Mercedes-Benz Bus and Coach Show 2011 in Mannheim

The FINANCIAL — The biennial in-house show attracts private bus and coach operators and public transport specialists from throughout Europe.

Around 6000 visitors from over 20 countries attended this year's Bus and Coach Show held from 17 to 20 November – in the anniversary year of the automobile – in the hometown of the inventor of the automobile, Carl Benz. 125 years ago, Benz invented the automobile, 10 years later the omnibus. This illustrious start paved the way for a unique tradition and enormous know-how, along with a platform for the dazzling display of new products from the Mercedes-Benz Bus and Coach unit in the year of the automobile anniversary.

Alongside the interesting programme of events, customers were able to take a look at, find out about and experience the entire product range from the Mercedes-Benz full-line offering on 3500 m2 of exhibition space. Urban and rural-service buses along with coaches for excursion and touring services formed part of the line-up. Vehicles on display included the new Mercedes-Benz Citaro, which is the first low-floor bus to be available with the Electronic Stability Program ESP.

Apart from the innovations in the urban bus space, the touring coach range also featured the futuristic drive system. The flagship in the Mercedes-Benz product range, the Travego Edition 1 with Euro VI engine was also on hand. With its new BlueEfficiency Power engine, new transmission and Euro VI classification, the new Travego Edition 1 provides a glimpse of tomorrow's drive systems.

"Visitors were able to test-drive our entire product range during the Mercedes-Benz Bus and Coach Show. The highlight was undoubtedly our new Citaro", says Roman Biondi, brand spokesperson for Mercedes-Benz buses and coaches at EvoBus GmbH.Another highlight of the Mercedes-Benz Bus and Coach Show exhibition was FleetBoard. Hitherto, the fleet management system tailored specifically to the bus sector was known under the name Omniplus BusFleet.

The telematics system for rural, touring and urban buses has been further developed and will in future be supplied by the telematics provider Daimler FleetBoard GmbH.