Volánbusz Acquires New Volvo Buses

The Hungarian national public transport bus company Volánbusz Co. Ltd. will buy fifteen new high-capacity buses worth nearly HUF 1.2 billion from Volvo Hungária Ltd. The buses are expected to be available from May, Volánbusz told the Hungarian news agency MTI this Tuesday.

The vehicle purchase contract was signed on January 21 by Volánbusz Co. Ltd., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Ilona Dávid and Volvo Hungária Ltd. Managing Directors Viktor Dávid Illés and Mariola Wdowik.

The new Volvo 8900 buses will run on busy suburban and regional lines. The long solo, non-articulated, three-axle, 53-seater vehicles are low-entry, barrier-free and wheelchair-accessible. The new buses are equipped with the environmentally friendly EURO 6 engine, high-performance air conditioning, Wi-Fi and one USB connection per seat.

The low weight of the aluminum and steel body makes the Volvo 8900 more economical and environmentally friendly to operate. Service and maintenance will be free of charge for Volánbusz within 24 months of delivery and will be included in the winning offer.

Volánbusz plans to purchase 3,930 buses between 2019 and 2022, allowing 60% of the company's fleet to be replaced. The rejuvenation of the fleet is part of the measures taken to implement sustainable public transport and as part of Hungary’s bus strategy. The company plans to lower the average age of its vehicles to 8.99 years by the end of 2022 and to 5.73 by the end of 2031, the press release said.