mobility, energy efficiency and climate protection from E.ON. For more information, please visit www.eon.com.

E.ON Drive Infrastructure (EDRI) is a pan-European charging station operator belonging to the E.ON Group that combines network development, construction and operation of public charging infrastructure for electric cars and commercial vehicles. EDRI draws on decades of energy expertise. The E.ON Group's portfolio also includes solutions to support private customers, companies and fleet operators in the transition to electric mobility. E.ON has set itself the goal of becoming one of the leading operators of charging infrastructure in Europe by 2030.

About MAN Truck & Bus

MAN Truck & Bus is one of Europe's leading manufacturers of commercial vehicles and providers of transport solutions with annual sales of around 14.8 billion euros (2023). Its product portfolio includes vans, trucks, buses, diesel and gas engines as well as services for passenger and freight transport. MAN sees electric drives for commercial vehicles as a decisive factor on the way to locally emission-free, climate-friendly mobility. MAN Truck & Bus is a member of the TRATON GROUP and employs approximately 33,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit www.man.eu.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by E.ON Group Management and other information currently available to E.ON. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. E.ON SE does not intend, and does not assume any liability whatsoever, to update these forward-looking statements or to align them to future events or developments.

Overview of press releases in the press kit:

1. Model year 2024: MAN and NEOPLAN buses now even more comfortable, safe and efficient (short version)
2. Model year 2024: MAN and NEOPLAN buses now even more comfortable, safe and efficient (long version)
3. MAN DigitalServices: smart digital solutions for greater efficiency and sustainability in the bus business
     

The mobility of tomorrow should be one thing above all: sustainable, connected and autonomous. Public transport, and buses in particular, make an important contribution to meeting people's changing mobility needs. In order to take into account the increasing traffic volumes, to relieve cities and to support bus companies in the best possible way, innovative and future-proof vehicles and services are needed - for urban, intercity and long-distance transport. With its MAN and NEOPLAN brands, MAN Truck & Bus already offers suitable solutions for a wide range of applications. A selection of these can be seen at the Busworld Europe 2023 trade fair in Brussels from 7 to 12 October. Visitors can expect to see a total of five innovative buses on the MAN stand in Hall 4 - including two world premieres. "The vehicles and numerous innovations in equipment and technology as well as modern services clearly show that MAN is consistently and successfully following the path towards sustainable, automated and digitalised transport," says Barbaros Oktay, Head of Bus at MAN Truck & Bus.

MAN Lion's City 10 E: Impresses with compact dimensions, sustainability and impressive performance

In public transport in particular, sustainable solutions are more in demand than ever. Together with partners and customers, MAN is therefore driving sustainable mobility forward and is committed to the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement. By 2050 at the latest, the company wants to become greenhouse gas neutral in terms of its balance sheet. "We at MAN are convinced that the future belongs to emission-free vehicles. That's why we are consistently pursuing the path towards sustainable public transport and are fully committed to electric drive - and our MAN Lion's City E," says Oktay and adds: "The sales figures show how well this is being received. The 1,000th eBus recently rolled off the production line." Fittingly, MAN is showing the Lion's City 10 E, the latest model in the MAN electric bus family, at Busworld. The midibus version with a length of 10.5 metres has been in production at MAN's Polish city bus plant in Starachowice since the beginning of 2023. Among other things, the compact size of the all-electric city bus will attract attention. This is because it can play to its strengths especially in the increasing use of customer-oriented "on-demand" services and as an amplifier at high-frequency times as well as a manoeuvrable city centre shuttle. After all, the city bus has a similar passenger capacity to many 12-metre solo buses, but requires significantly less traffic space in narrow city centres and depots and is much more manoeuvrable. The exhibit on the Busworld stand also impresses with an individual rear lounge and thus offers the right solution for comfortable and at the same time sustainable shuttle needs. The fact that the MAN Lion's City 10 E with its record-breaking turning circle and compact dimensions is also an ideal solution for demanding routes was recently proven by a practical test through alpine terrain in the South Tyrolean Dolomites. On the 531 km tour, the eBus covered over 10,000 metres in altitude and consumed an average of 0.77 kWh per kilometre. The Lion's City E achieved these top values in terms of efficiency thanks to innovative technology and a remarkable recuperation rate of over 50 percent.

MAN Lion's City 12 E LE: Electric low-entry version celebrates premiere

The Lion's City 12 E LE will celebrate its world premiere at Busworld 2023. The first electric MAN low-entry bus will be launched this year. It is based on the award-winning electric 12-metre solo bus with central drive and modular batteries, but ensures a particularly high level of seating comfort with the floor landscape adapted to customer feedback. With up to 41 passenger seats plus special use space for wheelchairs and prams and an engine tower-free rear landscape in low-entry design, the Lion's City 12 E LE is perfect for suburban lines with Class 1 approval. "In particular, the fact that the seats in the rear of the vehicle are all facing in the direction of travel ensures that passengers are comfortable even on longer journeys," says Heinz Kiess, Head of Bus Product Marketing at MAN Truck & Bus.

MAN Lion's Intercity LE 14: low-entry series now on three axles

World premiere number 2: Visitors to Busworld can expect to see another new vehicle on the MAN stand, the Lion's Intercity LE 14. The three-axle vehicle with significantly more capacity completes MAN's successful low-entry series. This means that the Lion's Intercity LE is now available in three sizes - a cost-effective and modern entry-level model for intercity and urban transport that offers bus operators maximum flexibility. With its length of 14.43 metres, the new Lion's Intercity LE 14 is one of the shortest vehicles in the popular three-axle bus market. And yet it offers space for up to 63 seats and a maximum of 127 passengers. Thanks to the steered and relievable trailing axle, it has a compact turning circle of 23.8 metres. Optionally, the bus is available with a third door at the rear - this is the variant it will be presented in at Busworld. There is also a choice of two versions of the ultra-modern digital cockpit. In addition, there is comprehensive safety equipment that is second to none and will be introduced in all MAN buses in model year 2024 on the basis of a new electronics platform. The Lion's Intercity LE 14 will also be equipped with the proven MAN EfficientHybrid drive with market-leading automatic stop-start system for all engines.

MAN Lion's Coach: more comfortable, safer and more efficient

Another eye-catcher on the stand is the MAN Lion's Coach. Numerous top teams in competitive sport travel comfortably and safely with this successful model among coaches. Visitors to the fair will experience a Lion's Coach with a length of 12 metres and 44 seats. The coach also features a wide range of innovations for the 2024 model year: from next year, for example, the vehicles will be based on a completely newly developed electronics platform, which will entail the introduction of a new digital driver's workplace. This can be seen for the first time at Busworld. The new cockpits with the innovative SmartSelect operating system meet the highest ergonomic standards and can be operated intuitively, which significantly relieves the drivers. The electronics platform also enables numerous new assistance and safety systems - including radar-based turn-off assistance and lane change assistance as well as lane departure warning and lane departure warning. The Lion's Coach is powered by the new MAN D26 coach engine in Euro 6e exhaust quality, which is particularly economical: despite an increase of ten hp and around 50 Newton metres more torque at peak, the highly developed 12.4-litre unit now consumes up to 2.5 percent less fuel overall. Another innovation is the further developed topographical gearshift programme EfficientCruise 3, which is optionally available for coaches of the MAN and NEOPLAN brands.

MAN TGE Coach: Made for small travel groups

The MAN portfolio at the stand is rounded off by a MAN TGE Coach. The 7.4-metre-long vehicle impresses with its size, its low consumption values - especially on the motorway - and its performance. With 177 hp (130 kW) and a rich maximum torque of 410 Newton metres, the journey can even take in challenging terrain - and that for up to 16 passengers. This is because the exclusive minibus can be equipped with 16 seats in various configurations, making it perfect for small travel groups and shuttle services. The ergonomically designed driver's workplace in combination with the numerous safety assistance systems ensures that driver and passengers reach their destination as relaxed as possible.

NEOPLAN Skyliner and Cityliner in the outdoor area

In the outdoor area - in the immediate vicinity of the MAN exhibition stand in Hall 4 - visitors can expect to see two NEOPLAN Skyliners, one of which has an exclusive bistro concept, and a NEOPLAN Cityliner "Diamond Edition". In addition, a MAN Lion's City 10 E, a MAN Lion's City 12 E - both equipped with MAN OptiView - a NEOPLAN Tourliner and a MAN TGE Coach will be available for test drives together with the experts from MAN ProfiDrive®.

Smart solutions: MAN Transport Solutions and MAN DigitalServices

Visitors to Busworld can experience the buses live on the MAN stand and also find out about MAN's extensive services. One focus is on electric mobility: in addition to future-proof vehicles, MAN offers a holistic eMobility package and all-round advice for customers switching to eMobility. This involves looking at the entire process of the changeover with a 360° analysis. The aim is to ensure that the switch to electromobility is successful and involves as little effort as possible for the operators. In total, the MAN team has already successfully completed more than 250 projects in 19 European countries in the truck, bus and van sectors, building up an enormous amount of know-how in the process. But MAN also supports customers with expertise and digital tools after the acquisition of buses. MAN DigitalServices are designed to help simplify processes, optimise the efficiency of the entire fleet, save operating costs and increase sustainability. True to the motto "Simplifying Business", the customers' business is to be simplified as much as possible. In order to achieve this, the digital portfolio of services is being continuously expanded. Customers also have the opportunity to test MAN DigitalServices for three months free of charge. The trial offer can be used once per new and existing customer; the free trial period ends automatically and does not need to be cancelled.

Visit MAN Truck & Bus at Busworld 2023 from 7 to 12 October at the exhibition stand in Brussels (Hall 4, Stand 401). 

Here you will find the full press kit with comprehensive information and images: 
Press kit: MAN at Busworld Europe 2023

Overview of press releases in the press kit:

1. MAN impresses with efficient, safe and sustainable line-up at Busworld Europe 2023
2. Milestone for sustainable mobility - 1,000 MAN electric buses produced
3. Even more flexibility, efficiency and range: MAN drives development forward for Lion’s City E
4. Greater comfort, safer and more efficient: numerous new features are being introduced for MAN and NEOPLAN buses in model year 2024
5. MAN Lion’s Intercity LE 14: Low Entry series continues its success story on three axles
6. The NEOPLAN Tourliner: a fixture on European roads for 20 years
7. MAN DigitalServices: smart digital solutions for greater efficiency and sustainability in the bus business
8. For the urban transport of the future: MAN systematically drives forward the automation of its buses

Now spanning two decades, the history of the Tourliner is closely linked to that of the Stuttgart-based tradition-rich NEOPLAN brand, which will celebrate its 90th anniversary in 2025. For decades now, the brand has stood for high-quality, innovative coaches that use highly reliable technology. One of the most important dates in the NEOPLAN company history in the new millennium is without doubt 20 June 2001: this was the day on which Gottlob Auwärter GmbH & Co. KG was acquired by MAN Nutzfahrzeuge AG in Munich – thus establishing an important milestone for the future development of the company.

NEOPLAN and the bus division of MAN were initially managed under the umbrella of NEOMAN GmbH in Salzgitter. On 1 February 2008, the bus division was then integrated into the MAN Nutzfahrzeuge Group in order to benefit from the synergies within the internationally active Group. Today, all NEOPLAN models are built in the modern MAN bus plant in Ankara – a tradition that was successfully started with the new Tourliner in 2003. The vehicle was still presented in the former parent factory in Möhringen under the motto “Tourliner Summertime” in July 2003. An initial design concept had previously been presented at the IAA 2002 under the name “X-liner” – the vehicle created a stir not least due to its fluorescent green paintwork. For the start of sales of the two models as a two-axle vehicle (Tourliner SHD) and long three-axle vehicle (Tourliner SHD L), many changes were therefore incorporated based on customer feedback.

Development of the first generation

The idea at the time was both simple and made industrial sense. MAN’s standard Lion’s Coach – developed under the aegis of former technology director Ernö Bartha – had recently been revamped in 2002 and was to serve as the technical basis for the first NEOPLAN coach. The goal was to supplement the tradition-rich model range of Starliner, Cityliner, Skyliner and Euroliner and to extend it into the standard coach segment. The Tourliner was also one of the first models from the drawing board of the newly set up NEOPLAN design department headed by Michael Streicher (Exterior) and Andrea Lipp (Interior). Michael Streicher quickly became known as the creator of the NEOPLAN-specific and brand-defining Sharp Cut design for the Starliner and Cityliner. The styling can also be found in the essence of the second generation of the vehicle with its clearly defined "Angel Eyes”.

The first-generation Tourliner was a typical “child of its time”. Since it shared the skeleton – an important basic component of every bus – with its MAN counterpart, the traditionally forward-angled window pillars and split windscreen were omitted here for the first time, as on the economical Euroliner intercity/touring coach, thus permitting clear differentiation from the Starliner and Cityliner premium products. In spite of this, the design team still succeeded in providing the coach with an extremely dynamic appearance through the significantly forward sloping B-pillar as a characteristic design element – and this is how it has remained up to the present day. Instead of the free-form headlights of the MAN Lion coach, the Tourliner shone with the typical NEOPLAN single-spotlight headlights, while round LED lights were used at the rear – well before they were introduced on other buses. Overall, the design very cleverly shows the transition in the NEOPLAN design language from the previous century to the new one, without stealing the thunder for the two new Starliner and Cityliner models, which were launched shortly afterwards. The interior of the first Tourliner still featured many rounded elements and the light-blue interior (Beach Blue) that had been popular over many years. In contrast to the MAN brother, the first generation also had the platforms typical for NEOPLAN.

With these high-quality characteristics, it did not take long for the NEOPLAN Tourliner to excite a wide range of customers. A total of around 2,500 vehicles from the first generation were registered, including right-hand-drive models that were marketed above all in the United Kingdom. Of these around 70 per cent were the 12-metre two-axle version. One coach even found its way to the 2010 Football World Cup in South Africa, while other models were fitted out as exclusive team buses, above all for professional cycling. Thanks to its attractive price-performance ratio, the Tourliner has always also been a popular choice for long-distance scheduled service operation – not least due to the now continuous flat floor and the optional wheelchair lift above the front or rear axle.

Second generation sets standards

Just like back then, NEOPLAN continues to set benchmarks with its vehicles to this very day. The current product range impresses with exclusive vehicles that always attract enthusiastic looks thanks to their individual design. This is particularly true for the second generation of the Tourliner presented in 2016. Here, the optimised Sharp Cut design with clear, precise contours sets new visual standards. Its aerodynamic design was revamped to achieve improvements of around 20 per cent, resulting in extremely low drag and benchmark values in the wind tunnel. This was made possible by numerous details such as the smooth transition between the windscreen and roof dome, the aerodynamically optimised A-pillar and the smooth-surface side wall. The new Tourliner thus combines dynamic and aesthetic elements in a unique way. A key element of the design that has set the model apart for several years is created by visually breaking up the wide forward-oriented B-pillar so that passengers in the first seat row can still easily see outside – and the exterior appearance is given a special look at the same time. Taking a closer look, you can recognise the dynamic of the forebody in the “transparent wings” of the 20-year campaign logo.

Speaking of aerodynamics, the OptiView digital mirror-replacement system makes it possible to significantly reduce drag. This technology also offers advantages in terms of safety and cost-effectiveness. The world’s first mirror replacement system for coaches was a genuine unique selling point on the market when introduced in 2018 and has since firmly established itself.

It only takes one look to see that the second-generation Tourliner is part of the NEOPLAN family. The front dome that extends stylishly into the roof, the dynamic comet’s tail of the trim in front of the roof air conditioning system, the distinctive and well-defined headlights (“Angel Eyes”) and the Sharp Cut design that has already received multiple accolades all make it clear that this is a true NEOPLAN. The Tourliner – which received the iF Design Award shortly after its launch – also impresses with an extremely welcoming atmosphere and maximum travel comfort. High-quality materials, the modern lighting concept of the new generation and the comprehensive infotainment equipment leave nothing to be desired. Passengers enjoy an abundance of light and a feeling of spaciousness. The floating design of the luggage racks, LED lighting and new service sets also contribute to this. The Tourliner received further interior enhancements over the course of the following years. The most important new features that contribute to the premium presence of the Tourliner are the floor in boat deck look, the chrome handrails, and the backlit elements on the luggage racks that also discreetly highlight the product name in the interior through LED lighting. The Tourliner can naturally also be upgraded with further modules from the NEOPLAN Individual range.

The second generation of the Tourliner model line is available in four variants and therefore offers every customer the best possible solution for their individual needs – flexibility has always been a key focus at NEOPLAN. The smallest variant with a length of 12.1 metres offers premium comfort for a maximum of 53 passengers. The three-axle medium-sized variant – the Tourliner C with a length of 13.4 metres – can accommodate up to 57 passengers. The extra-long two-axle vehicle followed as the latest addition to the family at the Busworld 2017. The two-axle version of the Tourliner C with a length of 13.1 metres is optimised, in particular, for maximum seating, offering up to 59 seats – ideal for long-distance scheduled service. As the largest variant with a length of 13.9 metres, up to 63 passengers enjoy the exclusive comfort of the three-axle Tourliner L. 

Since its launch in 2003, a total of around 3,850 NEOPLAN Tourliner vehicles from both generations have left the assembly line – of these, more than 2,500 in the popular 12-meter two-axle version. To coincide with the 20-year anniversary of the NEOPLAN Tourliner, the model will also be launched as a particularly high quality Diamond Edition. This will cover the whole model range and emphasises the special family feeling of the premium brand.

Anyone visiting the region around Tromsø, the largest Scandinavian city north of the Arctic Circle, will experience fascinating natural spectacles: Northern Lights, polar nights and midnight sun. But dog sledding and snowmobile rides, whale watching, idyllic bays and beaches, high mountains, colourful wooden houses and small fishing villages also captivate visitors from all over the world. In future, four new MAN Lion's Coach buses will take them to the spectacular destinations in the Tromsø area. The modern coaches were ordered by Bussring AS, Northern Norway's largest coach company. "In January, we handed over the vehicles to Bussring AS - a unique experience. After all, it was the northernmost delivery of new buses in MAN's history," says Robert Katzer, Head of Sales & Product Bus at MAN Truck & Bus, adding: "We are very pleased that our top-equipped buses take tourists safely and comfortably to the most beautiful sights in the region."

Numerous assistance systems ensure safety in winter road conditions

In summer 2022, Bussring AS ordered the four MAN Lion's Coach vehicles, which are powered by powerful MAN D26 engines with up to 510 hp. "It was particularly important to us that the vehicles are comprehensively equipped and have a wide range of assistance systems to ensure that they reach their destinations safely at all times, even during the long winters in northern Norway," says Torbjørn Johansen, CEO of Bussring AS. To ensure this, the local MAN Bus team worked closely with the coach company from the very beginning. "In this way we were able to ensure that the vehicles were perfectly tailored to the special needs of Bussring AS and able to cope with the challenges of the northern climate - while at the same time offering the passengers maximum comfort," says Tim Schuler, Head of Sales Bus at MAN in Norway. The excellent feedback from passengers and drivers shows how well this has been achieved: "The buses have been in operation for a few weeks and the comfort, equipment, driving characteristics and driving pleasure are creating enthusiasm," explains Torbjørn Johansen.

MAN relies on experienced service partner Team Verksted AS

In addition to innovative technology, "Team Verksted AS" also ensures that the buses in the far north are always reliable and safe on the road. "We are very much looking forward to the cooperation with Bussring AS and MAN. Our aim is to ensure maximum uptime for the buses with our trained workshop team and our fast service," explains Kurt-Magne Aga, regional manager of Team Verksted AS, North. The MAN Service Partner, based in Tromsø, takes care of maintenance and servicing of the coaches. "With Team Verksted AS we are relying on a reliable partner. It is important to us to offer our customers innovative transport solutions that they can rely on 100 per cent," says Schuler.