russian bus market review

25–27 октября 2016
AnAlytics
RUSSIAN BUS MARKET REVIEW
There are two news from the Russian bus market: one good, one bad. The bad news is that
the market shrinkage continued in 2015. In particular, the sales of new vehicles -small, medium
and large capacity (excluding microbuses)- have all fallen below the psychological mark
of 10,000 vehicles. The good news, on the other hand, is that the bus manufacturers not only
avoided losses last year, but also some of them even achieved to update their model ranges.
Judging by the sales figures, the implementation of the government programme, subsidising the
purchases of natural gas fuelled buses, has played an important role in this achievement. It’s not
without reason that gas modifications appeared in the production lines of all leading bus factories.
A short overview, introducing the main range of buses manufactured in Russia in 2015, is below.
Nikolai Markov
Photo of the author,
Nikolai alexaNdrov,
Sergei aNdreev,
eduard WolMaN,
alexander ereMiN,
laushkin alexei,
Nicholas StarygiN,
konstantinChiStyakov,
manufacturers
and resource
www.fotobus.msk.ru
ê GAZ Gazelle NEXT
with frame body
GAZ Group / GAZ
GAZ Group, which incorporates five automobile plants: GAZ,
PAZ, KAVZ, LIAZ, Ural, maintains its position as the largest bus
manufacturer in Russia. The main volume of sales in bus produc­
tion belongs to microbuses, manufactured at Gorky Car Factory
(GAZ) in Nizhny Novgorod. Currently, the factory manufactures
two lines of LCV: old and new. The old line is formed of two fami­
lies: Sobol (2.8­3.05 tonnes gross weight, single tyres, indepen­
dent spring front suspension) and Gazelle Business (3.5 tonnes
gross weight, dual rear axle, dependent spring front suspension).
The remaining features of the vehicles are the same: 2.9lt UMZ
petrol engine, which is also available as hybrid, or Chinese product­
ion Cummins ISF 2.8 diesel engine. Gearbox: 5­speed manual
only. Sobol microbuses, up to 6 passengers carrying capacity, are
available as either the low­roof version with rising trunk lid or
medium­roof version with hinged luggage compartment doors.
The selected body type doesn’t have an effect on prices, which
start from €9400. The model range for Gazelle Business micro­
buses is wider. Two versions of medium roof height vehicles are
available: corporate transportation for 8 and 13 passengers or
of these vehicles have been manufactured in 2015. Thanks to the
wide bodywork, the interior layout can accommodate four rows,
increasing the number of passenger seats to 18 (plus one person
standing). The model is only available in diesel engine and the
price tag starts from €16,350. However, Gazelle Next microbuses,
based on all­metal wagon, have become the premiere model of
last year. The vehicle was launched at COMTRANS 2015
exhibition in September. The plant has already completed the
production preparations and manufactured the first pilot
samples. The model will be put on the market as soon as possible.
The 16­seater version with three­row cabin layout will be
available in the market at the first stage. Modifications, allowing
standing passengers, will be possible in future.
[1]
12­seater minibuses. In addition, GAZ manufactures the regular
route version of 13­14 passenger capacity Gazelle Business with
high plastic roof, in cooperation with the contractor PKF Luidor.
The prices of Gazelle Business range between €10,000 ­ €14,500,
depending on the type of modification. Interestingly, both Sobol
and Gazelle Business can be delivered as 4x4 with 2­speed
transfer gearbox (full­time or part­time depending on customer
choice) and rear axle differential lock, for an extra payment of
just €470. Frankly, no other manufacturer in Europe can boast of
converting a vehicle to four­wheel­drive for such a small addit­
ional charge today. The total production figure of old model
range LCV for 2015 is around 7,000 units.
Gazelle Next is the new brand name for the LCV range of GAZ.
The main differences from the previous generation of vehicles
are the completely new cabin and the upgraded bodywork
(independent front suspension, rack­and­pinion steering gear
etc.). The microbus with completely original bodywork,
specifically designed for regular­route traffic, has become the
first passenger vehicle of the family in 2014. Approximately 2000
[2]
[3]
GAZ Group / pAZ
Another venture of GAZ Group: Pavlovski Bus Factory (PAZ)
specialises in the production of small and medium size buses. As
in GAZ factory, the production scheme of PAZ can also be
divided into two main model ranges: old and new. The 7­metre
PAZ­3205, developed in 1979, is the flagship model of the
factory. The sales volume of PAZ­3205 is more than double the
total sales figure of all the remaining models manufactured at
the factory! According to our data, 4000 vehicles have been
assembled last year. The key factors of the market success of this
model are its reliability in bad road conditions, simplicity of
structure and economic price. Despite having a maximum ca­
pacity of 42 passengers, the price of PAZ­3205 is comparable to
microbuses, which carry less than half that number. The factory
offers a number of basic designs for PAZ­3205, which differ in
number of passenger doors (1 or 2), cabin layout and seat types.
There’s also a small but steady demand for modifications for
student transportation and off­road conditions (PAZ­3206 with
4x4 wheel formula­ 92 units were registered in Russia in 2015).
Only a small percentage of PAZ­3205 buses roll off the assembly
line with diesel engines. Almost all of the customers opt for the
version with carburetted V8 engine, the construction of which
dates back to the end of the 50’s. Over the years, the moderni­
sation in the production of PAZ­3205 only affected the technical
components of the vehicle. The model has been restyled for the
first time only very recently, receiving a new body front and new
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КОММЕРЧЕСКИЙ ТРАНСПОРТ
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[4]
[1] GAZ Sobol 4x4
[2] GAZ Gazelle Business
(PKF Luidor)
[3] GAZ Gazelle NEXT
with all-metal body
[4] GAZ Gazelle Business
è PAZ-3205
ê PAZ-4234
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AnAlytics
lighting technology. The assembly of the last party of pre­restyled
buses has been completed during the second half of 2015. The
different features of the more unified and larger model: PAZ­4234
in comparison to PAZ­3205 are as follows: 1.2m longer body,
stronger powerplant and strengthened chassis. PAZ­4234 has
a maximum capacity of 50 passengers and can be equipped with
either of the following diesel engines: Cummins, MMZ or YaMZ.
The total production for 2015 is at least 570 units.
The new range of PAZ factory: Vector 4 is more diverse. The
vehicles, which come in four different body lengths: 7.1m, 7.6m,
8.5m and 8.8m, have not been modified for 4x4 yet. The produc­
tion figures, on the other hand, are more modest. The total figure
for all buses from this line has reached approximately 1200 ve­
hicles in 2015. Vector 4 buses, as in PAZ­3205, also have a front­
drive layout, but the height of the floor level is much lower and
the working conditions are significantly improved for the driver.
The buses are manufactured in two types of design and have sig­
nificant differences in passenger capacities, depending on body
dimensions. For example, the shortest model, designed for
43 passengers, doesn’t come with diesel engine. The options are:
the carburetted V8 ZMZ or (since 2015) the gas­operated “quad”
Isuzu 4HV1. (The Japanese engine has joined the lineup, as a re­
sult of the recently signed agreement, proposing cooperation bet­
ween GAZ Group and Isuzu Motors). The gearbox is mechanical
only and the suspension is all­wheel spring. The 7.6m bus can hold
up to 10 extra passengers and equipped with either of the follo­
wing diesel engines: YaMZ or Cummins. The last one can be sup­
plied paired with Allison automatic gear. The 8.5m version can
hold up to 70 passengers. The specific features of the model are
as follows: sprung ­ air­power rear wheel suspension and the op­
tion to order Spanish Dana axles instead of Russian KAAZ and gas
operated Cummins instead of a diesel engine. The 8.8m version,
used in city or long distance passenger transport, is the largest
of the Vector 4 range (up to 64 and 50 passengers, respectively).
A feature of the inner­city version is the double­winged rear
door, which allows the steps of the cassette lift to be mounted for
the wheelchair users. The intercity version is equipped with
adjustable seats with folding armrests and seat belts and has an
isolated luggage compartment at the rear part of the body.
Up to now we have spoken about the current conditions at
PAZ. Now it’s time for a few lines about the future, in other words,
the latest developments. The test production of the first party of
Vector 3 buses has been made in the factory in 2015. This 7.36m
long, 33­seater city bus, built on diesel frame Isuzu chassis,
GAZ Group / liAZ
[1]
[3]
[2]
[4]
[5]
[1] PAZ-3206 (4x4)
modified for schools
[2] PAZ Vector 4 (7,1 m)
[3] PAZ Vector 3
[4] PAZ Vector NEXT
[5] PAZ Vector 4 (8,8 m)
[6] KAVZ Aurora (8,4 m)
[7] KAVZ Aurora (10 m)
differs from Vector 4 with its substantially smaller body width. Ac­
cordingly, the interior layout is designed as three­rows, instead of
four. The model will be positioned as a competitor to minibuses
in the market, built on the basis of the all­metal European brand
vans. The new bus model Vector NEXT has been launched at the
COMTRANS 2015 exhibition. The model is based on the special
bus chassis of GAZon NEXT, on which the original 7.64m long
body is placed. The vehicle has a maximum passenger carrying
capacity of 53 people. Despite being the most modern model
out of all buses manufactured at PAZ (YaMZ­534 Euro­5 standard
diesel engine, disc brakes on all wheels, ZF integral steering mecha­
nism and the air­powered rear suspension ASR), Vector NEXT is
compatible with all roads, irrespective of the pavement type.
GAZ Group / KAVZ
KAVZ factory, based in the Siberian city of Kurgan, specialises in
the production of rear­drive, mid­size Aurora family buses with
high floor level, the production of which was transferred to the
plant from PAZ in 2003. The line has two types of body lengths
(8.4m and 10m) and two variants of front design. The shorter bus
is available in urban, suburban and intercity versions (up to 56 pas­
sengers) and the longer one in suburban, intercity and school
service types (up to 44 passengers). All modifications are equip­
ped with manual gearbox only (ZF or Eaton) and Cummins engines
(4­cylinder diesel for short version and 6­cylinder diesel or gas for
the long version). The production volumes exceeded 4000 units
at KAVZ during the best years of the last decade, however, the
company has manufactured just 318 Aurora buses in 2015, three
quarters of the figure belonging to the 10­metre version. By the
way, the factory also had the 10­metre, urban, semi­low floor
KAVZ­4270 model with Cummins gas engine in store in 2014,
however, no decision as to the production of the model has been
made yet, due to the current conditions of falling demand.
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• Москва • МВЦ «КрокусЭкспо»
LIAZ plant, established in the city of Likino­Dulyovo in Moscow
Region, had been specialised only in city buses with high or
extra­high capacity, until recently. However, the production of
the intercity and tourist bus models has been transferred to LIAZ,
from the redesigned Golitsyn Bus Plant in 2014. The model range
has also been expanded with the addition of the shortened
version of the city buses, which belong to medium­class. A total
number of 894 buses have been manufactured in the plant in 2015.
LIAZ­5292 was the most demanded model (about 587 units).
Initially, LIAZ­5292 was a 12­metre, low­floor bus with up to 114
passenger carrying capacity, however, a down­sized 10.5m mo­
del for 75 passengers with completely unchanged technical com­
ponents (including the power unit and axles with suspension), is
being manufactured on the basis of the vehicle for the last couple
of years. Currently, LIAZ­5292 is available with MAN or YaMZ diesel
engines or MAN gas engine. The model has two body designs.
The second most popular series is LIAZ­5256. The high­floor
buses with up to 110 passenger capacity are available in urban,
suburban and intercity versions. The series has reached a sales
figure of more than 139 vehicles last year. All versions have the
same length, but the body of the intercity bus has been manu­
factured as high­floor. The model can be equipped with Cummins
or YaMZ diesel or Cummins gas engines paired with the ZF, Voith
or Allison gearboxes. Practically, LIAZ­5293 is indistinguishable
from LIAZ­5256 in appearance. The only difference lies in the
body base, which has a low­floor in the front part of the cabin
and in the construction of the front axle, as a consequence. The
rest of the design is the same. In 2015, more than 90 of these
buses have been manufactured. The factory also manufactures
articulated models on the basis of LIAZ­5256 and 5293, however,
no such orders have been received during the previous year.
The factory has launched LIAZ­4292, the new medium­size
model with 75 passenger capacity in 2015. The model with 9.5m
body length either comes with three doors and a fully low floor
(urban version) or with two doors and 60% lower floor level in
the front part of the cabin. Lighter versions of YaMZ engines and
ZF axles have been used, in comparison with the 10.5m version
and the front suspension is independent. The 4292 model, which
is the most contemporary urban vehicle manufactured by LIAZ
factory currently in terms of technical capacity, can be supplied
in a version with multiplex wiring and CAN bus, full self­diagnosis
system and VDO instrument panel, according to customer
demand. The model complies with the European standards, as to
the working conditions of drivers in public transport. In total,
three pilot samples of LIAZ­4292 have been produced over the
past year.
The remaining two models are: the 12.5m Voyage bus, used in
suburban and intercity routes and the 12m high­floor coach Cruise,
[1]
[2]
[3]
[4]
[1] LIAZ-5292
[2] LIAZ-5256
[3] LIAZ-5251 Voyage
[4] LIAZ-4292
ê LIAZ-5291 Cruise
designed for 47 passengers. Both models use Scania chassis, ho­
wever, with different engine sizes (250 hp and 400 hp respectively).
In addition, Cruise is available with Opticruise automatic gearbox
only, whereas Voyage can be ordered with a conventional ma­
nual gearbox as well. The production figure of Cruise and Voyage
is 72 units.
GAZ Group / urAl
[6]
The last plant belonging to GAZ Group: Ural, established in
Miass, does not manufacture “buses”, as in the conventional
sense of the word. For more than half a century, the plant has
been specialised in the production of all­terrain trucks (the range
consists of 4x4, 6x6 and 8x8 models, with bonnets or cab­over
cabins). However, a shop, manufacturing passenger vehicle
bodies for the purpose of assembly on truck chassis, has been in
operation in the plant for some time. The resulting vehicles are
called “shift buses” and most commonly used for the transport
of workers (gas, oil industry etc.) in off­road conditions.
Sometimes the shift buses run on regular roads, transporting
passengers in remote regions of Siberia and Far­East. For
[7]
2 [126] 2016
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25–27 октября 2016
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• Москва • МВЦ «КрокусЭкспо»
example, when the journey involves long routes with unpaved
roads or crossing river fords. The model range of Ural shift buses
consists of two body types. The shorter version is designed for
22 seats and mounted on 4x4 or 6x6 chassis with any type of
cabin, whereas the longer version is provided with 30 seats and
on a long 6x6 chassis only. There are also passenger­and­freight
versions of both models, with enclosed luggage compartment at
the rear. The total production figure for 2015 is 275 vehicles.
sollErs / ForD
For Ford Sollers plant, the year 2015 was marked by the launching
of the production of the latest generation of full­cycle technology
Ford Transit vans, with welded and coloured bodies. Besides all­
metal vans, the model range of standard Ford products includes
several variants of passenger and school minibuses, the sales
figure of which reached approximately 1000 vehicles in 2015, out
of the total sales number of 4754 Ford Transit of all modifications
in Russia. However, it should be noted that subsequent altera­
tions have been implemented on a portion of the approximately
3000 Ford Transit all­metal vans in passenger transport, as de­
manded by outside contractors.
URAL-3255 on URAL NEXT chassis with gas and diesel engine
Intercity NEFAZ-5299
nEFAZ
sollErs / uAZ
Sollers is the main competitor of GAZ Group in microbus and
minibus production in Russia, with its UAZ factory in Ulyanovsk
and Ford Sollers Holding in Elabuga. UAZ manufactures a family
of utility 4x4 light commercial vehicles with cab­over layouts.
Microbuses and freight­and­passenger vehicles are also included
in the family, besides flatbed trucks and all­metal vans. What’s
unique about these vehicles is that the structure of their body,
as well as the design, has remained unchanged ­just do not
faint­ since 1965! Since then small upgrades have taken place
in individual components and assemblies, the engines changed
(always remaining petrol), but the overall architecture,
ergonomics and passive safety has been frozen in time. For that
reason, one shouldn’t be surprised that the dashboard in these
vehicles is made of steel and the steering wheel of oak (plastic),
such components not being very different from those which
equipped the Soviet vehicles during times of World War II.
However, the vehicles are still in demand today, due to their
high performance, simplicity of design and low cost. After
all, the cargo­passenger version UAZ­3962, with folding ben­
ches for passengers alongside the lateral sides of the body is
currently on the market for less than €7000 and the UAZ­2206
microbus with full seating for 8 or 9 passengers, excluding
the driver, has a price tag of €7300. There were registered
2,262 microbuses UAZ­2206 and around 7,000 commercial
vehicles UAZ­3962 in Russia in 2015.
UAZ-3962
48
School bus on the basis of Ford Transit, Elabuga Assembly
By the way
SHIFT BUSES
URAL and NEFAZ are the largest, but by
no means the only shift bus manufacturers
in Russia. There are around a dozen other
companies, making the same type of production, however, in smaller quantities. For
example, Krona-NN and Rus Comtrans companies from Nizhny-Novgorod manufacture shift buses with 15-20 passenger capacity
on the chassis of GAZ trucks, using not
only 4x4, but also 4x2 chassis. Their customers are different types of public utilities
and maintenance crews, who generally do
not go off-road. However, most manufacturers, such as: Promavto, UZST and Avtofur-
gon and others, have no option but to use
4-wheel-drive KAMAZ, URAL and GAZ
chassis. For instance, UralSpecTrans manufactures shift buses on URAL 8x8 chassis,
which is not even available in URAL plant
itself. A relatively new trend in the market
is the production of shift buses for oil and
gas complexes, on the chassis of allwheel-drive European brands. AMZ (on
Mercedes-Benz Zetros and IVECO-AMT
Eurocargo chassis), Ruscomtrans (Scania,
MAN) and Promavto (MAN) are the main
companies, making such productions in
recent times.
LIAZ factory faces serious competition from NEFAZ, based in
Neftekamsk, in Russian large buses market. Being one of the
subsidiaries of KAMAZ, it’s only natural that almost all of NEFAZ
products, including buses, are based on KAMAZ chassis. A
minimum number of 400 large capacity (12m) NEFAZ­5299
buses have been manufactured in Neftekamsk in 2015, in ten
versions. The gas engine version formed the largest number of
production. In particular, approximately 30% of the total
production belongs to the three­door urban semi­low floor
buses with 279 hp, automatic transmission Mercedes­Benz M
906 gas engines (available in Voith or ZF gearboxes). More than
12% of the production consists of the two­door, high­floor
suburban buses equipped with 260 hp, manual gearbox KAMAZ
V­8 gas engines. In addition, a sufficient amount of high­floor,
é Semi-low floor urban
NEFAZ-5299
ç Gas engine Bravis
è NEFAZ Cube shift bus
with sandwich-panel
body
ê NEFAZ-4208 shift bus
with welded all-metal
body
Krona-NN shift bus on GAZ-3309 chassis (4x2)
AMZ shift bus on Mercedes-Benz Zetros chassis
Promvato shift bus on KAMAZ chassis
Ruscomtrans shift bus on Scania G400 chassis
2 [126] 2016
КОММЕРЧЕСКИЙ ТРАНСПОРТ
low­floor and semi­low floor buses were manufactured for city
and suburban transportation, with diesel Cummins ISB engines.
Finally, the NEFAZ­5299 family has a 42­46 passenger capacity,
high­floor intercity version with Cummins ISB diesel engine,
which is manufactured in small numbers. Last year’s production
figure was around 20 vehicles.
The production of the 8­metre, 45­50 passenger capacity
Bravis buses, manufactured at NEFAZ as a joint­venture with the
Brazilian company Marcopolo, stands out amongst other models.
During the development of Bravis buses, the Brazilian side was
responsible for the body and the Russian side for the chassis
(supplied by KAMAZ, equipped with Daimler axles and ZF
gearboxes). Initially, the buses were manufactured with Cummins
diesel engines only, however, since the end of 2014, a gas version
is also available with Chinese Yuchai engines, in order to revive
the demand in times of market shrinkage. The significance of the
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25–27 октября 2016
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• Москва • МВЦ «КрокусЭкспо»
appearance of the gas engine can be understood from the
following figures: a total number of a little over 80 Bravis buses
have been manufactured in 2015, at least 74 being gas operated.
Finally, NEFAZ remains the largest manufacturer of shift buses in
Russia, for which KAMAZ supplies 4x4 or 6x6 diesel and gas
trucks. Around 400 Bravis were manufactured last year.
By the way
BUSES ON ALL-METAL VAN BASIS
Buses manufactured from ready all-metal vans by specialised
firms, account for more than a third of bus production in
Russia. Window openings are cut in the original body of the
vans, embedded elements installed for the fixing of seats,
heat insulation set up and the interior panels of the former
cargo department are decorated. Vehicles for different purposes, such as: taxis, tourist, school, funeral and social (for
the transport of disabled people) buses are manufactured in
this manner. Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Classic is the most
popular basis for such conversions (the one before the last
generation of Sprinter), manufactured at GAZ factory, to be
subject to future alterations by PKF Luidor. The following
most popular vans are: Ford Transit, FIAT Ducato and the
current generation of Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, through
which thousands vehicles have been manufactured in 2015.
Several hundred microbuses or couples of dozens have been
converted on the basis of IVECO Daily, Peugeot Boxer,
Citroen Jumper and Renault Master. The lion’s share of such
conversions belongs to three manufacturers: ST Nizhegorodets, PKF Luidor, Promtech (Samotlor-NN Holding).
é Volgabus
CityRhythm 12 CNG
ê [1] Volgabus
Rhythmix CNG
ê [2] Volgabus
Serpentine CNG
VolGABus
Volgabus company, from the city of Volzhsky, offers a wide range
of bus models, from medium to extra large capacity, including
coaches.The 12m semi­low floor city bus ­ Volgabus CityRhythm
12, with Chinese gas engine YuChai, was the most manufactured
model (not less than 107 vehicles). By the way, this new model
has been launched only in 2015. Whereas a year earlier, a more
expensive fully low­floor version with MAN gas engine was
supplied to transport companies, which prefer gas engine buses.
Gas modification also secured the demand for the medium­size
high­floor Volgabus Rhythmix family (length: 8.2m), which are
manufactured on Indian Ashok­Leyland chassis. The buses are
equipped with 183 hp YuChai engines and ZF manual gearboxes
and can carry 48 to 55 passengers. Around 40 gas engine
Rhythmix have been shipped to customers, approximately 20 of
which were manufactured in 2015. CityRhythm 18 articulated
city buses with MAN diesel engines are the last items in the
commercial release statistics of Volgabus, with 50 vehicles. The
buses are completely low­floor, due to the interior layout
designed for 167­182 passengers. The extensive use of ZF
components stands out in the technical plan (portal axles,
automatic gearboxes, steering), besides multiplex wiring and
VDO dashboard, in compliance with the European standards.
In addition, Volgabus has demonstrated the prototype of the
47­seater intercity bus Serpentine, at COMTRANS’2015
exhibition. The body has been unified as much as possible with
the higher city model CityRhythm 12, causing a few compromises:
a smaller luggage compartment and a lower ceiling in the aisle.
The technical components are the same in many ways: 260 hp
Chinese spark ignition YuChai engine, ZF front axle and Raba rear
axle. A battery of eight 123 lt metal­composite cylinders is also
fitted on the roof. The serial production of Serpentine could not
be started last year, since the model has not been certified yet.
st niZhEGoroDEts
é PKF Luidor public minibus taxi
on Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Classic basis
[1]
é IRITO public minibus taxi on FIAT Ducato L4H2 basis
ê Nizhegorodets tourist bus on Renault Master L4H3 basis
é Volgabus
CityRhythm 18
î [1] BAW Street Line
with diesel-gas engine
ê [2] Intech Fox
ê Nizhegorodets
VSN700
BAW
BAW­RUS Motor Corporation bus factory from Ulyanovsk has
shown faint signs of life in 2015. The facility has been idle since
the end of 2013. The plant has been established as a joint­
venture by Russian AMS­GROUP and BAIC Corporation of China,
mainly specialised in the production of low and medium tonnage
trucks. However, a small capacity bus, developed independently
on the chassis of BAW Fenix trucks, has been added to the
product range in 2009. In the hope of reviving the demand, a
prototype of the diesel engine BAW Street Line bus has been
manufactured in the factory at the end of last year, specifically
for the purpose of participating in the specialised exhibition:
Petersburg International Gas Forum. The licenced Chinese diesel
engine Deutz has been converted to diesel­gas by Russian engineers,
in cooperation with experts from the Italian company Lovato. Ho­
wever, neither any news of actual orders for the vehicle has been
heard of yet, nor any results from the certification process. ¢
[1]
The company has made a name for itself as a manufacturer of a
wide range of buses, on the basis of all­metal vans. However, the
company has stepped into a new kind of operation recently, the
production of “karkasniki” (buses with firm steel framework),
besides alterations from vans. This process has started with the
final assembly of the Serbian Fenix FBI 83 buses, based on IVECO
Daily 70C chassis. What followed was the localisation of Fenix
body production and the construction of the company’s own
design on the chassis of the “karkasnik” has started subsequently
last year. The vehicles, designed as urban fixed­run taxi buses
with up to 45 passenger carrying capacity, have been brand
named as Nizhegorodets VSN700. The price of the vehicle is
around €51,000. The first 16 samples of VSN700 have been
introduced to Moscow traffic in January 2016.
intEch
[2]
50
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КОММЕРЧЕСКИЙ ТРАНСПОРТ
Earlier, in 2014, another company from Nizhny­Novgorod: Intech
has started the small­scale production of Fox buses with
fiberglass body frames, on IVECO Daily 70C chassis. These buses
are primarily aimed for long­distance intercity and tourist
transportation, therefore having superior features (high
adjustable seats, air­conditioning, luggage racks etc.). Depending
on legroom and the interior plan, the number of seats can vary
between 26 and 31. According to our information, around 20 Fox
buses have been manufactured in 2015.
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[2]
51