More than 3,000 MAN lions for Deutsche Bahn

MAN's new city and intercity buses will modernise the DB Regio AG fleet in the coming years. The scale of this contract is impressive even for experienced industry experts. Alexander Vlaskamp, CEO of MAN Truck & Bus, sums up the significance of the deal: "The new framework agreement with Deutsche Bahn is a historic procurement contract and an outstanding vote of confidence in our products and our team."

The company in Munich is particularly proud that quantity goes hand in hand with sustainability here. "The fact that a significant proportion of the vehicles will be fully electric impressively underlines the contribution that Deutsche Bahn and MAN are making to the sustainable transformation of public transport," Vlaskamp continues.

Large number  of electric city buses

Sustainable city buses with battery-electric drive make up a large proportion of the vehicles to be delivered – available in 10-, 12- or 18-metre versions. The compact 10-metre buses are ideal for narrow city centre areas, while the 12-metre version offers a balanced combination of space, ride comfort and agility. The 18-metre version is ideal for busy routes with high passenger volumes.

MAN is entering the Lion's Intercity LE into the race for intercity transport. The low-entry model combines barrier-free boarding comfort with modern design and high efficiency.  

"With this framework agreement, Deutsche Bahn is receiving an extremely flexible overall package consisting of efficient combustion engines, hybrid models and fully electric buses," says Dennis Affeld, Chairman of the Management Board, MAN Truck & Bus Germany. "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."  

Partnership with tradition

This mega deal did not come about by chance. MAN and Deutsche Bahn have enjoyed a partnership since 2010, which has grown steadily over the years. Over the past 15 years, MAN has delivered almost 5,000 buses to the group. Today, they are an integral part of the cityscape in many German municipalities and shape regional transport.

With the new contract running until 2032, this cooperation is now being taken to the next level. Harmen van Zijderveld, DB Board Member for Regional Transport, is also pleased with this development, which also has Germany in mind: "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 will always have modern vehicles and can continue to develop them in close cooperation 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."

From 2027, the first new buses from this historic framework agreement will enter service – making the journey to work, school or sports even more comfortable and sustainable.