Mercedez-Benz Launches Super High Deck Luxury Bus in India

By Shoumeshwar Sen

1 mins read

Published on December 22, 2015

Highlights

The Mercedez-Benz Super High Deck luxury bus SHD 2436 was launched in India today by Daimler India Commercial Vehicles Pvt. Ltd. (DICV) with the handing over of the first set of buses to a customer in Chennai. The 15-metre luxury coach is the longest in India and offers a high seating capacity of up to 61 push-back seats and 14 cubic meters of luggage space. The SHD 2436 is built with a unique 'aluminique' body which makes it the lightest in its class, thereby making it extremely fuel efficient. The bus features active steerable tag axle that results in a low turning circle radius, which obviously helps to navigate sharp turns and bends. It is also equipped with an advanced braking system and a strategically-positioned fuel tank for added safety. Commenting at the coach's launch at the DICV bus plant in Chennai, Markus Villinger, Managing Director, Daimler Buses India said, "This product, being the longest coach in the country and built with strong features, is sure to set benchmarks in ultra-luxury travel. We are excited to be offering a state-of-the-art vehicle concept to the Indian market. Inter-city travel becomes more safe, comfortable and modern." Erich Nesselhauf, Managing Director and CEO of DICV, along with Villinger, handed over the keys of a fleet of SHD 2436 buses to KPN Raajesh, owner of KPN Travels, at the DICV bus plant. KPN Travels is one of the largest luxury coach operators in south India with a fleet size of over 330 inter-city buses. The Mercedes-Benz SHD 2436 is manufactured out of Daimler's plant in Oragadam near Chennai. The facility produces BharatBenz and Mercedes-Benz buses and also houses Wrightbus, an Ireland-based body manufacturer within its premises. The factory has a capacity of 1,500 units per year scalable to 4,000 units and has a two-fold strategy - BharatBenz produces front-engine buses which caters to the school, staff and tourist transportation segment for intra-city travel, while the premium segment is addressed by Mercedes-Benz rear-engine buses for inter-city transportation. The bus plant manufactures buses with gross vehicle weight of 9, 16 and Above 16 ton range. The BharatBenz network currently has over 80 dealerships across India.

Last Updated on December 22, 2015