Family - Autocars Setra

Transcription

Number 46 | Issue 2/10
www.setra.de
Family
Magazine for customers and friends of the Setra brand
Imprint
Publisher:
EvoBus GmbH
Setra Omnibusse
Carl-Zeiss-Straße 2
89231 Neu-Ulm
Germany
Tel. +49 (0)731 181-0
Fax +49 (0)731 181-2418
www.setra.de
Responsible for magazine content:
Michaela Schneider,
Manager Marketing Communication Setra
The following people worked on this issue:
Christine Denzel, BUS/MPM-S
Hermann Fröhlich, BUS/MSE
Bernd Goy, BUS/MSP5
Sonja Waldenspul, BUS/MSP-D
Concept, editorial work, layout:
Newport3 Werbeagentur GmbH & Co. KG
Neumann-Reichardt-Str. 27-33
22041 Hamburg
www.newport3.de
Repro:
Final Art Production
Neumann-Reichardt-Str. 27-33
22041 Hamburg
Printing:
Süddeutsche Verlagsgesellschaft Ulm
Nicolaus-Otto-Straße 14
89079 Ulm
IAA Commercial Vehicles
New seat generation
Sportsmanship
The Setra presentation in
the new Daimler Hall
Page 12
Innovations from seat
manufacturing in Neu-Ulm
Page 16
Top athletes love
travelling with Setra
Page 32
02 | Setra Impressions
Setra Editorial | 03
Dear customers and friends
of the Setra brand,
having for the most part overcome the financial crisis, the automotive sector is now
breathing more easily again. The trend is
most definitely looking up. This positive
mood was also felt at the IAA Commercial
Vehicles show in Hanover, where for the
first time we presented the Setra brand in
association with the complete Daimler
concern. In view of the truly outstanding
communication we presented at the show,
as Head of Setra Sales I am very satisfied
with my first IAA – to be associated with a
coach brand that fulfils and lives its brand
claim “Best in Class” every day.
With our new seating generation, we once
again exhibited a world premiere at the IAA.
There is so much expertise and hard work
that went into these state-of-the-art seats.
In fact, it took four years of development
until we could fully bring to life our “Best in
Class” philosophy. The results are seats
that are even more comfortable and lightweight, with extended functionality, more
safety, and an unmatched selection of
models and versions. A further highlight at
the IAA was our first bus with the “Blue Angel” environmental seal. The “Blue Angel”
seal on the Setra S 415 NF we exhibited
makes it clear for your passengers as well,
that this bus not only fulfils EEV emission
standards – if required, even without diesel
particulate filter – but also protects the environment through materials used and proven
environmentally friendly production.
But there is even more good news. As you
most probably know, long-distance coach
tours are making great strides. In this key
area, Setra has long been competitive, and
especially the flagship of the Setra fleet,
the S 431 DT, stands to greatly benefit from
the increasing popularity of European longdistance travel. In the future, you can look
forward to a lot going on in this area, also
since the Federal Administrative Court in
Leipzig finally decided that bus operators
can charge less than the German railway.
With this development, an important requirement has been met for the approval of
a long-distance line network and the road
ahead for German bus operators is now
wide open. I am very excited to find out
more about the new routes German bus
operators will be including in their offers.
A further and very special highlight we have
been preparing for quite intensively is the
60th anniversary of the Setra brand! On
this occasion we wish to once again underline our commitment to our “Best in Class”
standard. One we have actually been
applying for the last 100 years – in reality
we have been developing and building
coaches and buses that long! I would be
An invitation to take a seat – the new Setra seat generation at the IAA
delighted if you would celebrate with us. Be
our guest and look forward to what we have
been preparing for you!
On a closing note, please allow me to highlight just a few more recent achievements.
After nine months in the company I have
gained good insight into our brand and have
found my place in the Setra family. Over the
last few months, we enjoyed an increase in
both sales and market share compared to
last year. As well, our sales processes and
cost structures have been further optimised, enabling us to achieve vital corporate objectives for Setra. The reasons for
our success are – in the past, today, and in
the future as well – great products, highly
motivated, committed employees, outstanding partners at headquarters and in the
markets, and of course you, dear customers and friends of the Setra brand, our
Setra family. I wish to thank you sincerely
for the confidence you have placed in me
and in all of us at Setra.
Lothar Holder
Managing Director Sales Setra Buses &
Coaches EvoBus GmbH
04 | Setra Content
Setra Content | 05
12 43 49 09 Cover Story
Best in Class
Highlight
Family News
12 | Setra at the 2010 IAA
Premiere of the Setra seat generation at
the world’s largest show for commercial
vehicles in Hanover
20 | Setra Collection update
Every two years Setra introduces all-new
fabrics and materials
26 | An American with a German heart
Facelift for the North-American version of
the Setra TopClass S 417
09 | Clearing the way for long-distance
bus travel
The S 431 DT is way ahead in this highpotential area
21 | New paint colours for the IAA
How Setra bus colours come to be
9 | From Freiburg to Shanghai
4
A very special offer from Avanti Reisen for
adventurous passengers
For the first time, Setra presented itself at
the 63rd IAA in the new Daimler Hall
Setra puts its buses through endurance
testing in Turkey
38 | The Setra safety concept
How Setra implements its “Best in Class”
promise when it comes to safety
43 | Endurance testing in Turkey
Setra buses defy even the most extreme
climates and challenging road conditions
46 | With the environment in mind
New at Setra: Blue Angel and EEV
without filter
Avanti Reisen travelled from Freiburg to
Shanghai in a Setra
Premium Service
Setra is profiting from growing European
long-distance line operation
19 | Interview with Holger Suffel
Head of EvoBus Sales comments on
Setra’s brand promise
24 | Setra Family get-togethers
A look ahead and a look back at shows
and exhibitions
30 | Currency for service and support
An overview of Setra and OMNIplus
ServiceCards
27 | Recruitment bus in Canada
First into the Setra, then into the navy
31 | The Oscar for technicians
Mechanics from all over Europe compete
for the OMNIplus BusTech Master
34 | Success within the network
How three bus companies control public
local transit in Upper Hesse
33 Top athletes enjoy the comfort and many
equipment features Setra offers
45 Handicapped-accessible bus equipment
enables barrier-free travel
Setra Individual
28 | Goodbye Mr Setra
The Setra Family bids “Auf Wiedersehen“
to Werner Staib
22 | The “Wish experts” from Setra
Setra’s commitment to satisfying individual
customer needs and wishes
32 | Sporty, sportier, sportiest …
With Setra towards new heights
30 | Let it roll with Setra
Customised company presentations with
the on-board video
34 | Success within the network
How three bus companies control public
local transit in Upper Hesse
36 | Setra in Scandinavia
Success stories from the great North
37 | New customers on board
The Setra Family grows and grows ...
41 | Comedy Tour
A most entertaining tour of Berlin’s sights
40 | Bodyshells instead of bodyguards
Two Setras customised for prisoner
transport
45 | Barrier-free travel
Rauch Reisen with a special offer for
people with limited mobility
47 | Looking for bus stories
We’re collecting stories on the Setra brand
24 | Setra Familien News
Setra Family News | 07
Steinbrück Reisen drives for ARD/ZDF children’s channel:
When television hits the road
Every summer, the KI.KA children’s channel travels through Germany celebrating in various cities with
parties of between 50,000 and 80,000 spectators. For three years, a Setra from the Steinbrück
company has been part of the programme.
F or the seventh time, Juri, Singa, and
Bernd – well-loved characters from
the children’s – went on their summer tour
through various cities. And the little KI.KA
fans are delighted to meet their stars every
Sunday and to have fun during an actionpacked program that includes climbing, surfing, and dancing. Since the tour’s third season, the forty-person KI.KA crew has been
transported by tour operator and travel agent
Wolfgang Steinbrück, and this year in the
Setra S 416 GT-HD they just purchased. “As
the largest bus operator in the region, we
are very pleased that KI.KA opted for us”,
says junior manager Christian Steinbrück.
“And since we knew that outstanding safety
and a comfortable interior are so important
for KI.KA, it was clear that nothing less than
a Setra would do for the tour.”

Sicily: Setra Expo Sicilia:
Pole Position for Setra
In February the Autodromo di Pergusa race track hosted buses rather than the usual race cars.
In Enna, EvoBus Italia organised an exciting and memorable customer event.
T
o strengthen Setra’s brand presence
in Sicily and Calabria, EvoBus Italia
organised a series of successful events at
unusual locations.
For instance, in the context of Expo Sicilia,
EvoBus Italia brought five Setra coaches
from all series to the Autodromo di Pergusa race track. Bus operators and other visitors to the event really enjoyed the opportunity to get behind the wheel of one of
the Setras. They were offered extensive
information on services and support as
well as ecological and safety training by
OMNIplus and the Sicilian service partner
Comer Sud S.p.A. As an added plus, a
bus-specific box stop was set up where
companies could have their buses go
through an inspection – at no cost.

Austria: Setra regional line buses strengthen Austrian public transit (ÖPNV):
Prince Philippe from Belgium celebrates his 50th birthday:
47 buses for the Austrian NÖVOG
A royal appearance with Setra
The trend towards regional European transit companies expanding their public transit is still going
On April 15, 2010 the Belgian heir to the throne celebrated his 50th birthday. The illustrious guests
strong. And the Lower Austrian Public Transit organisation (NÖVOG) is a strong partner for Setra.
were driven to the Royal Palace in a Setra S 431 DT.
T he expansion of the Austrian Public
Passenger Transit (ÖPNV) brought
Setra one of its largest orders it has experienced over recent years. A total of 47
vehicles were ordered for the all-new fleet
of the Lower Austrian Public Transit organisation (NÖVOG), the competence center
for all public transit issues in Austria’s largest province.
These buses epitomise bus transportation
at its most comfortable. Proven models
from the Setra product portfolio are de-
ployed, now in their third generation. They
range from the double-axle MultiClass
400 S 415 UL and the triple-axles S 417 UL
and S 419 UL as well as six units of the
TopClass, the S 431 DT – the flagship of
the Setra product range.
The buses are all equipped with low-emission and cost-efficient Euro V OM 457 hLA
engines with 260 kW or 300 kW and OM 502
LA with 370 kW in the double-decker. 
I
t could not have been a more perfect fit
that his highness Philippe Léopold Louis
Marie Prince of Belgium, Duke of Brabant –
affectionately referred to as Filip – and his
birthday guests were chauffeured from their
hotel to the Royal Palace in a Setra. After all,
the Setra is often referred to as the “crowning glory among coach royalty”. So it came
as no surprise that the many passengers
from the European nobility felt very well taken care of in Setra’s flagship.

08 | Setra Family News
Setra S 431 DT establishes itself in the growing long-distance line travel segment:
Clearing the way for long-distance bus line travel!
In many European countries long-distance bus line travel is a way of life. And there, Setra has long
been able to prove its competitiveness. Especially the flagship of the Setra fleet, the S 431 DT, is
delighted with its popularity on European long-distance routes. Also in Germany things are moving
in the direction of liberalising long-distance bus line travel.
U p until now, the bus has played a
minimal role in German longdistance line travel, primarily
due to strict regulations which still apply
to buses as an alternative to cars and
trains in the context of the 1925 Passenger Transportation Act. Based on a valid
coalition agreement, the government is
planning to soon liberalise long-distance
bus line travel in Germany.
In a concrete case, the Leipzig Federal Administrative Court for the first time ever,
decided that a lower price would qualify as
an improvement of transport service. This
fulfils the requirement for buses running
parallel to rails – slowly clearing the way
for long-distance bus line travel.
More passengers in long-distance
long haul
According to national statistics, 125 million
passengers travelled by bus and train in
Germany in 2009. The coach and bus segment accounted for 2 million passengers.
In long-distance travel in 2009, an average
285 kilometers per journey were driven.
Whether private bus companies will further
benefit from long-distance line haul remains to be seen. Currently the right to
serve long-distance routes still remains in
the hands of the German railway.
Success model Spain
Also in other countries the trend towards
long-distance bus travel is uninterrupted.
The Spanish example shows especially well
that buses and trains don’t necessarily
have to be competitors on long-distance
routes but rather that they can complement
each other well. In Spain, ALSA, EvoBus
Iberica’s largest customer, administers the
complete network of regular national bus
connections, with which practically all autonomous regions on the Iberian peninsula
are linked. Within Spain, ALSA deploys the
S 419 GT-HD for its long-distance routes:
the 15 m long bus has been built since
2008 especially for this application and has
been deployed in many other countries as
well since then.
S 431 DT is “Best touring bus”
The flagship of the Setra TopClass,
the S 431 DT, was selected as “Best
touring bus” at the beginning of 2010
by readers of the Bus Driver (Busfahrer) trade magazine. The readers
were especially taken in by the
coach’s safety features, its design,
styling, and innovation. The S 431 DT
is especially successful in long-distance line travel due to the fact that,
like no other, it combines the luxury
of a club bus with the cost-effectiveness of 89 seats.
ALSA is also present in Portugal, France,
Belgium, Switzerland and Germany, and is a
member of the Eurolines network of European bus carriers. The company offers a
differentiated service package, including
direct urban connections. In Europe, ALSA,
using its 65 international accreditations,
maintains an extensive network of interEuropean connections, which connect Spain
with most countries in the European Union
and North Africa.
Setra S 431 DT is a clear step ahead
The Setra S 431 DT epitomises the concept
of comfortable travel in Europe. Passengers
enjoy the exclusive atmosphere it offers
with its luxury seats, tables, on-board kitchen and lavatory, and of course the quiet
that reigns in the upper panorama deck.
The upper and lower decks can be positioned and equipped for first- and secondclass service, as required. But travelling in
a Setra S 431 DT is not only more comfortable. It is also more cost-effective and
more environmentally friendly than trains
and cars. Per passenger, a long-distance
bus which is two-thirds full, only causes
half the CO2 liability caused by a comparable train ride – and only a seventh of the liability resulting from a comparable journey
in a car. 
which previously served the route. A second S 431 DT covers the route for the Lucerne Public Transportation Services.
Germany: Regional transport Münsterland is extending its network
The Münsterland regional transport company (RVM), a subsidiary of the Westfälischen
Verkehrsgesellschaft mbH (WVG), recently
added further S 431 DT buses to its line network. Now, three double-deckers cover the
the Vreden–Münster line, and the new ones
will be deployed on the route from Lüdinghausen to Münster. For RVM, along with the
comfort and outstanding handling Setra offers, the possibility of seating 83 passengers
Setra is on the success track in the European
long-distance line haul business
Many long-distance line models all over
Europe bear witness to the success Setra
enjoys in long-distance line haul applications. SetraFamily took a close look at developments in a number of countries and
identified the routes where it is proving its
benefits.
Czech Republic: Touring Bohemia
establishes a Business Class
For 18 years, the TOURING BOHEMIA company, also a member of Eurolines, has been
travelling with a fleet of Setra buses between the Czech Republic and over 20 European countries.
In July 2009, the Business Class pilot project was initiated to address a new target
group with a focus on luxurious interior
equipment. On the Prag–Brno–Bratislava
line, luxurious S 416 GT-HD buses were
taken on: more spacing between seats,
large wheel-away tables, a multi-channel
audio system with headsets and 4-channel
selection, high-speed WiFi and 220 V outlets transform a trip in the Business Class
into pure pleasure. And the concept is
being very well received: due to the exceptional early success of the project, operations will be extended at the end of 2010 to
cover the Brno–Prag–Ústí nad Labem–
Dresden–Berlin route – which will also be
covered in premium coaches from Setra.
Austria/Italy: Austrian national rail
(ÖBB) travels to Venice
Following the withdrawal of the Italian state
railroad, the ÖBB intercity bus connections
more than doubled, and now travel daily
every two hours from Klagenfurt through
Villach and Udine to Venice. Two comfortable double-decker S 431 DT buses were
purchased in 2008 for the new line, and
two additional ones extended the fleet in
September 2009. The buses offer a total of
74 seats in first and second classes. The
first class is fully accessible and equipped
with a space for wheelchairs.
Switzerland: Auto Uri and Lucerne
Public Transportation Services go
for Setra
Since February 2010 a second doubledecker Setra S 431 DT has been deployed
on the Tellbus line between Altdorf and
Lucerne. The new “Tellbus” has 91 seats as
well as a wheelchair space, and is now used
by Auto AG Uri instead of two smaller buses
was another major reason why they opted
for the flagship of the Setra product range
and the largest coach in the Setra family for
their line business.
Turkey: VARAN is pioneer in longdistance line haul
Since in Turkey close to 90% of all long-distance travel takes place on the road, there
are over 400 bus operators who drive to
most destinations. VARAN is the model
company when it comes to long-distance
line haul. Half of its 200-vehicle fleet are
buses from the Setra TopClass. VARAN carries close to 2.5 million passengers a year
and serves international routes from Istan-
bul to, for instance, Berlin, Salzburg, Vienna,
and Sofia. Service and comfort are top priority for VARAN: in the buses, hostesses
serve refreshments and snacks – which are
in fact included in the price. On high-frequency routes, VARAN even operates its
own motorway service stops and restaurants. VARAN was the first operator to offer
online ticket buying, and VARAN is the only
operator that has its own dispatching terminal in Istanbul. Personnel training is also
exemplary with VARAN. Moreover, it is also
very important for the vanguard company
to offer exclusive vehicles, e.g. with 2+1 seating, monitors on seatbacks and Internet as
well as SAT television.

12 | Setra Cover Story
Setra Cover Story | 13
Setra at the IAA Commercial Vehicles show in Hanover:
Hall of Fame
Between September 23 and 30, the 63rd International Automobile Exhibition (IAA) for Commercial
Vehicles was held in Hanover. For the first time in the Daimler Hall, along with the truck, van, bus, and
special-application vehicle segments from Mercedes-Benz and FUSO which were exhibited, Setra was
represented with a large stand and six of its coaches. A clear focus of the Setra presentation was its
new generation of seats.
T he world’s largest trade show for
commercial vehicles, which takes
place every two years at the Hanover fair grounds, was held this year under
the slogan “Commercial Vehicles: Efficient,
Flexible, Future-Proof”. 1,751 exhibitors presented their wares to over 240,000
visitors, showing just how much dynamic
potential the sector has to offer. For many
bus operators, a visit to the IAA is an absolute must. As it is for Mario Piovesan, Managing Director of La Marca from Treviso in
Italy, who upon entering the grounds, headed directly towards Hall 14/15: “Setra
coaches make up a large part of our fleet.
Today we are here to have a look at the new
Setra models, since we are constantly
trying to further improve our coach fleet. Of
course that can be best done with Setra.”
A prominent Setra presentation in the
Daimler Hall
In Hall 14/15 there was to say the least a lot
of visitor traffic. And it was no wonder, the
view was truly impressive: over 50 vehicles
were beautifully positioned and exhibited in
the enormous Daimler Hall. Thematically
arranged rows upon rows of trucks, buses,
vans, and special-application vehicles con-
veyed an impressive aura of advanced,
powerful distinction. The six Setra coaches
in elegant red were especially eye-catching.
They were painted along a “Four seasons”
theme – a subtle reminder that with Setra
you are ideally equipped for all seasons and
applications. The completely new generation of Setra passenger seats was in the
foreground of the presentation.
The new seats from Setra: a new standard in comfort and technology
At Setra, good is never good enough. To
make sure that the new passenger seats
fulfil the brand’s “Best in Class” promise,
they were conceived and developed in
Neu-Ulm over a four-year period. The targeted performance dimensions of the new
seat generation were defined in close collaboration between development, sales,
aftersales, and production. And they are
even more comfortable and lighter, offer
even more advanced functionality, more
safety, and unmatched variability. In short:
the new seat generation sets all new standards. The development resulted in the Setra
Route seat series for buses in the
MultiClass, and Setra Voyage for touring
coaches in the ComfortClass and TopClass,
as well as two even more luxurious versions
Voyage Plus und Voyage Supreme. The new
seat design and the extended spectrum of
fabrics open up close to unlimited variations in design and colour. Setra will be
phasing in the new seats through spring
2011 for all bus types. The Transit seat for
scheduled services as well as the Ambassador, for exclusive luxury applications for
2+1 or even 1+1 seating configurations, will
remain as they are.
A perfect interplay of design and functionality
The new seats proved to be a real focal
point for visitors to the IAA stand. Many
visitors wanted to try out how the new design feels – with its lightweight materials –
and how the large and very visible side
compensator for cross adjustment and
seatback adjustment actually works. Renate Kröger from Kröger Reisen in Harsefeld also enjoyed a welcome break for her
tired feet, as she rested her arms on the
ergonomically designed support surface of
the seat’s elegant arms. “Very comfortable”, she said with appreciation as she
moved the simple mechanism to adjust the
seatback, cleanly positioned under the side
panel. “We have just ordered a Setra
S 415 GT-HD with the new Voyage Supreme
luxury seats. And yes, you really do feel a
difference compared to other seats.”
More comfort, less weight
A number of visitors appeared to be
enjoying the comfortable seats, with their
spring-mounted construction, so much so
that they didn’t want to leave them. With a
heavy heart, bus operator Kröger did however manage to get up – what was made
easier thanks to the steeper angle of the
seatback in its neutral position. If the seatback has been leaned backwards by a
passenger, if requested, it can be “pro
“The new seats with their easier operation will be received
very well by passengers.”
Stefan Lay, Managing Director of Lay Reisen - on Tour GmbH, from Püttling near Saarbrucken
grammed“ to automatically return to its
neutral position upon leaving the seat. Also
practical: the seat cushions can be removed with two simple handgrips to clean
them or repair any damages incurred. The
aisle-side arrangement of all seatbelts is
also new, and facilitates emergency-personnel access in the case of an accident.
Real stone floors in the coaches
When it comes to designing the interior
of its coaches, Setra has never been
afraid of pursuing completely new directions, delighting customers looking for
something ultra-special. At the show,
visitors were amazed upon entering a
Setra with a real stone floor. The stone
surface is Asian shale and is applied to a
5 mm thick, sound-absorbing rubber
supporting layer. Thanks to a special
surface finishing treatment, the stone
floor is also extremely wear-resistant.
With the new seats, a 12 m long tour bus
with three-star equipment is an impressive
70 kg lighter – which of course has a positive impact on overall cost-effectiveness.
As standard equipment, the seats are
equipped with a two-point seatbelt. As an
option, the three-point seatbelt version is
also available. 
A “seat advisor” keeps things in check
It is easy to be overwhelmed with the many
combination possibilities offered by all seat
types and all feature and material versions.
No problem: thanks to the “seat advisor”,
visitors to the IAA could simply select a
seat by touchscreen and then have a look
at what features are available for this specific seat. The desired combination could
then be printed out. Selecting various
cost-effectiveness resulting from low operation costs and high resale value.
The TopClass 400: scented impressions
Of course at a trade show you expect to be
bombarded with countless visual impressions. You also know you’ll be able to feel
different materials, fabrics, and surfaces.
What you don’t necessarily expect is, upon
entering a bus, to be surprised and pam-
“I’m on the road in many European cities, so EEV is a very relevant
topic for me. It’s great that I no longer have to worry about spending
money on maintaining the diesel particle filter.”
The new seat generation from Setra
Setra Route, the passenger seat for the
MultiClass
A seat everyone can enjoy: as the name
suggests, the Setra Route seat was conceived for vehicles used for combined
applications and for MultiClass buses. Designed with functionality in the foreground,
it features standard, distance-optimised
fixed seatbacks, shorter seat cushions and
an aisle-side grip. Nonetheless with many
equipment options, such as variable armrests, adjustable seatbacks, side adjustment, footrests, a variety of additional
mounted components, as well as a selection of upholstery and fabrics.
Setra Voyage, the passenger seat for the
premium class
Now this is comfort: the high-quality Setra
Voyage seat has standard adjustable seatbacks, side adjustment, two grips, an aisleside, fold-down armrest, and a baggage
net. Moreover, it features a well conceived
modular system, along with a wide spectrum of combinations: with piping in fabric
or leather, leather headrests, head flaps,
details such as bag hooks or waste containers, or extras such as audio systems
with a headset connection. In a Setra
Voyage seat you can’t help but feel at home
and relaxed.
Setra Voyage Plus and Setra Voyage
Supreme: unmatched comfort
With these seats, your guests may never
leave your coach: the Setra Voyage Plus is
ultra-comfortable thanks to an extra layer
of upholstery, and with its quilting and
colour combinations, a real eye-catcher.
This is only outdone by the even more
opulent cushioning offered with the Setra
Voyage Supreme, which promises to seduce even the most discerning travellers.
With over 80 different fabrics and more
than a dozen types of leather, which can be
combined endlessly, tour operators looking
for a truly distinctive look will be amazed.
Facts & figures on seat manufacturing in Neu-Ulm
10.000.000 combination possibilities exist, if you consider all types of seats produced in Neu-Ulm along with all possible feature and material versions
500.000 m2 of fabric, leather, and artificial leather are handled yearly –
the equivalent of a surface covering 70 football fields
200.000 bus and coach seats are produced yearly to meet customer wishes
5.000 m2 is the size of the seat manufacturing facility
3.000 stitches per minute is the performance achieved
with the pneumatically powered industrial sewing machines
1.500 seat units are produced per day (maximum)
124 employees work in seat production
70 kg of weight are saved thanks to the new seats in a 12 m long
touring bus with three-star equipment
Daimler Buses is Europe’s largest manufacturer of coach and bus seats. Along with
those in Mannheim and Turkey, the Neu-Ulm location is key to Setra seat production
and also delivers wares to other European locations such as France and Portugal.
Customised, in-house production guarantees seats that are “Best in Class”, and that
leave no wishes open in terms of comfort, safety, and individuality.
fabrics came next with the help of the design consultants. There was certainly a lot
to do. And it’s no wonder that so many visitors wanted to find out more about the new
generation of seats which open up close to
endless seating concepts that are even
more closely tailored to their specific applications and needs.
Six buses – six highlights
When looking at the six elegant Setra
coaches, you could almost believe that they
were actually proud of their heritage. The
TopClass, ComfortClass, and MultiClass
series all head their respective segments,
and all of them are characterised by the
ultimate in comfort, the greatest possible
safety, elegant design, and outstanding
Martin Kern, bus driver from Hamburg
pered with a spring-scented environment.
Like the one Setra offered its visitors to this
year’s IAA for the first time ever in the
triple-axle super high-decker S 416 HDH.
The design consultants invited guests to
test a variety of air scents, and then to
assess their acceptance via questionnaire.
But the S 416 HDH has a lot more to offer
than an attractive scent. The TopClass is
impressive not only due to its outstanding
safety equipment, but also with its state-ofthe-art comfort and its new Voyage Supreme
luxury seats. On the inside, for the first time
ever in the coach world, Setra installed a
floor with a real stone surface. During
breaks, the passengers are invited to enjoy a
refreshing drink at the fold-out counter outside the coach. They can also let themselves
be pampered in the TopClass double-decker
S 431 DT, which easily competes with
airplanes and trains. Its upper deck is a
spacious, four-star equipped business class
environment, while the lower deck offers
first class all the way with its premium fivestar seat spacing. Both decks are equipped
with the new Setra Voyage Plus luxury
seating, with headrests in distinctive ostrich
leather look. And just as impressive is the
infotainment system in the lower deck with
fold-out monitors at the tables, WiFi router
and a server solution for a wide selection of
information and entertainment programming.
ComfortClass 400: safe and environmentally friendly
At the core of the Setra program is the
ComfortClass, with coaches that fulfil the
requirements of excursion applications
along with scheduled-service applications,
as well as classical tour and long-distance
business. The Setra S 415 GT-HD highdecker exhibited at the IAA proves that
safety also has top priority in the ComfortClass and that highly discerning environmental standards are met as well. All Setra
scheduled-service buses and touring
coaches with the 457 LA/hLA six-cylinder
in-line diesel engine now meet the most
stringent, current, voluntary EEV emissions
level. What is new is the fact that this
standard can be achieved without a diesel
particle filter (recognisable by its green EEV
plate lettering) – a further advantage in costeffectiveness.

Interview with Holger Suffel:
“The Setra brand makes a
clear performance promise”
Holger Suffel has been with the company since 1977, with only a brief interruption, and is now Head
of Marketing Sales and Aftersales at Daimler Buses as well as Head of Sales at EvoBus GmbH.
SetraFamily met with him at the IAA show.
And does all this justify a higher price?
It certainly does. Our customers know exactly that the purchase price only represents
about 15% of their coach’s overall lifecycle
costs. And that over the long run, the less
expensive products can be very costly. And
that with Setra, they can look forward to
being very successful over the long run.
MultiClass 400: a multi-talent with an
environmental seal
There were three MultiClass buses to experience at the IAA. After all, the series had a
lot to show and tell. From the low-entry to
the classical regional scheduled-service
bus to the high-floor vehicle, the Setra
MultiClass is deployed for demanding regional scheduled-service and excursion
applications. The Setra S 415 NF we exhibited is one of the first Setras to have received
the “Blue Angel” seal, mostly known among
consumers. It not only fulfils the EEV emissions norm, but also serves the environment well through materials used and ecologically friendly production. The seal is
also visible for all passengers to see. The S
415 NF surprised its visitors with a grassgreen lawn flooring – which humorously
depicted the bus’ “green“ background
while showing off just one of the countless
customisation possibilities available with
Setra.
The second IAA member of the MultiClass
family is the Setra S 417 UL, the classical
double-earner. The touring front, podium,
and seating with Setra Route from the new
seat generation make it ideal for excursions. The new Setra Route seating as well
as an automatic transmission underline the
outstanding comfort it offers in airportshuttle applications, for instance.
Seeing each other again in two years
For the event organiser, the Association of
the Automotive Industry, the 2010 IAA was
a complete success. And Lothar Holder,
Head of Sales at Setra Buses & Coaches
EvoBus GmbH, is also more than satisfied:
“The concept of a Daimler Hall with its
multibrand presentation worked beautifully,
and proved to be a real attraction for the
public. Moreover, at our Setra stand, we
had an ideal environment and many possibilities to present our innovations and to
welcome our many family members from all
around the world.”
And they did feel welcomed. Beatrice Ogunnowo, Head of Marketing at the Daimler
distributorship in Nigeria, expressed what
many visitors to the Setra stand felt: “Even
though I travelled a great distance to come
here, as soon as I arrived, I felt as if I had
just come home. I am already looking
forward to getting together with the Setra
family again at the next IAA.”
Well then, we’ll see you at the next IAA in
2012, or perhaps even sooner at one of the
many upcoming SetraShows.

A current trend: leather embossing
With their amazing flexibility and unmatched
comfort, the distinctive seat covers of the
new generation of Setra seats never fail to
attract attention. With eye-catching leather
embossing in ostrich and ray looks, used
for the first time in coaches, Setra once
again proves its “Best in Class” standard
in terms of offering customer-oriented,
individual interior design solutions. While
developing its elegant embossed looks,
Setra let itself be inspired by current trends
exhibited in luxury cars.
Mr Suffel, for you as Head of Sales, the
IAA for Commercial Vehicles must be
the highlight of the year.
Absolutely. When I look around, I am so
pleased to see just how outstanding the
complete presentation of our brands in the
Daimler Hall looks and feels. This very unique
combination of elegance, power, and scope
makes my sales heart beat quite a bit faster.
You have been with the company for 29
years, and with EvoBus for the last 7
years. From your perspective, how have
the brands at EvoBus evolved?
Mercedes-Benz and Setra are the most valuable coach and bus brands around
today. And of course we are very proud of
this fact. The development is the clear result
of strategically consistent brand manage-
ment over many years. Every day, we create
the platform for our customers’ experience
with the brand tomorrow. And we are very
conscious of this responsibility.
Are there other reasons for this outstanding brand development?
Well, a company needs many ingredients to
achieve success: satisfied customers, committed employees, strong brands, and attractive products. Here at EvoBus, these
ingredients come together in a very harmonious way. With our authentic brand communication the market experiences every day,
we are creating confidence, trust, and a sustainable brand identity. The fact that we are
innovation leaders on the one hand, and a
company with extraordinary heritage on the
other, is also a big part of the story.
Setra has established itself as premium
brand in your company. What is it that
makes Setra so special?
The Setra brand is a promise, a promise of
performance and achievement. The brand
slogan “Best in Class” says it best. Setra
stands for comfort, elegance, individuality,
and value retention. With Setra, the brand
experience begins as early as during the
equipment selection, where we customise
the coach to our customer’s wishes. With
Setra, there is no doubt as to what the
brand stands for – and for what it doesn’t.
Ultimately what is important is that we successfully fulfil our customers’ expectations.
No more and certainly no less!
Do Setra customers have different expectations from their buses as customers of other brands?
Yes, they definitely do. Because with Setra,
it’s all about “more”: more customisation,
more customer support, more comfort, and
the list goes on. When you talk about Setra,
you’re talking about a “tour de force”, a masterpiece. One that exceeds all expectations. In other words, simply Setra!
Mr Suffel, thank you so much for this
interview!
20 | Setra Best in Class
Setra Best in Class | 21
New paint colours for the IAA:
Amazing tones!
At the Setra DesignCenter customers are given extensive advice on selecting paint colours for their
new Setra. What has been known to happen is that our colour consultants and customers, together,
create all-new tones that had never previously seen the light of day.
Nebbiolo
In constant evolution: The Setra Collection:
The stuff dreams are made of
Every two years just in time for the IAA, at the New-Ulm DesignCenter, the Setra Collection goes
through a major update whereby close to half the 85 upholstery fabrics are changed. The result is a
wide spectrum of passenger seats that always reflect the latest trends and fashions, while fulfilling
discerning requirements in comfort and functionality.
E xciting times at the Setra DesignCenter: just in time for the IAA,
not only fabrics, but also flooring,
curtains, wall coverings, and even lavatory
cladding are put through a stringent refresher course. Doris Born, textile designer at the DesignCenter, explains why:
“On the one hand, over a two-year period
there are many trends or mini-trends that
develop, and on the other hand, during
this time we learn a lot about our customers’ wishes and preferences.” Satisfying customer wishes is absolutely top
priority at Setra, and to make this happen,
a whole team of fabric experts come to
gether. Working closely with weaving mills,
materials are selected, altered, or even
created from scratch. In order to become
part of the new collection, fabrics and
materials need to go through extensive
testing and quality assessments addressing, for instance, seam strength, abrasion
resistance, hot light resistance, as well as
resistance to cleaning products and aging.
Only once they have passed all these tests
with flying colours, are they taken on in
the new collection for the new models and
given the honour of being presented to IAA
visitors.

For every fabric the right care
To ensure that the fabrics keep their beautiful appearance for a long time to come, we
include handy cards with cleaning tips in
every new coach delivered. For example, a
stain on seating upholstery is best treated
from the edge towards the center, and the
cleaner is not poured directly onto the fabric, but rather onto a cotton cloth first.
Stains on microfibers can best be removed
with mild soap suds on a sponge using circular motion, again from the outside to the
inside. You’ll be most successful at cleaning leather with a soft, lint-free cloth and
distilled water.
T here are many factors that influence just how a new paint colour
comes to life. The customer advisors at the Setra DesignCenter of course
know exactly which new colours and tones
are ‘hot’. But parallel to this, Setra also
takes into account the customer’s wishes.
Should customers ask repeatedly for a colour, the DesignCenter quickly takes action
and researches the colour with manufacturers’ development departments. In cases
where the customer-inspired colours har-
Pinot Noir
Sangiovese
monise well with trends and other key
factors, an idea for a new colour tone is the
result. The team at the Setra DesignCenter
defines the new colour spectrum and gives
the colours suitable names. The new tones
are then painted on sample sheets in the
paint shop, and the recipe is optimised by
the paint experts in terms of rough or fine
metallic proportions. At the same time, colour nuances are developed to ensure that
the colours interact harmoniously – just
like the three red metallic tones shown at
the IAA. The results were definitely a sight
to see at the IAA: EVO 5048 Nebbiolo,
EVO 5057 Pinot Noir, and EVO 5067 Sangiovese are the mouth-watering names
given to the new paint colours which contributed to the elegant presentation at the
Setra displays. Sonja Waldenspul from the
Setra DesignCenter is convinced of their
success: “These colours were inspired by
our customers’ wishes, so we can be sure
that they will be well received by our bus
operators.”

The KSW team leaders: (left to right, above) Steffen Stolz,
Herbert Bacher, Andreas Arnold, Horst Müller – (left to right, below)
Thomas Felk, Manfred Rattunde, Jürgen Schuster
22 | Setra Individual
Setra Individual | 23
A team of specialists
In his KSW team there are experts who are
specialised on one model series: Alexander
Eberhardt, Thomas Felk, Jürgen Schuster,
Herbert Bacher, Manfred Rattunde, Horst
Müller, and Steffen Stolz.
24,000 special customer wishes per year
Each member of the team is a specialist in
his area. “Our staff knows their vehicles inside and out. They have acquired their expertise over many years and are indispensable to my team”, proudly says Arnold. Every
year, 24,000 special customer wishes are
brought to life at Setra. “It never gets boring
here”, he adds, smiling. Close to 20 special
customer wishes that are worked on daily
Individual equipment concepts:
Customer wishes become
reality
Individual equipment customisation is intrinsic to what Setra is all about. Every Setra customer is
given a bus that meets his very specific needs and wishes. The team that makes sure this happens
is the Kundensonderwunsch (KSW) or the special customer wish group. SetraFamily made a visit to
the “Wish experts” at Setra.
S etra customers are very discerning.
And what they want is a bus that is
made to measure to suit their needs
and their tastes. This is why there is a team
dedicated to making this happen. Working
closely with bus construction and colleagues
from Setra sales, KSW employees take care
of and manage the special wishes of Setra
customers.
The team is led by Andreas Arnold for whom
collaboration within the team is very important: “Close cooperation enables a good
flow of information – and ultimately it is also
important for the KSW team to find out about
all changes that are made to standard vehicles, so that they can then more optimally
assess customers’ special wishes.”
Simply brilliant, the combination of hub and swing flap
are so technically challenging that they are
passed on to the experts from the KSW
team, who work closely with specialised developers, from for example, electrical, interior equipment, bodyshell or frame, to organise
and coordinate the technical implementation in the desired vehicle.
An example: a flap solution
An interesting recent special customer wish
was to develop a special flap solution for a
S 416 GT-HD/2 equipped with a lift for handicapped passengers, for French customer
Kéolis France. The customer wanted a
solution whereby when removing luggage,
he wouldn’t have to open the complete sidehinged lift flap, on the lower section in front
of the lift. The idea behind the solution is as
simple as it is brilliant: the flap was split horizontally. The result is a combination of a hub
flap and a swing flap. The handicapped lift
disappears behind the lower swing flap
enabling problem-free access to the luggage
compartment. The customer, Kéolis France,
is very pleased with his solution and with the
great functionality of the two new flaps. The
KSW experts from Setra, working together
with specialists and coordinating with sales,
developed an attractive and practical solution, with which the flap when open is at the
same level as the others. And once again in
the development department at EvoBus, yet
another customer wish became reality. 
A look ahead:
Autocar Expo, Nice, France
The largest French coach and bus show
will be organised for the second time by
ten bus manufacturers, including Setra.
The objective is to repeat the resonant
success from 2008 with at least 5,000
visitors.
20.–23.10.2010
Parc des Expositions Nice Acropolis
SetraShows Plattling, Germany
Like every year, the Setra Family “Get-together” will be held in late autumn. The safety
topic will be focused on during the show in
Plattling.
30./31.10.2010
BusWorld Home, Plattling
A look back and a look ahead at trade shows and exhibitions:
Setra get-togethers
The year is almost over, and we look back at many events with impressive innovations. But also in
Euro Bus Expo, Birmingham, England
Close to 250 manufacturers and suppliers
will be exhibiting at the coach and bus trade
show for right-hand drive vehicles.
02.–04.11.2010
NEC, Birmingham
SetraShow Neu-Ulm
Here, the focus will be on “Customisation
and cost-effectiveness”, where the new
generation of passenger seats will be playing a starring role. Another highlight in
Neu-Ulm is the Setra GrandPrix 2011 qualifying event, for which two places will be
awarded. The challenge: to drive through a
skill-testing track in the shortest amount
of time while making the fewest errors.
06./07.11.2010
CustomerCenter Neu-Ulm
OMNIBUS 2010, Kloten, Switzerland
At the Setra in-house show in Kloten in
Switzerland, a number of the impressive
IAA exhibition coaches will be presented –
along with many other topics and displays.
04./05.11.2010
EvoBus CH, Steinackerstr. 13,
Kloten, Switzerland
International Used Coach & Bus Show,
Neu-Ulm
At the beginning of 2011, right next to the
Setra Used Coach & Bus Center, used
coach and bus dealers, Setra distributors
as well as EvoBus subsidiaries will once
again offer over 250 coaches and buses of
all brands. Event organisers are expecting
over 2,000 visitors, including a large professional representation, for which the
show offers a uniquely large selection of
used coaches and buses.
05.–07.01.2011
Setra GebrauchtWagenCenter (Used
Coach & Bus Center), Plant 5, Neu-Ulm
BestBusVienna, Vienna, Austria
The exhibition for Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, and Bulgaria takes place in the
Wiener Neudorf market township. Here,
both new and pre-owned vehicles will be
shown.
11.–13.11.2010
EvoBus Austria, Industriezentrum NÖ-Süd
Straße 4, Wiener Neudorf
the coming months, the trade show landscape features several events you wouldn’t want to miss.
A look back:
Danube Roadshow
For the first time in April this year, following the slogan “Setra meets friends”, two
vehicles travelled on the Danube Roadshow through Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia,
Serbia, Bulgaria, and Romania. On drives
through the Danube’s largest tide locks,
Gabcikovo, passengers could test the
OMNIplus BusFleet fleet management
system and then partake in lively discussions on the buses’ handling.
RDA Workshop
The focus of Setra’s presentation at this
year’s Bus Tourism Show in Cologne was
tourism. For this reason, the triple-axle S 416
HDH and the S 411 HD Club bus were exhibited as representatives of the TopClass
400. Tourism was also a central focus in
assessments from RDA visitors. Specialities
from classic bus touring countries Switzerland, the Baltic and South-East Europe were
offered.
IAA Commercial Vehicles, Hanover
The second largest commercial vehicle
trade show took place in September this
year with the slogan “Commercial vehicles:
Efficient, Flexible, Future-Proof” in the foreground. Accordingly, the new generation of
passenger seats was a key focus of Setra’s
presentation. For the first time, Setra exhibited inside the Daimler Hall with its
impressive and very eye-catching exhibits.
(see full report beginning on page 12).
FIAA, Madrid, Spain
The international trade show for touring
and line buses is the most important platform for the bus sector and a key meeting
point for decision makers.
16.–19.11.2010
Feria de Madrid
Canada: New Setra business in North America:
Upswing for Setra in North America
Lothar Holder, Head of Sales at Setra Buses & Coaches EvoBus GmbH, is pleased with Setra deliveries to
Canada, which he sees as a very positive sign for the development of the brand abroad: “We hope that
these great orders represent a further strengthening of our market position in North America.”
Setra ahoy!
Countries without compulsory military service have to come up with interesting
approaches to attract their youth to a career
in the military. The Canadian navy chose to
add very unusual recruiting buses to their
arsenal of tactics. The three Setra TopClass
S 417 motorcoaches delivered to the Canadian navy in Ottawa were specifically designed for recruiting new members – and
they truly are spectacular-looking. The paint
jobs highlight the navy ships and marines at
work. On the inside, they feature electronic
kiosks where viewers can find out about career possibilities in the navy. And, it is also
the very first time that a S 417 TC was delivered to this customer equipped with a rear
entrance. Usually vehicles for the North American market only have a front entrance. 
USA: Facelift for the TopClass S 417:
A full-blooded American with a German heart
The all-new North American version of the Setra TopClass S 417, featuring over 30 innovations, was
premiered at this year’s UMA Motorcoach Expo in Las Vegas. Since 2003 the TopClass has been
delivered to North America and it is now a clear leader in the luxury tour segment.
S ince its successful introduction in
the USA, Canada, and Mexico,
close to 800 units have been built
especially for these markets. They have
achieved an amazing 30 percent of the premium segment. Reason enough to upgrade
the North American version, following the
introduction of the new TopClass 400 in
Europe. Enhanced safety was a top priority
for the launch. And in North America, safety
reached an all-new dimension with the
S 417. With the Front Collision Guard, both
passive and active safety components such
as the cornering lights and light/rain sensors were introduced. As well, with the new
docking lights on the sides, the bus driver
can enjoy excellent visibility when loading
or unloading luggage in dark parking areas.
Moreover, the driver capitalises on further
innovations that make his cockpit and working space even more attractive. Just a few
examples: the leather-covered multifunctional steering wheel, with integrated key
functions and a new 3D colour display.
What is certainly unusual for German drivers is the fact that the North American
TopClass features only one door at the front
right of the vehicle. With the space saved,
56 passengers can be seated in the motorcoach. Even the environment stands to gain
from the new TopClass. It already fulfils the
American EPA 10 emission regulations, the
European equivalent of regulations to be introduced in 2014. Ultimately, no matter
how many updates and innovations the
North American version of the TopClass
S 417 will see, one key feature will always
remain German: the engine. At the heart of
every Setra.

The Setra TopClass ranks among the most coveted motorcoaches with
drivers and operators – from Canada all the way through to Mexico
This Setra TopClass S 417, with its distinctive paint job, is a real eye-catcher
100th Setra delivered to Canada
A Setra TopClass S 417 was also delivered
to Ambassatours Gray Line. This fully
equipped Setra is the 100th Setra sold in
Canada. For Patrick Scully, Vice President
Sales at Daimler Buses North America, it is
a clear sign of the Canadian market regaining strength. The motorcoach will be
used by the well-known St. Francis Xavier
University in Halifax for students, athletes,
and other university transit applications.
18 | Setra Familien News
Goodbye Mr Setra:
“Thank you Werner Staib”
The slogan chosen for the event to bid farewell to Werner Staib really says it all. The farewell event
for Setra’s brand speaker on February 26 was a large, international “Thank you” and a real family
party with many highlights.
B efitting his many years of service
to the company, Werner Staib
was picked up on the day of his
celebration by a vintage Setra, which carried him for the last time to the Setra CustomerCenter. There, as he so often did, he
enjoyed a unique opportunity to set the
tone once again, but this time not in terms
of brand strategy, but rather as director of a
musical band. A task he performed with his
usual expertise and finesse. From that
point on, the event proceeded seamlessly.
In the afternoon, he was chauffeured to
what was his workplace for so many years,
the former Kässbohrer head office, and
then he was off to the Setra Museum.
In the early evening, once this first part of
the celebration program was completed,
Werner Staib and his wife were taken to the
banquet hall where a wonderful reception
had been meticulously prepared for the
couple. You could tell that the otherwise
very pragmatic Mr Staib was taken over by
surprise. They had all come to bid him fare-
well: former colleagues and supervisors,
the entire Setra sales team, German and
international distributors, and all of the
EvoBus senior management. The evening’s
motto “Thank you Werner Staib” couldn’t
have been more suitably executed and
filled with life. The festive ambiance, the
heart-warming poems and songs all contributed greatly to this very unique and memorable farewell celebration in honour of
Werner Staib.
30 | Setra Premium Service
Setra Premium Service | 31
ServiceCards from Setra and OMNIplus:
The currency for all-around service
Beginning in October 2010, our open-order benefits (Obligo) and 24h SERVICE in the case of breakdown
will undergo some changes. Here, SetraFamily offers an overview on the various ServiceCards available.
SetraCard
Max Muster MusterReisen GmbH
3700 1234 5678 04/08 03/12
W ith every purchase of a new Setra
vehicle, you can receive a Setra
ServiceCard. It is valid over four years and
covers an open order in the case of a breakdown and for repairs, depending on whether
you select one with or without refuelling.
For all others the following applies: in the
future, whoever does not wish to miss out
on open-order benefits and the 24h SERVICE needs the basic OMNIplus ServiceCard. In combination with the basic mobility package, it offers a bus-specific, starting
open-order of 2,500.— €, which can be extended online. The OMNIplus ServiceCard
Premium offers even more convenience:
with it, you can also cover costs for filling
up, tolls, and ferries. It replaces the proven
and still valid OMNIplus ServiceCard.
Whichever ServiceCard you’re travelling
with, it gives you access to a series of
services for unlimited mobility. Select the
card and the service that best suits your
needs. Whether fast, expert help in the
case of a breakdown, cashless payment
for service work and parts needed, gas
station service at over 28,000 stations in
Europe, replacement buses including driver,
or 24h Tyre service – with Setra and the
OMNIplus Service brand, you can count on
receiving the right services and support to
meet your needs and requirements. You’ll
find more information at www.servicecard.
omniplus.de.

Let it roll with Setra
The Setra on-board video is being very well received – by both operators
and passengers. As of mid-November, Setra will be offering a further
service enabling you to incorporate your own company messages to the
film. It’s time to make the film your very own!
n just about four minutes, the film informs passengers on the many benefits
of travelling in a Setra with useful tips on
operating lighting, ventilation, and seats.
This makes the driver’s job just a little bit
easier, while ensuring that passengers can
take full advantage of all the comfort a
Setra offers. The film is handed over with
every delivery of a TopClass or ComfortClass coach and can be ordered via the
Setra homepage as required.
As a pioneer in customer-orientation, Setra
now offers you the opportunity to customise the on-board film to your specific needs.
For instance, you can include your own
company messages however you would like
to – with your logo, as a slide show, or even
a film – it’s completely up to you. The result
is a well presented, brief orientation on
your company and your coach brand, which
your passengers will enjoy as their journey
with you begins.
OMNIplus BusTech Challenge 2010:
The Oscar for top service technicians
Under the maxim “Demonstrate your expertise”, mechanics and service technicians from all European OMNIplus service points competed for the OMNIplus BusTech Master award. The goal of the
competition is ongoing improvement of the service quality offered by OMNIplus.
A The customised Setra on-board video:
I The three OMNIplus BusTech
Masters in Gold, Silver, and Bronze.
If you are interested in receiving a customised on-board video, simply get in touch
with your local representative beginning
in mid-November, and have a look at
the online ordering platform. There you
can see sample films, receive information
on various possibilities and costs for
different customisation versions. You can
then order directly, upload your data, or
simply get in touch with us for further
assistance.

competition like this one in the bus
world is something very special:
622 service technicians from 17
European countries gave their best to put
their knowledge and expertise on the entire Setra and Mercedes-Benz product spectrum, including the various engines and
transmissions, to the test. With this competition OMNIplus assesses its own quality standard, increases employee motivation and rewards passion for excellent
service work. Following an analysis of results, the 646 service points in 37 European countries with their over 6,000
employees could be further optimised.
Participating service station employees
could become aware of their own strengths
and weaknesses and could then be trained
further in a targeted way – which is indispensable considering the fast-paced developments in modern coach and bus technology.
“Best in Class” service technicians
In order to qualify for “Best in Class”, participants had to overcome a series of hurdles.
At the end of 2009, the preliminary country
rounds took place, in which 622 partici-
pants answered online questions on key
areas like engine/transmission, frame/
brakes, electrical components, comfort,
body, IT systems in aftersales, as well
as general-knowledge questions on the
OMNIplus service offering. Of the 622 candidates, 218 proceeded to the second round,
in which questions regarding the EvoBus
production network, the new Power-Shift
GO 240-8 transmission, operating the heating system in the Setra TopClass 400, specifics of the on-board and off-board diagnostic systems, or on repairing an exterior
swinging door, were addressed.
Bus all-arounders are in demand
The 17 country winners then went to the
two-day final round in Neu-Ulm an, where
qualified assembly specialists put their multi-faceted knowledge to the test. At a total
of ten stations, there were tests assessing,
for instance, ride-height control on a Sprinter minibus, faulty mounting of a brake system, or checking audio systems and tackling the front door. As well, an accident
repair task with replacement part assembly, checking HVAC systems, practical questions on the engine and pressure air brake
systems, as well as theoretical questions
on repairs. The final test module was an indepth visit to manufacturing at the end of
which questions on facility data and production were posed. It soon became crystal clear: what is required today are not
specialists, but rather bus all-arounders
who are equipped to tackle any service
challenge.
And the OMNIplus BusTech Master is …
After two very intense days of testing, it
was finally time to acknowledge the winners. Helmut Schnapp, Director Daimler
Buses Aftersales in Neu-Ulm, and Siegfried
Wittlinger, Head of OMNIplus Training,
chaired the awards ceremony. Wolfgang
Hänle, Head of Production, handed over the
prizes. And then the real celebrations began. No wonder, the OMNIplus BusTech
Award is such a handsome award, depicting
a service mechanic in his overalls on a
screw nut. And for all those who were not
successful at getting hold of one of the coveted trophies this year, it will soon be time
to gear up to the next competition. In two
years, you’ll hear once again: “And the
OMNIplus BusTech Master is …”

On the road towards new heights with Setra:
Sporty, sportier, sportiest ...
Even top athletes like to get comfortable from time to time. Whether Judokas or hockey players, they
enjoy being driven to their games or competitions in comfortable Setra coaches.
The Mannheim Eagles’ team bus is even equipped with a blade sharpening device
Sramek official carrier to the European
Judo Championships
With his Setra TopClass coaches, Sramek
Reisen was the official carrier of the Austrian Judoka to the European Judo Championships in Vienna. Over 10,000 spectators
visited the European Championships in the
Ferry Dusika Stadium, including the Russian Prime Minister who enthusiastically
followed the events. Manfred Sramek personally congratulated the Austrian athletes Sabrina Filzmoser and Ludwig Paischer on
winning silver medals and Andreas Mitterfellner on winning a bronze.
A Setra S 431 DT for the “Mannheim
Eagles”
The Eagles are crazy about Setra! A Setra
coach with Mannheim Eagles emblem painted on its sides carries the players to their
games. The coach is equipped with several
skat tables, an inverter module, and 220 V
outlets for laptop connections at every seat
row, a harness and storage cabinet, equipped with a blade sharpener – so that
not only the players but also their skates
arrive at the stadium as sharp as possible.
EV Zug team with Setra on tour from
Gössi to success
The Swiss EV Zug hockey club not only has
the most modern stadium, it also boasts the
most state-of-the-art team bus in Switzerland. Just in time for the opening of the
all-new BOSSARD Arena, the team is also
now travelling with a new Setra S 416 HDH
team coach. The S 416 HDH succeeds the
S 415 HD, with which the Gössi Carreisen AG
transported the team over the last five years.
For team captain Duri Camichel and his
team it is very special to travel so luxuriously
and he is quite sure that: “In the future, we
will also be arriving at our games feeling
relaxed and ready to win.”
“The Race” celebrity alpine skiing
competition in ORF
The six-part Austrian reality show “The
Race” is moderated by former ski racer
Armin Assinger. As a first step, 16 celebrities are prepared by Assinger and skitrainer legend Robert Trenkwalder in a training camp. And this is where the real star of
the show takes over: a Setra S 411 HD from
Blaguss Reisen, who drove the celebrities
through the skiing regions. In five parts of
the show, the trainers and audience nominate two skiers, a man and a woman, to
proceed to the next level. The best eight
participants (four women, four men) made
it to the finals which were broadcast on
December 19, 2009. The winners of the
race were folk musician Marc Pircher and
former ski racer Stefanie Schuster.

The “EV Zug” hockey players are delighted with their new team bus, a Setra S 416 HDH
ORF/Thomas Ramstorfer
During the Judo European Championships, Sramek Reisen brings the athletes to Vienna to their competitions
The unspoken star of the ORF reality show “The Race” is a Setra S 411 club bus from Blaguss Reisen
Bus delivery to the ÖPNV Upper Hesse:
Success within the network
The ALV line transit network in Marburg has extended its fleet with 15 new Setra buses from the
MultiClass 400 series to guarantee problem-free public transit in Upper Hesse.
A s a regional partner company of the
Rhein-Main transport association, the
ALV runs 16 bus lines in Hesse, and 80
percent of their daily business is with
school buses. This is why the ALV places
safety in the foreground and already now
offers its passengers over 500 seats with
seatbelts. For the three bus operators –
Fritz Herrmann GmbH in Marburg, and
Omnibusbetrieb Wagner in Ebsdorfergrund, and the Auto Nau GmbH in Kirchhai
– it was clear that they would expand their
fleet with buses from the Setra MultiClass
400, the preferred line bus among privatesector and mid-sized bus operators.
With this decision, ALV is now in the position to counter the enormous competitive
pressure from foreign suppliers and large
German operations in the Hesse public
transit market.
From the left: Heinz Friedrich (Setra Head of National
Sales) handed over six UL and nine low-entry buses to
Hermann Meyering (deu B.u.S. AG), Daniel Wagner
(Omnibusbetrieb Wagner), Hans-Christian Herrmann
(Fritz Herrmann GmbH), Waldemar Viol (deu B.u.S. AG)
and Andreas Seelbach (Auto Nau GmbH)
“Our company philosophy is characterised
by a continuous desire to improve our performance, by a healthy spirit of innovation
and a high standard of quality. This makes
the ALV Upper Hesse one of the most
high-performance private transportation
providers in all of the Hesse state”, explains Managing Director Udo Diehl, as he
describes the ALV’s success concept.
“And this also makes the ALV an ideal partner for the Setra premium bus brand”,
agrees Holger Suffel, Head of MarketingSales and Aftersales Daimler Buses as
well as Head of Sales at EvoBus GmbH.
Moreover he praised the exemplary privatesector commitment of the ALV partners:
“An investment of this scope speaks for
the entrepreneurial strength of this midsized bus operator.”

Fan mail to Setra:
Max, the little Setra fan
Maximilian Ullmann is twelve years old and every morning he is driven to school in a Setra bus.
He is so thrilled about the bus that he made a drawing of it sent it in to Setra.
M ichaela Schneider from the Setra
Marketing department has contact
with Setra fans almost every day. But it is
certainly not every day that she receives a
letter from a twelve-year-old: “We were so
delighted to receive the letter and the great
drawing form a twelve-year-old. It was written with the openness that only a child can
have. The fact that a twelve-year-old can
get excited about our buses really goes to
show that you don’t need a lot of technological know-how to be a real Setra fan. It’s
enough to simply travel in one of our
buses.“

First Setra delivery to Hawaii:
Aloha, Setra!
In the context of a large celebration event, Travel Plaza Transportation in Honolulu, Hawaii, took
delivery of its first three Setra S 417 premium motorcoaches.
T he three yellow Setras are not
only the first for Travel Plaza, but
also the first for all of Hawaii. “Our
customers are going to love the design of
our three Setra TopClass S 417 motorcoaches along with the many benefits they
offer”, commented Eric T. Iha, Managing
Director of Travel Plaza Transportation at
the event. All three were painted in lively
Hawaiian colours: with tropical flowers
against Travel Plaza’s bright yellow background. “We are delighted for Travel Plaza,
the very first Hawaiian bus operator to take
delivery of a Setra”, said Patrick Scully,
Vice President Sales at Daimler Buses
North America. “The three Setra TopClass
S 417 motorcoaches will carry Travel Plaza’s
customers in luxury: from the ultra-comfort-
able, premium seats all the way through to
the amazing views passengers can also enjoy through the large rear windows.” The
Travel Plaza company was founded in 1979
and now employs a staff of close to 100. Its
fleet includes over 30 motorcoaches, minibuses and limousines. Every year, the tour
operator carries 1.5 million passengers
through Hawaii’s many islands.

Welcome to the Setra Family
Setra in Scandinavia:
Exhilaration in the high North
Setra is enjoying ever-increasing popularity in Scandinavia, as witnessed by these success stories
from Sweden and Norway.
were delivered to the Molund company,
seven more to the Cerisresor company, as
well as three more to other regional customers. This represents quite a success
considering how difficult it is to sell “normal” coaches in this thinly populated area
where combination cargo buses tend to be
the norm. With the S 417 UL, Setra offers a
bus that can be equipped with a trailer, an
attractive alternative to the classic combination vehicles. 
Upswing for Setra in the North of Sweden
Setra’s success story in Sweden began in
1977 as Ulf Carlsson took over the Setra
distributorship with his company Cartes
Bussdelar AB. In the year 2000, the company became EvoBus Sweden which today
employs a staff of close to 75. Setra sells
close to 70 buses a year in Sweden – and
the trend is increasing. This year saw a series of large orders placed in the challenging North Swedish market. Seven vehicles
Norwegian export market, is delighted over
the increasing success of Setra touring
coaches in the land of fjords: “Drammen
near Oslo is one of the most well-known
operators of European tours and especially
for sightseeing tours through Norway. With
its total of 22-vehicle Setra fleet, team
tours has made a solid contribution to
Setra’s market leadership in touring
coaches in Norway.” 
Four new Setra coaches for “team tour”
in Norway
What a wonderful occasion to celebrate:
for the company’s 60th anniversary, the
coach delivery took place at the CustomerCenter in Neu-Ulm. Along with team tour
owner Jan Saatvedt, who personally took
delivery of the four Setra coaches, several
other lucky team tour employees were present at the event to greet the new buses.
Herrmann Fröhlich, responsible for the
Bus Weekend at RSA in Norway
The Bus Weekend held in mid-April at Rute
bileiernes Standariserings Aksjeselskap,
RSA for short, was a successful event in
spite of the ash cloud. Close to 80 bus
operators attended the event which took
place near Oslo. Tore Aasgaard, Setra sales
representative at RSA, is thrilled with the
success. “A number of visitors couldn’t
make it to the event, due to the Iceland ash
cloud, others were very busy filling in for
stranded airplanes with their buses. Nonetheless, turnout at the event was great.”
The Bus Weekend’s highlight was the Setra
Qualifying event, where the two best
drivers were selected from the 17 participants to represent Norway in the 2011
Grand Prix: the 1st place went to Johan
Haslestad from NH Turbiler, the 2nd to Einar Nielsen from Argentum Reiser.
During the test drives, the new H bus and
the S 416 GT-HD were very popular and
their PowerShift transmission was highly
praised during the friendly barbecue. 
Belgium: Autocars en Reizen Thor bvba, Aartrijke • Avanti Cars bvba, Koksijde • De Scheldevallei Reizen NV, Oudenaarde • Patro-Tours bvba, St. Niklaas •
Bosnia: Autoprevoz, Banja Luka • Denmark: Bjert Busser, Kolding • Bur Mini- & Turistbusser, Vemb • Espergærde Turist ApS, Espergaerde • Hafnia
Rejser Holbaek Aps, Holbaek • Germany: Alsleben, Nudow • Amann, Bermatingen • Arndt, Breitenbach • Ludwig Arzt Omnibusverkehr e.K., Seligenporten • Auer Reisen GmbH & Co. KG, Rotthalmünster • Reisedienst Axel Backer GmbH • Reisedienst Begemann, Vlotho • Biermann Reisen GmbH &
Co. KG Omnibusbetrieb, Osterburg • Binninger, Vörstetten • Birgels GmbH & Co. KG, Meerbusch • Franz Blattmann Omnibusuntern., St. Peter •
BN Bus Betrieb Nieder GmbH, Berlin • Igor Boreicha Kompass-Reisen, Düsseldorf • Christian Borgmann CB Reisen, Greven • Buckreus Touristik GmbH,
Wilhelmsthal • Bunk GmbH, Karlsfeld • Udo Burkert Omnibusbetrieb, Sehmatal • Buseck GmbH & Co. KG Reisebüro, Wetzlar • Däuble, Deckenpfronn •
Der Reiseladen, Malsch • Carl Domberger GmbH, Augsburg • Reisebüro Uwe Dreßler, Heidenau • Düsentrieb, Berlin • Eckerl Reisen GmbH, Büchlberg •
Eisinger, Herxheim • Erzig, Pluwig • Felix-Reisen Böke u. Niemeier GmbH, Kalletal • Fleischmann, Wiesenthal • Frenzel Reisen KG, Bremen • Anna Friedt
Omnibusuntern., Goldenstedt • Fuchs, Ellenberg • Markus Fuchs Dienstleistungen, Vinningen • Gebhard, Heiligenberg • Gotthardt, Grunewald •
Gottlieb-Reisen GmbH & Co. KG, Bad Essen • Grasmann, Hafenlohr • Günter Mende, Mela-Reisen, Berlin • Reiseuntern. + Bustouristik Eckhard Gürgens,
Seebad Bansin • Ludwig Habermayr Busuntern., Neuburg • Häring, Postbauer • Harms Reisen, Südbrookmerland • Heinrich, Eppingen • Josef Held +
Sohn Personenverkehrs GmbH, Buch • Omnibus Held, Lindenberg • Helmut Driessen, Gangelt • Herrmann, Marburg • Hipfner, Kümmersbruck • Holger
Tours e. K., Mannheim • Josef Huber Reisen + Transporte, Babensham • Huber Omnibusuntern., Hohenzell • Hubert’s-Reisen, Hettstadt • Joachim Hügle, Großheirath • Doris + Egon Hümmer GbR, Röthlein • Husmann Reisen GmbH, Neuenkirchen • Jäger Reisen GmbH, Ilshofen • Josef Jörg Omnibusuntern., Immenstadt • Julia Reisen, Rotenburg • Kaiser Reisen, Karben • Bus Kantic GmbH, München • Kauffmann Reiseunternehmen, Stühlingen • Kellerer Reisen OHG, Burgheim • Kirsch, Merzig • Oswald Kleinhenz GmbH & Co. KG, Gerolzhofen • Konrad Koch Omnibusuntern., Rohr • Kohler Reisen
GmbH, Horgau • Wolfgang Kollerer Reiseverkehr, Bensheim • Kröger Reisen, Hans-Martin Kröger, Harsefeld • Holger Krüger Fahrschule u. Omnibusbetrieb, Großwoltersdorf • Kuhlmann, Großhabersdorf • Hans-Herrmann Lange, Lange Tours, Görzke • Albert Lankl Omnibusuntern., Geisenfeld • Launhardt, Rockenberg • Omnibusuntern. Günther Lehmann e. K., Falkenberg • Leineweber Autoreisen GmbH, Goch • Lenz Reisen, Berlin • LVM, Münster •
Omnibus Martin GmbH, Pressig • Medenbach Touristik GmbH, Weilburg • Meier GmbH Omnibusbetrieb, Hemau • Meurer Reisen, Inh. Werner Meurer,
Rösrath • Omnibusbetr. Heinrich Meuter, Wunstorf • Mörlein, Ingensbach • Harald Mühlhofer Busuntern., Gerzen • Müller, Bösingen • Nagel Reisen
GmbH Omnibusbetrieb, Aichhalden • Nissen & Thomsen GmbH, Löwenstedt • Nordland Reiseagentur OHG, Süsel • Ostseebus, Seebad Ahlbeck • OVA,
Aalen • Palmen Reisen GmbH, Baesweiler • Walter Pelz Mario Pelz Taxibetrieb, Schleiz • Perseus Reisen GmbH, Neumarkt • Pivotti VIP LINER Berlin
GmbH & Co. KG, Berlin • Herrmann Popp, Au • L. Ranzinger Busuntern., Zwiesel • RBI, Isny • Martin Reble Omnibusuntern., Steinenbronn • Reicheneder, Wallersdorf • Reisebüro Kreger, Kassel • Reisedienst Hamburg-Nord Bossel KG, Hamburg • Rhein-Ahr-Reisen Waldforst GmbH & Co. KG,
Boppard • Richter Reisen GmbH & Co. KG, Erlbach • Riedel, Langenau • Schaber-Reisen GmbH, Ihringen • Schäpers Reisen GmbH & Co. KG, Rheine •
Schefenacker Reise- u. Verkehrs GmbH & Co. KG, Esslingen • Dieter Schmidt GmbH Omnibusbetrieb, Marpingen • Schmidt Reisen Eberhard Schmidt,
Döberich • Schneider, Röttbach • Schneider Reisen GmbH, Traunreut • Patrick Schuchhardt, Griesheim • Ludwig Schüssler GmbH, Pfungstadt •
Herbert Schütt GmbH, Höchstadt • Singer, Au • Spratte, Waldeck • Benno Steinbrecher Omnibusbetrieb, Brannenburg • Steinherr Reisen GmbH, Dießen • Werner Steiof, Waldbrunn Reisen, Waldbrunn • Stoll, Schnelldorf • Strauss, Tettnang • Ströbel, Dietenhofen • L. u. W. Stumpf Nachfolg. GmbH &
Co. KG, Künzell • Hans-Werner Süfke Taxen u. Busse, Kaltenkirchen • Reinhold Thiele Omnibusbetrieb, Eisenach • Thome-Bus-Touristik GmbH, Philippsburg • Tjaden, Norderney • Tuss Verkehrsges. mbH, Winterberg • Udo Bublitz, Fuldabrück • Unger, Mirow • Werner Vogel Omnibusuntern., Höchstadt •
Omnibusverkehr Kornelius Vögele, Horb • Wahrenburg GmbH & Co. KG, Petershagen • Waibel, Landsberg • Walscheid, Dudeldorf • Omnibusverkehr
Wangen Buchmann GmbH & Co. KG, Wangen • Wassmer, Klettgau • Weimar-Tour, Weimar • Omnibus Wengler, Tittmoning • Wintermayr GmbH, Langenmosen • Witt Reisen GmbH, Glasau • Wolfahrt, Amstetten • Zacharias Verkehrsbetrieb GmbH & Co. KG, Neuhausen • Thomas Zellner Omnibusuntern.,
Eisleben • Franz Zenker Omnibus- u. Verkehrsuntern., Ichenhausen • Estonia: Alltours OÜ, Pärnu • Finland: Tilausliikenne Olli Ky, Kittilä • France:
Transport Celin (Guyane), Remire Montjoly • Chevalier Autocar Orcieres/Chevalier Armand Voyages • Delannoy Philippe, Fère en Tardenois • Jaccon
Voyages Sarl., Tence • Labat Transport, Le Relecq Kerhuon • Le Bris Voyages, Guipavas • Ste. Llrena, Hagenau • Lozère Tourisme, St.-Chely-d‘Apcher •
Autocar Resalp, Briancon • Transports Robert Pierre (Guadeloupe), Capesterre • Villesot Voyages, St. Yrieix L. Perche • Voyages Querard, Bouguenais •
Italy: Bennuzzi Bus Srl., Sasso Marconi • Buonavacanza • Charter Tour Srl., Catanzaro • Di Maio Giovanni, Calitri • Ercolan Travel Srl., Ercolano • Gaspari Viaggi di Gospari Guiliano + Co. Sas., Civago • Gazzani snc di Fabrio C. Poregliano, Veronese • Katia Tours di Panone Mafalda + Co. Sas., Legnano •
La Terra Srl., Ragusa • Lumia Motori di Lumia Gianluca, Carpi • Mabb Srl., Sovere • Piertour Srl., Forio • Rocco Autolinee Srl., Lagonegro • Rossibus
SpA, Roma • Saputelli Srl, Roma • Rauch Reisen KG, Sarnthein-Sarntal • Thaler Reisen OHG, Schenna • Turiscar Srl., Palermo • Viaggi Gulli` Srl., Catanzaro • Ireland: • Dublin Coaches, Dublin • Kasachstan: HC Barys, Astana • Latvia: JK Hockey Transport SIA Ainars Jekabsons • Netherlands:
Rosta Tours/Kerckhoff • Russische Botschaft aus Den Haag • Norway: Aktive Fredsreiser AS, Risör • HKB Turbuss, Tretten • Nettbuss AS,
Drammen • Per Arnes Bussreiser AS, Ingeberg • Sverre Haga AS, Hommersak • Tor Sverre Seglem as, Fyllingsdalen • Unibuss AS, Oslo • Austria:
Arlberg Express Linienexpress GmbH, Klösterle • Franz Datzinger Autobusunternehmen, Hafnerbach • Fasching Ernst Busunternehmen, Birkfeld • Hagspiel Touristik, Hittisau • Kammerlander Reisen GmbH, Gerlos • Karl Tours Ges. mbH & Co. KG, Langenstein • Karlheinz Koller Autobusunternehmen,
Deutschfeistritz • Mader Reisen Vertriebsges. mbH, Katsdorf • Hubert Müller Busunternehmen, Frastanz • Ewald Pötz, Taxi-Reisebüro-Busreisen,
Vorau • Pura Lehrl Ges. mbH Autoreisen, Mondsee • Reichl & Felber GmbH, Autobusunternehmen, Gerersdorf • Rettenbacher Reisen, Werfen • Ralf Schlechter Autobus GmbH & Co. KG, Brixen im Thale • Hans-Peter Schober, Autobusunternehmen, St. Martin • Poland: Z. W. Drog-Bus, Paniówki • Centrum
Szkoleniowo-Wypoczynkowe HALNIAK, Istebna • HELIOTUR Agencja Transportowa, Torun • Janosik Sp. z o. o., Rzeszów • Przedsiebiorstwo PKS Gryfice Sp. z o. o., Gryfice • PTS Transbis S. C., Myszków • Transport Osobowo-Towarowy, Raciechowice • Russia: FC Krasnodar, Krasnodar • HC Torpedo,
Nizhny Novgorod • Switzerland: A.C. BELLINZONA SA, Bellinzona • Autobus AG Liestal Reisen, Liestal • Autocars Hertzeisen SA, Gloverlier • Brumann
Reisen AG, Jonen • Compagnie des chemins de fer du jura C.J. • Domo Reisen & Vertriebs GmbH, Glattbrugg • E. Portenier AG, Adelboden • EUROBUS
Knecht AG, Windisch • Hartmann AG, Emmenbrücke • Kurt Ebneter, Goldbach • Moser Reisen AG, Flaach • René Heiniger, Uster • Verkehrsbetriebe
STI AG, Thun • Walter Wyss & Co., Boningen • Serbia: Allegro Tours, Kragujevac • Slovakia: Autobusova Doprava Stanislav Bohdan, Trnava • Slovenia:
Avrigo, Nova Gorica • Autobusni prevozi Rizana d.o.o., Dekani • Czech Republic: Veolia Transport Ceska republika a. s., Praha • UK: Anderson Coaches
(Castleford), Knottingley • Four Seasons Coaches, Leeds • Galloway European Coachlines Ltd., Stowmarket • National Holidays Ltd., Hull • Parrys International Tours Ltd., Walsall • Russian Embassy, London • Shearings, Wigan • Hungary: Zala Volan Zrt., Zalaegerszeg • USA: Affordable Bus Charters, PA •
All Aboard USA/All Points USA, TN • Brown Coach, NY • Cougar Bus, TX • Cross Tours, VA • Daniels Tours, GA • Dreamers Travel, AZ • Eastern, NY •
Gotta Go Trailways, TX • Greene Coach, TN • I-Transit, FL • Lorvel Express/Tours, WI • Mayo Tours, LA • MBT Worldwide, NH • Scenic America, VA •
Travel Plaza, HI • University of Virginia, VA
A close look at Setra’s safety concept:
A journey with safety in the foreground
To fulfil its “Best in Class“ brand promise, Setra does everything possible to meet the highest standards of quality. SetraFamily spoke with an automotive engineer at the Neu-Ulm production facility
and a tour operator with a Setra fleet about how our premium brand addresses safety with buses
that are innovative, trend-setting, and state-of-the-art.
T he success of the Setra brand is
based on six core pillars which all
together bring Setra’s premium
quality to life: cost-effectiveness, comfort, premium service and support, equipment, design, and safety. In the key area of
safety, accident-free driving is one of the
main objectives of the Daimler company
and its brands. Setra of course has full access to the company’s technological expertise to make this goal reality. This high
standard demands detailed knowledge on
the part of the engineers on a bus’ different driving processes and situations encountered, as well as a well conceived
strategy as to how the highest possible safe-
ty standard can be achieved. Dr Michael
Wagner, engineer at Daimler, explains the
various perspectives from which Setra’s
safety features are developed: “On the
one hand, it’s about preventive measures,
i.e. supporting the driver in his task, warning him in time on upcoming dangers and
of course assisting him. Secondly, our systems ensure that if a situation does get
critical, the vehicle reacts in a way to support the driver. Thirdly, we ensure protection should an accident be unavoidable.
And we do everything to prevent the worst
from happening and to help quickly.” This
approach is adhered to strictly and ensures
that all safety aspects are kept in clear focus.
Continuously facilitating the driver’s job
The driver’s job is far from being an easy
one, and to ensure that he is relaxed and in
control night and day, an ergonomically designed cockpit and intelligent driver assistance systems greatly contribute to the
driver being ideally positioned to bring his
passengers – relaxed and safe – to their
final destination. Hans-Peter Christoph
agrees with this completely. For him as a
driver, the safety of his passengers is especially important, and as an operator, his
commitment to his passengers’ safety is
even more deeply felt. As a professional, he
knows that there is an enormous difference
between driving a Setra and driving another
Dr Michael Wagner, 44, responsible for the
development of driver assistance systems and director
of the safety working unit at EvoBus since 2009
Hans-Peter Christoph, 52, bus driver and tour operator.
Twenty years ago, he founded Avanti Busreisen
brand. Michael Wagner is well aware that
both the driver and bus operator count on
Setra’s safety technology. “We therefore
strive to further optimise the driver’s
perception and access to all relevant information. For instance, optimised light and
mirror systems ensure that the driver can
see better. The operation and display concept is finely tuned to the driver’s needs.
Radar systems and sensors are ready to
kick in quickly in emergency situations.”
Hans-Peter Christoph also clearly benefits
from these innovations. “For the driver, a
Setra is like a third eye”, he says, “it sees
and feels along with the driver. It’s an incredibly good feeling to be able to rely on a bus
like this, especially when situations get a
little tricky.”
Actively mastering difficult situations
No matter how hard you try, there are times
where difficult situations cannot be prevented. This is why in critical situations, Setra
supports the driver in reacting as he should.
“The greatest part of the driver’s attention
is focused on his passengers’ safety”,
knows Wagner. And this is why a number of
safety systems are built in to warn the driver in situations where he hesitates and to
support him in the case of an accident. “In
our safety training programs we actively demonstrate the use of such safety features.
Under controlled conditions we can make
the driver aware of critical situations which
shouldn’t even arise in everyday driving,”
says Wagner.
How Setra implements safety
A comprehensive safety concept
Examples of safety technology and safety measures
Continuously facilitating the
driver’s job
Ergonomically designed driver’s work station, operating
comfort, optimised perception, light and mirror systems,
assistance systems, communications on driver training
Actively mastering difficult
situations
ABS, ESP®, ABA, SPA
Protecting road users
Safety belts, Front Collision Guard, roll resistance
ECE-R 66, emergency exits, fire extinguishers, rescue
guidelines for drivers and rescue personnel
Protecting road users
If in spite of all safety precautions, an accident does occur, Setra has taken every
possible safety measure to minimise injury
and damage. A perfect example of this is
the Front Collision Guard (FCG) collision
protection system. In the case of a frontal
collision, it transforms impact energy into
deformation energy, while creating a protected space for driver and attendant. This
is a technology that never fails to excite
both engineers and customers. “With the
Front Collision Guard, you really feel that
you have a guardian angel on board“, says
Christoph, and Wagner adds: “The few centimetres his seat is pushed to the rear are
critical for the driver – this technology is
absolutely brilliant!” Following an accident,
the priorities are to avoid the worst and to
quickly save all bus occupants, and this is
something we support while developing our
vehicles. This includes equipping them with
suitable emergency exits, and of course
with devices such as fire extinguishers and
emergency hammers, as well as comprehensive rescue guidelines for drivers and
rescue personnel, as can be found on our
Internet site. (www. setra.de/data/pdf/safety/RLF_SETRA_D_Web.pdf)

The six key pillars of Setra’s success
1. Comfort: the feeling of well-being without
compromise that turns guests into friends
and drivers into real Setra fans.
2. Design: the distinctive and instantly recognisable classical bus design and the
many details that turn every Setra into a
masterpiece.
3. Equipment: is what ultimately makes
each and every Setra unique and opens
up so many opportunities to turn individual customer wishes into reality.
4. Premium service and support: a comprehensive concept that is available to
Setra customers – anytime and anywhere.
5. Cost-effectiveness: ensures that the
pleasure of owning a reliable Setra lasts
a long, long time and right through to its
high resale price.
6. Safety: reflects the well conceived and
demanding safety technology and measures that guarantee the highest possible
safety.
40 | Setra Individual
The Netherlands: two Setras for prisoner transport:
Bodyshells instead of bodyguards
The country-wide transportation company DV&O (Dienst Vervoer & Ondersteuning) in the Netherlands has taken on a very special mandate. It serves a department of the Dutch Ministry of Justice
which is responsible for prisoner transport logistics. But most recently it was strongly supported by
two Setra bodyshells (S 417 UL with GT-HD customisation).
T he Evolution company in Plattling,
specialised in custom vehicle body
work, successfully transformed the
two Setra bodyshells into prisoner-transport
buses. The buses feature a driver cabin with a
driver’s seat and seats for two attendants, as
well as a cell compartment with 12 double
and 4 individual cells. They offer enough room
to carry 28 prisoners.
The two Setras will be used primarily for
transporting prisoners. They will take on
further security mandates at large events
where unrest or even riot activity is expected. The 28 cell spaces will be used to
pull the agitators out of the traffic for short
periods of time.
At one of the attendant’s seats there is an
operating panel for the prisoner cells which
are all equipped with video supervision
cameras. The bus also features a lavatory,
a compact on-board kitchen, and a safe. It
goes without saying that all equipment is
made of very robust materials. But not only
is the inside of the bus ideally conceived for
safety and security, the bus technology
also boasts top-class safety systems such
as ABS and ESP®.

Sightseeing in Berlin with the ComfortClass:
A really funny tour
Every Friday and Saturday evening there is a lot to laugh about in the German capital – when the
ComedyTour departs from the Friedrichstadtpalast. The event organiser is the Harries GTC Group
from Hamburg, who rents a Setra S 416 GT from Berlin’s BVB (Bus Verkehr Berlin).
E ven as they enter the bus, many of the
50 passengers can hardly contain
themselves as Cem Ali Gültekin greets each
and every one of them with a bold comment in his irresistibly funny Berlin dialect.
Cem is a comedian and actor, part German
and part Syrian, and the ice is quickly broken between the moderator and passengers. The group drives by Berlin’s many
highlights, the Dome, the historical museum and the city palace. And Cem knows
just how to entertain his guests with anecdotes, gags, parodies, and jokes, while at
the same time conveying interesting
information.
“Oh, isn’t that just amazing!” Cem yells
each time he sees an important historical
monument as he begins a high-speed race
to the back of the bus animating the guests
to imitate him. “Oh, isn’t that just amaz-
ing!” is then repeated by the 50 delighted
passengers and the mood is dangerously
good.
Driver Ole Kaleck sits behind the wheel of
his Setra with a smile on his face, skilfully
manoeuvring his double-axle towards the
Reichstag around tight curves and through
roadworks. He is an employee of the BVB
and seems to be having a lot of fun while
driving the S 416 GT. “This Setra is a real
eye-catcher. Everything about it is abso-
lutely perfect”, he raves as Cem begins to
entertain his guests with a popular German
song at the Brandenburg Gate – which is no
problem at all even on the outside with the
bus’ advanced sound system and microphone. Once again arriving at the Friedrichstadtpalast, Cem bids his smiling guests
good night. We ask him if he didn’t get just
a little dizzy after an hour and a half facing
the back of a moving bus. “Of course not”,
he answers, “thanks to the ESP®, the drive
never gets wild.” Laughing, he claps the
driver on his shoulder. “And Ole doesn’t either. With this bus he is always especially
gentle.”

Tour begins: Fridays, 18:30 and 20:30,
Saturdays, 20:30
Length: ca 80 minutes
Setra endurance testing in Turkey:
A marathon of extremes
Since 2009 Setra has been putting its buses and coaches through endurance testing in Turkey,
where they are exposed to the most extreme climatic and geological conditions. The buses are deployed for a whole year and go through everything a bus could ever hope to be put through and
more. SetraFamily spoke with the man in charge.
B efore 2009 the buses were tested in Germany. This took place
with test drives that assessed
individual components. Since then, the
approach has changed considerably and
today, using multi-faceted endurance testing, vehicles are tested in their entirety –
and are thus more ideally equipped to fulfil
Setra’s high standards. All of this endurance testing takes place in Turkey.
in the winter in extremely cold conditions
ranging from -10 all the way down to -40°C
and even lower. Three months in the spring
and autumn, the buses and crews enjoy
comfortable temperatures between -10 and
+30°C. The extreme summer and winter
temperatures not only put heating and air
conditioning systems to the test, they also
impact on the buses’ materials and technical equipment.
Turkey – a Mecca for vehicle endurance
testing
Why of all places Turkey? Andreas Dingler,
Head of Testing at Setra and responsible for
endurance assessments, explains the benefits of this very unique country stretching
over two continents: “Turkey’s extreme
continental climate offers ideal conditions
for endurance testing in extreme temperatures. Here in the summer it gets very very
hot, and in the winter, extremely cold – and
these are exactly the thresholds we need to
test.” The extreme heat in Turkey represents the climatic conditions Setra customers experience in warm countries such as
in the Mediterranean region, and the extreme cold represents conditions experienced in Eastern Europe and Scandinavia.
And because Setra buses should run perfectly in all countries, they are tested under all ultimately possible application scenarios.
But it is not only because of the climate that
Setra decided on Turkey for testing, as
Dingler continues: “Over and above the extremes in climate, Turkey also fulfils the
most varied road conditions with extreme
inclines and declines, and with smooth asphalt all the way through to pothole-filled
gravel roads. And these are exactly the
Endurance drivers: testers with heart
and soul
Being on the road for a whole year, under
the most challenging driving conditions,
certainly isn’t for everyone. It’s not only
hard on the bus, but also on its drivers.
Each bus always has two drivers on board,
who alternate with other two-man teams on
shifts of 8 to 10 hours. Load and wear measurement testing takes place in the background and is then evaluated. “Most drivers
come from the moderate climatic zones
near Istanbul, where we test our buses for
six months of the year”, explains Andreas
Dingler, “so the guys can at least spend half
a year, before and after their shifts, with
their families.” For the other half of the year,
they are either in the extreme summer heat
of the Southern province Adana, or in the
ice-cold extreme winter of East Anatolia.
But wouldn’t that be really tough on the drivers? “Not really”, laughs Dingler, “our drivers don’t seem to feel that it’s all that difficult. These men are testers with heart and
soul and they wouldn’t trade their jobs with
anyone.” And, let’s not forget, they are on the
road with premium buses from Setra which
offer very comfortable driving temperatures,
in spite of extreme exterior temperatures.
challenges that are so important in bus
endurance testing.”
A year in continuous operation
For endurance testing, a Setra is on the
road for an entire year: over the three summer months in extremely hot zones where
average temperatures are over 25°C, and
have even been known to reach 50°C, and
From mechanics through to pensioners
But what does a tester need to be made of
to spend a whole year behind the wheel of
a bus, day in and day out? And what makes
for a good tester, what qualifications are
needed? “Our test drivers should of course
have a lot of experience and a passion for
driving buses. As well, they need to understand the technology inside and out”, says
Dingler. “Because no one wants to be stuck
in the middle of nowhere in East Anatolia
with temperatures of -40°C with a breakdown waiting for the Turkish ADAC!” “If you
get to know the local drivers, you’ll meet
testing mechanics of course, as well as
Setra Customised | 45
people who have worked in production.
And even early pensioners: former employees of the Turkish production facility who
do endurance testing on the side”, Dingler
comments with appreciation, “and who enjoy the opportunity to apply what they know
so well.”
Hardly any downtime
The average deployment time of a bus during a year of continuous operation bears
witness to the fact that endurance testing
more than deserves its name. A bus will be
in use from between 260 and 300 days a
year and the rest of the time it will run idle.
“Nothing less than a horror scenario for an
engine”, as Dingler emphasizes. Of course
it will end up spending a day or two in the
service station. And then for a few days, it
will be left alone. And with the engine off,
all electronic equipment will be left on, to
test what occurs when someone forgets to
turn off a light or a radio, as has been
known to happen. Another extreme scenario: during a bitter-cold night with temperatures of -40°C, all doors and flaps are left
open, in order to cold-start all systems the
next morning – quite literally.
High demands placed on man
and machine
In a year of continuous operation, a Setra
will put in at least 300,000 km, as far as
from Freiburg to Shanghai (see report on
page 46). And along the way, over and above highways and country roads, the bus
will follow mountain slopes of up to 20%
inclines and declines during testing. The
road surfaces also put our buses and drivers to the test. Especially in the winter, iced
surfaces with deep potholes are a real challenge for both man and machine. This year,
we put three North American versions of
the Setra S 417 to the test. During endurance testing, over and above vehicle and
component wear and tear, vehicle soiling,
dust intake, and abrasive wear were also
assessed.
After this challenging a marathon of extremes, there isn’t much that can surprise a
bus. Andreas Dingler is quite convinced: “If
a bus can survive this kind of challenge, it’s
guaranteed that under normal driving conditions, like the ones we experience here in
Germany, it will reach the end of its service
life quite unscathed. Setra’s legendary durability is far from being a simple coincidence.
It is the result of our heavy-duty endurance
testing.”

Handicapped-accessible coach equipment:
Buses without Barriers
People with limited mobility also enjoy taking advantage of the many tour and travel offers available
today. More and more operators have their Setra coaches customised with special equipment for
handicapped travellers – such as Rauch Reisen in South Tyrol.
D eveloping and implementing solutions to ensure optimised handicapped accessibility is just as
vital to us at Setra as other types of coach
customisation. The most common solutions
used for barrier-free access to the passenger compartment are lifts that are installed
in a variety of ways, depending on model
and lift make. For some lifts a double-width
door is required at the second entrance,
where the lift would be mounted on the lowest step. A further option is to install the lift
in the stowage area just behind the right
driving axle or in the luggage compartment
behind the front axle. Setra offers other
types of special equipment as well. For instance, airline rails are available to secure
the wheelchairs during the drive, while
being a requisite to mounting flexible seating using a patented quick-release fastening device. A large lavatory at the rear of
the vehicle is also possible, as well as a
special device to transport the passenger
seat to the lavatory. Additional, electrically
powered loading devices also make sense in
cases where the lift is used over extended
periods of time while the vehicle is parked.
A role model for barrier-free travel:
Rauch Reisen
Rauch Reisen, one of the leading tour
operators in South Tyrol, has developed a
new concept for barrier-free travel: “Buses
without Barriers” or “BOB”. The successful operator purchased a Setra S 415 GT-HD
after involving the customisation experts
from Setra to ensure a fully handicappedaccessible coach. At the rear of the BOB
coach, the lift platform for wheelchairs
serves as a third entrance. In the passenger
compartment, over and above the seven
“normal” seats, there are up to twelve
spots for travelling in your own wheelchair.
“The response to the new bus is very
positive”, comments Managing Director
Thomas Rauch with enthusiasm. “We have
even gained new customers with the bus.
Associations, clubs, or school classes can
all travel together in a single bus, without
having to order an extra vehicle for
wheelchair users. And for us, it is a classical double-earner: with the standard
seating, you can’t even tell that it’s a handicapped-accessible bus.” 
Setra Individual | 47
Setra bus stories:
All about life with Setra
60 years of Setra and 100 years of expertise in coach and bus construction – on the occasion of these
milestone anniversaries, Setra is collecting international stories about Setra from all over the world.
An environmental Blue Angel and EEV without filter:
Setra buses win points in environmental protection
There are even more good reasons to opt for a Setra bus: on the one hand, the low-entry buses can now be
delivered with the worldwide most successful “Blue Angel” environmental seal, and on the other, for all Setra
buses equipped with 457 LA/hLA engines, EEV without a diesel particle filter is now possible.
T he “Blue Angel” seal is only given
to products that are especially environmentally friendly both in their
production and their use. Until recently, this
applied mostly to consumer goods, which
explains why the Blue Angel is so well recognised and appreciated by the general
public. With the low-entry S 415 NF and
S 416 NF buses, two successful Setra models
now rank among Blue Angel products. Before the environmental seal is given, several criteria have to be fulfilled. These include exhaust emissions, low noise emissions
inside and out, avoidance of materials that
are harmful to the ozone, as well as low global warming potential from cooling agents
and paints. Additionally, cooling agents and
paints must be free of heavy metals and
contain less than 130 g of solvent per
square metre.
The first two Setra S 415 NF buses with the
Blue Angel seal have just been delivered to
the Bingen Public Services, which thanks to
the Blue Angel seal, are making a clear statement on their environmental consciousness,
vis à vis passengers and the general public
as well. The vehicles are equipped with Euro
V-compatible OM 457 hLA engines, with a
performance level of 220 kW. The 6-gear automatic ZF Ecomat transmission guarantees
problem-free frequent starting up and slowing down, as is the case on routes with many
stops.
EEV now also possible without filter
For future Setra owners, there is more good
news: the voluntary EEV emission standard. Up until now EEV was only achievable
with a diesel particle filter. From now on, it
is also possible without a filter for many
Setra models. This is achieved through decisive changes to the engine, such as injection nozzles, inlet connectors, and data set
applications. The new label for EEV without
Joachim Ebersmann (left), Head of Bingen Public
services, takes delivery of the first Setra S 415 NF
with a “Blue Angel” seal from Erwin Dangel, Sales
Setra Authorities Germany
filter can easily be recognised with its green
lettering. EEV is an abbreviation for “Enhanced Environmentally Friendly Vehicle” and
is currently the most stringent European
emissions standard for buses and trucks
whose threshold values are still lower than
Euro V, valid since 2009. EEV is a voluntary
norm; the next legally binding Euro VI edition will become valid in 2014.
A significant benefit of EEV is that it facilitates meeting the strictest eco-political
requisites enabling, for instance, entry into
large European urban centers. With the EEV
without filter, bus operators also enjoy
financial benefits such as lower fuel consumption and purchase price, since no
additional costs such as maintenance, cleaning, and upgrading are incurred for filters.
There is also no worry with regards to loss
of seats, since the same seating as with
Euro V is possible. As desired, EEV without
filter can also be installed retroactively.
Those who commit to Setra in the future not
only fulfil the highest environmental standards, but can also count on having an
“angel” on board in the case of the low-entry
buses. 
W e’re collecting stories – heart-warming, entertaining, spectacular,
bizarre, funny, or beautiful – about things
you have experienced. Stories that deserve
to be told. We’re not looking for worldchanging Hollywood dramas. Just those
little everyday stories that move us, entertain us, or simply put a smile on our face.
Stories of those experiences lived while on
tour in a Setra, building or repairing a bus,
or even buying or selling one. Stories that
depict just how rich and varied the bus sector is. Maybe you witnessed a young man
asking his girlfriend to marry him at the
ServiceCenter. Or perhaps, a tour group
landed in Budapest, instead of Bucharest
as planned. Or maybe a Setra customer absolutely wanted a pink lavatory – and yes
they finally got one. We’re calling on everyone with a Setra story to share it with us.
Do you also have fascinating and unusual
stories to tell? Simply write to us at [email protected] and tell us about your experience!

New e-mail newsletter:
Updates for the Setra Family
Since March 2010 Setra has been offering a new information service online: the Setra Newsletter – an always
current update of all relevant top news, happenings, and important dates of interest to the Setra Family.
W hether to read about product innovations, personal news, awards, or
upcoming events, you can now simply
have Setra send you all important news by
e-mail. The online newsletter will appear
four to six times a year. Two issues have
already been sent – and they have received very positive feedback. The newsletter
is a great idea especially for readers who
don’t have the time to regularly browse
through the Setra website, looking for
news. “Think about those drivers who
spend all day behind the wheel – the newsletter offers them an ideal overview of
what’s new with their coach brand”, highlights Mareen Werner, who is responsible
for the Setra Newsletter in the Marketing
team. Would you also like to be kept up to
date with Setra news? Simply visit www.
setra.de and click on “Newsletter” under
“Current”. All you have to do is give us your
e-mail address and you can look forward to
receiving your first Setra Newsletter.

46 | Setra Highlight
48
Family News
Setra Highlight | 49
Dolomiti Tours celebrates anniversary coach:
Buon giorno Setra!
The new TopClass 400 Setra S 416 HDH for Dolomiti Tours is the 2,000th HDH in its series.
Avanti Reisen: From Freiburg to Shanghai with Setra:
Congratulations!
“Much too beautiful to just
fly over!”
„W
hile travelling, I am overcome by
a feeling of peace and safety.”
This quote from Goethe on Dolomiti Tours’
homepage has become a maxim for the largest bus operator in the Venetian region.
Since 1999 it has been a large and very significant Setra customer in Northern Italy.
Its complete fleet of touring coaches are
from the Setra TopClass 400 series – so it
only makes sense that they would take on
the 2,000th TopClass HDH. Lothar Holder,
Head of Sales at Setra Buses & Coaches
EvoBus GmbH, handed over the anniversary
Setra to the President of Dolomiti Bus S.p.A.,
Dr. Pierdomenico Gnes. While doing so,
Holder highlighted the very positive synergy
offered by the collaboration of a very well
respected operator with a manufacturer of
high-quality coaches: “Ensuring that we are
successful at meeting the high standards of
this customer with extraordinarily attractive
design is both a challenge and an honour for
us at Setra”, he highlighted. A challenge
Setra is pleased to take on again and again:
over the ten-year partnership, Dolomiti has
purchased 17 Setra coaches. 
Setra anniversaries:
Celebrating with the Setra Family
Just before 2011, Setra’s milestone anniversary year, where Setra will celebrate 60 years and 100
years of coach and bus expertise, as well as 125 years of automotive history, let’s take a moment to
look back at several notable anniversaries which took place over this past year.
50 years for the Boeckels distributorship
In April, brilliant sunshine was present to witness the 50th anniversary of the Boeckels
Setra distributorship. Along with the ABA demonstration, vintage buses form the fifties
and sixties also attended the celebrations.
All profits taken in by the refreshment services offered at the event were handed over
to the “Ein Herz für Kinder” charity, as a
symbol for considerate and safe driving. 
60 years for the Kossiek distributorship
In January, the Kossiek distributor for East
Westphalia and the Osnabruck region (Lower Saxony) in Bielefeld celebrated its 60th
anniversary. On January 10, 1950 Erwin
Kossiek founded the distributorship. It is
now being managed by third-generation family members, son Peter, and grandson Thorsten.

20 years of Setra in East Germany
In 1990 Setra began its East German sales
activities in Leipzig und Berlin. Since 1997,
distributors are located in Berlin, Dessau,
Chemnitz, Erfurt, and Leipzig. As well, the
OMNIplus service and support brand are
present throughout the region with over 30
service points for full coverage, 24-hour
support of all Setra customers.

The Avanti tour operator attracts many adventurous passengers with its unusual travel destinations. This
year, the company travelled to China once again with the new TopClass 400 Setra S 415 HDH. The World
Expo in Shanghai was only the last stop of the trip, since in the case of bus travel half way around the
world, the journey itself is the reward. Setra journeyed through no less than eleven countries in 74 days.
50 | Setra Highlight
Setra Highlight | 51
H ans-Peter Christoph, Head of the
Freiburg tour operator Avanti,
knows what he is talking about
when he refers to long-distance travel. He’s
not thinking about the 900 km ride from
Freiburg to Northern Germany. What he is
thinking about involves a whole other dimension: for example 17,000 km to Shanghai. For him, travelling great distances in a
bus is the most environmentally friendly
and comfortable way to travel: “This route
to Asia is much too beautiful to simply fly
over it! Even after weeks of travelling in the
bus, we’ve still got our noses pressed to the
windows admiring the views!”
After “shorter” bus trips to Iran, in 2008
Christoph decided to travel a distance
which had never yet been covered by bus
before: from Freiburg to Peking for the
Olympic Games – 16,000 km with a Setra
S 415 HDH. For Christoph, a victory for the
bus as method of transportation: “I know
that the future belongs to bus travel. And
not only because of the opportunities to
relax and slowly take in the many impressions along the way, but also because of
the benefits in terms of climate protection.”
Motivated by his first trip to China, this year
on April 15 he once again left Breisgau in
Southern Germany with 26 passengers and
headed towards the Chinese Empire in
a Setra S 415 HDH. This time the destination was the 2010 Expo in Shanghai, but
the 74-day journey half way around the
world with fascinating stops is in itself well
worth the trip.
Why he always chooses a Setra for his
mammoth tours is very clear for the head of
Avanti. After all, he needs a coach that he
can fully rely on in terms of technology,
robustness, and comprehensive safety
package: “And, over and above all, Setra
offers the best comfort you can imagine for
such a long trip through different climate
conditions. Also decisive is the fact that the
12.3 m long S 415 HDH is an extremely
agile triple-axle vehicle – especially in
unknown territory and at times very unwelcoming roads. It represents an amazing
benefit.”
For such great distances, the high levels of
comfort and safety go a long way towards
guaranteeing that the fun factor never gets
lost along the journey. The high-quality
Ambiente seating with five-star spacing
between seats ensures unmatched comfort
and relaxation, and the high-performance,
integrated TopAir air conditioning system
guarantees perfect travelling temperatures
at all times. Features such as the Adaptive
Cruise Control (ART), Lane Assist (SPA),
Continuous Brake Limiter and the Electro-
nic Stability Programme (ESP) greatly facilitate the driver’s job. The S 415 HDH is also
equipped with the patented Front Collision
Guard (FCG), which comprises a front
underride guard, an integrated absorber
structure as crash component, as well as a
module that pushes back the whole driver’s
area in the case of a collision.
The luxurious touring high-decker is equipped with a Euro V in-line six-cylinder
OM 457 LA with a performance of 335 kW
(456 hp) and a 6-gear GO 210 transmission.
During the trip to China, the Setra’s engine
ran for 354 hours, its average speed was 49
km/h, and its average fuel consumption
along the complete trip of 30,600 km was
29.1 l/100 km. But it is not only the
S 415 HDH’s technology that gives HansPeter Christoph the peace of mind to take
on such a journey. Over and above the
technological sophistication the S 415 HDH
offers, the extensive service network
offered by the EvoBus OMNIplus support
brand also gives him the great feeling of
being in good hands.
The bus returned to Freiburg after no less
than 100 days on tour. But not for long.
Hans-Peter Christoph is already planning
his next long-distance trip. Where this
time? China, of course!


Family - Autocars Setra

Transcription

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