Deutsche Bahn (DB) has signed new framework agreements with MAN Truck & Bus and BYD for the purchase of over 3,000 new buses for use by DB Regio.
Around 95% of the new vehicles will be supplied by MAN, with the remaining 5% supplied by BYD.
The majority of newly-supplied vehicles will feature either hybrid or electric drives, and are set to be delivered and deployed throughout Germany by DB Regio AG between 2027 and 2032, with the remaining vehicles utilising efficient diesel systems.
MAN Truck & Bus will supply a large number of its low-floor and intercity hybrid & electric drive buses, and BYD will supply a smaller fleet of electric intercity buses from its production facility in Hungary.
DB is also in the process of concluding secondary framework agreements with IVECO, Scania, Daimler Buses and Zhongtong to ensure the availability of new vehicles.
Harmen van Zijderveld, DB Board Member for Regional Transport::With the new buses, our passengers will continue to reach their destinations reliably, comfortably and in an environmentally friendly manner. The long-term contracts guarantee that we always have modern vehicles and can further develop them closely with the manufacturers.
The fact that the vast majority of the buses come from a Munich-based manufacturer is good news for Germany as an industrial location.
The contract is the largest of its kind in DB Regio’s history and will see the purchase of around 3,300 solo and articulated buses at a worth of over 1 billion EUR over six years.
Hybrid vehicles will utilise a combination of an electric motor and alternative fuels such as hydrotreated vegetable oils (HVO) and will meet the Euro 6e emissions standard.
All buses will offer USB ports at seats, with full air-conditioning using a climate-neutral refrigerant, LED headlights, a turning assistant and a reversing camera.
Dennis Affeld, Managing Director of MAN Truck & Bus Germany, said:With this framework agreement, Deutsche Bahn is receiving an extremely flexible overall package of efficient diesel vehicles, hybrid models, and fully electric buses.
We offer the right technology for every route requirement and at the same time contribute to making the climate targets for the coming years achievable.
