Solidarity on the road to net zero
VIP visit to the MAN bus plant in Ankara: Minister for Economic Affairs, Dr Robert Habeck, saw MAN’s progress in sustainable mobility for himself last Friday.
Lion’s City E test drives
After a welcome from MAN CEO Alexander Vlaskamp and Barbaros Oktay, Head of Bus at MAN Truck & Bus, Habeck inspected the research and development activities at the PDC in Ankara. However, that was not the only place where the Minister saw the transformation of the bus sector first hand. The delegation then had the chance to see MAN’s eBuses for themselves – the entire Lion’s City E portfolio was available for trips on the new Ankara test track.
More than 1,000 Lion’s City E buses have already rolled off the production line since the start of series production and they show how capable and reliable modern electric vehicles are every day in scheduled service. And that’s only the beginning. Over the next few years, MAN will be consistently switching its portfolio in the city and nationwide bus sector to electric vehicles. “By 2025, half of our new city buses will be electric, and only five years later up to 90 per cent of our buses in Europe are set to be delivered with battery motors,” said Oktay. The company also has its sights on the electrification of its coaches, with the first eCoach test fleet planned for 2025.
“The mobility powertrain and energy revolution is changing the entire sector in ways never seen before,” said the Minister for Economic Affairs in Ankara. “If we are to achieve our climate targets, we must quickly and consistently decarbonise our freight and passenger transport. The steps taken so far in the move towards eMobility show that the company is actively driving this change and investing in future technologies as well as the development of its locations.”
At the beginning of the visit, the delegation is welcomed at MAN in Ankara.
Federal Minister Habeck and CEO Vlaskamp at the start of the visit, which lasted around one hour.
Federal Minister of Economics Habeck on his way to the stage.
Federal Minister Habeck calls for the decarbonisation of freight and passenger transport.
Alexander Vlaskamp presented the diverse activities in Ankara.
The delegation is shown the new bus development centre in Ankara.
The complete Lion's City E portfolio was ready and waiting in Ankara.
Federal Minister Habeck with MAN board members Michael Kobriger, Alexander Vlaskamp, Frederik Zohm and Murat Aksel (from left).
- Prelude
- Top-level meeting
- Round tour
- Climate protector
- Presentation
- Insight
- Electrifying
- Group photo
The mobility powertrain and energy revolution is changing the entire sector in ways never seen before. “
MAN is streets ahead in this. Within the framework of the Milence joint venture, founded by the TRATON GROUP along with Daimler Truck and the Volvo Group, at least 1,700 high-performance charging points are to be set up on or close to motorways and logistics hubs throughout Europe over the next few years. Nevertheless, solidarity across sectors and commitment from politicians and the energy industry are essential to master the transport revolution together. There was agreement during the Minister’s visit and the discussions begun in Ankara will be continued with MAN in Berlin.
Face-to-face discussions about the earthquake in February
However, Habeck also took the time to speak to MAN employees about the severe earthquake that shook the border region between Turkey and Syria in February. At the time, MAN provided a million euros in immediate aid and financed five fire service vehicles for use in the area affected by the earthquake. Alongside this, employees in Turkey wasted no time in setting up a fundraising campaign for the victims of the earthquake the very day it occurred, and later transported relief supplies to the disaster area in MAN vehicles.
Text: Cristian Buck / MAN
Photos: MAN
