MAN expands natural gas bus portfolio in South Korea

MAN’s portfolio of buses in South Korea is set to continue growing, following the presentation of the first MAN bus in the country last November: the Lion’s Touring cabriolet single-decker. The display of a CNG low-floor bus and a double-decker at this year’s Seoul Motor Show in Goyang, South Korea, formed the next significant milestone. Since then, the first of these double-deckers, which are based on the RR4 chassis, has already been handed over to customers.

A MAN A22 chassis forms the basis for the 12-m long CNG city bus, which has 29 seats, 6 of which can be folded down. The option is also available to accommodate two wheelchairs. The 310-hp E28 engine provides reliable acceleration. A distinctive feature of the MAN city bus is its low-floor construction, which incorporates three doors to allow passengers to board and disembark more quickly represent. City bus fleets in South Korea have primarily consisted of high-floor and low-entry vehicles up to now, which is why MAN is introducing the first, and only, low-floor bus onto the market.

Buses powered by alternative drive systems are hugely popular in South Korea due to their low emissions. This explains South Koreans’ long-standing love for natural gas, which is also reflected in the fact that over a million trade show attendees showed interest in the CNG city bus presented by MAN. A private bus operator was so captivated by the new design that it immediately signed an agreement to purchase the first 30 MAN buses, which are expected to be delivered at the end of 2017.

Carmen Fakler, South Korea Market Entry Project Manager, said: “We are pursuing a clear objective in South Korea: breaking out of a niche market, to achieve mass-market penetration. Each bus developed for South Korea is virtually a new creation due to the need to meet local specification and type-approval requirements.”

https://www.ngvjournal.com/man-expands-natural-gas-bus-portfolio-in-south-korea/