Mercedes 2013 Annual Report Download - page 162

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Setra ComfortClass 500 is Coach of the Year 2014. Barely
one year after its world premiere, the new Setra ComfortClass
500 was named “Coach of the Year 2014.” The international
“Bus and Coach of the Year” jury of experts awarded the pres-
tigious prize to the S 515 HD after extensive testing. The jury
was particularly impressed by the economical overall concept
of this generation of Setra coaches, which feature environ-
mentally friendly Euro VI-compliant engines and consume 8.2%
less fuel than the preceding model.
The Mercedes-Benz Citaro, which is the first regular-service
bus with Euro VI-compliant drive technology, received
an award from the “Kraftfahrer-Schutz” automobile club
for its environmentally friendly technology.
Major international contracts. The Wiener Linien public
transport company in Vienna has ordered 217 Mercedes-Benz
Citaro buses as part of its fleet modernization program.
In another positive development, we won a contract from
Österreichische Bundesbahnen (Austrian State Railways)
for the delivery of 390 units between 2013 and 2017. In South
Africa, Daimler Buses won a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) contract
involving the delivery of 134 Mercedes-Benz Euro V chassis for
the Johannesburg metropolitan transport network, which
covers around 120 kilometers. In Brazil, following an invitation
to tender from the city of Brasilia, we received large orders
from four transport companies to renew the bus fleet of the public
transport system. The total order comprises 2,100 Mercedes-
Benz bus chassis. In addition, 500 bus chassis will go to the
operators of the BRT systems in Belo Horizonte.
Reorganization of used vehicle activities under the new
BusStore brand. As part of the reorganization that saw
the introduction of the BusStore brand, Daimler Buses created
a Europe-wide network specifically for the marketing of used
buses and coaches. With this network, Daimler Buses is strength-
ening its used-bus business. From now on, the division will
offer its customers a large selection of used vehicles from
Mercedes-Benz and Setra – as well as all from other common
brands – under one roof.
Reorganization of bus business in India. Daimler Buses
has successfully integrated its bus business in India into Daimler
India Commercial Vehicles (DICV). In addition, a cooperation
agreement was signed with the British bus body manufacturer
Wrightbus in 2013. On behalf of Daimler Buses, Wrightbus will
fit the locally produced chassis with vehicle bodies.
Successful business developments in all core regions.
In Western Europe, the Daimler Buses brands Mercedes-Benz
and Setra offer not only a complete range of city buses, inter-
city buses and coaches, but also bus chassis. Sales in this region
grew by 15% to 6,700 units due to growth in the business
with complete buses.
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D.08 Daimler Buses further enhanced
its leading position in Western Europe and attained market
share of 30.9% in 2013 (2012: 28.3%). The very high demand for
our Mercedes-Benz buses, in particular for the new Citaro
city bus, had a very positive effect on our unit sales in Germany,
with growth of 20% to 2,400 units. Our market share here
was 51.2% (2012: 48.9%). In Turkey, we posted sales of 1,200
units (2012: 1,100 units), although the market there has
become more competitive. In Latin America (excluding Mexico),
the market recovered significantly following the introduction
of the stricter Euro V exhaust-gas standards in 2012. Sales
of Mercedes-Benz bus chassis rose by 7% to 19,100 units.
However, demand in Brazil did not meet expectations due to
uncertainty in the market related to the political conditions
there. With a market share of 41.6% (2012: 42.7%), we retained
our leading position in the Latin American market. Sales
of 3,000 units in Mexico were lower than in the previous year.
After the reorganization of the North American business
system and the end of production of Orion buses in 2012,
unit sales in the United States fell, as expected.
Market launch of buses and coaches compliant with Euro VI.
In 2013, with a total of six premieres ranging from the Sprinter
minibus to the super-high-decker, Daimler Buses completed its
line-up of buses and coaches in Europe with vehicles featuring
Euro VI-compliant exhaust-gas technology. The Mercedes-Benz
Citaro, the most successful city bus of all time, was presented
with Euro VI engines already in late 2012. Daimler Buses uses
BlueTec 6 technology for exhaust-gas purification in all model
series and engines from Mercedes-Benz and Setra. The new
engines comply with the strict limits of the Euro VI standard
and in some cases the emission levels are significantly below
those limits. Emissions of particulates and nitrogen oxides
have been reduced to a level that is almost undetectable. In 2013,
Mercedes-Benz launched the Travego coach, the Tourismo K
compact midibus, the Intouro in new lengths, the Citaro LE and
the Sprinter Travel. The Setra brand also launched new vehi-
cles, including the Setra TopClass 500 and the S 431 DT double-
decker bus of the TopClass 400 series. The new bus generation
sets standards in terms of comfort and economy.
The new Setra TopClass 500 sets new standards in the
luxury travel segment. The dynamic and elegant new coaches
of the Setra TopClass 500 series celebrated their world pre-
miere at the “Busworld Kortrijk” bus show. They represent a new
travel experience that combines luxury and economy at the
highest level. The superior long-distance coaches emphasize the
aspects of design, quality and safety, which they combine
with the outstanding economical features of the newly launched
Setra ComfortClass 500.