Next Mobility Exhibition 2024 in Milan: what to expect?

Next Mobility Exhibition 2024 is ready to go live on 8-10 May in Milan: on the rich menu of the expo, the manufacturers’ proposals – obviously in the name of energy transition, with electric and hydrogen as the main technological players – represent the main courses.

Here, then, is a roundup of the bus & coach manufacturers and their models present and spruced up in Milan.

Of course, it is not just a bus fair, because NME-Next Mobility Exhibition has the goal of becoming an agora for collective and sustainable mobility.

IVECO BUS

Iveco Bus, market leader in Italy again in 2023 with 1,782 registered vehicles (over 8 tonnes) is fresh from the launch of the Crossway – the best-selling Class II in Europe – in an electric (and normal floor mild hybrid) version and the hydrogen-powered E-Way H2 produced in collaboration with Hyundai: these two will be the spearheads of Iveco Bus at Next Mobility Exhibition, but not the only ones…

MAN

There will be two arrows in MAN’s bow at the Next Mobility Exhibition in Milan: the Lion will be roaring with the 10.5-metre Lion’s City E in the ‘short’ version, and with a coach from the Neoplan brand, a 12-metre Tourliner, equipped with the new active safety suite compliant with the GSR 2 standard.

SOLARIS

Recently showcased in Berlin at Mobility Move with the new generation of the Urbino 12 electric with modular drivetrain and new batteries of up to 600 kWh, Solaris will bring to Milan – where it dominates the ATM fleet – the 12-metre Urbino powered by hydrogen.

OTOKAR

Otokar will have a strong presence at NME, with four vehicles: in addition to the Kent diesel outside, the Turkish company’s stand will feature three electric models: in Class I, the 12-metre e-Kent (in an updated version with enhanced battery capacity) and the short e-Centro C, while in Class II there will be the e-Territo, for the first time in Italy after its launch at Busworld.

BYD

On display there will be the B12, the premiere of the new-generation 12-metre platform with the so-called ‘blade’ batteries positioned inside the chassis, and the e-bus on a Nelec body – also in the standard 12-metre size -. made in Spain by the Iberian partner Castrosua.

ISUZU

Then Anadolu Isuzu (with the Italian dealer Officine Mirandola): the Turkish manufacturer will exhibit the following quartet: the eight-metre electric NovoCiti Volt, the 12-metre battery-powered CitiVolt, the NovoCiti Life in Class II with diesel engine and, for the first time in Italy, the 7.3-metre electric Novo Volt, also unveiled at Busworld in Brussels as the latest addition to the company.

INDUSTRIA ITALIANA AUTOBUS

Only one vehicle, on the other hand, for Industria Italiana Autobus: the Citymood 12e, also available in a 10-metre version.

KARSAN

Karsan will also be part of the large Turkish line-up: KMobility, the Bursa-based company’s sole and new dealer in Italy, has just been launched. At NME, the company will be focusing on the 8-metre self-driving e-Atak (which is currently clocking up kilometres in Norway and Finland), as well as the 12-metre e-Ata Hydrogen and the all-electric 6-metre e-Jest.

YUTONG

Another leap into China: Yutong will attract the attention of those present with four all-electric buses: the E7, U12 and U18, and the intercity Ice12.

AYATS

Two vehicles on display for Ayats, present in Milan through its dealer Officine Di Maio: the Horizon, powered by Mercedes, will be on show in the double version with two axles (11.60 metres) and three axles (13.35 metres).

INDCAR

Indcar, which has just finished a very positive 2023, will not be absent from the show. Last year it closed an agreement with Bluebus for the marketing in Italy (and Spain) of the French manufacturer’s 6-metre electric vehicle. At NME Indcar will be bringing a methane-powered Mobi.

TECNOBUS

Tecnobus is working to re-launch the ultra-short and electric Gulliver, a ‘historic’ minibus just 5.320 millimetres long. In 2023 the Frosinone-based company registered only four units, but business plans have raised the bar for targets at home and abroad for 2024 and beyond.

D’AURIA-ALTAS

One of Italy’s leading outfitters, the D’Auria Group is the local dealer of Altas Auto. The big news is the Novus City V7, distributed in Italy on behalf of Altas: an all-electric 7.5-metre also signed by the Chinese Zhongtong.

KING LONG

Another Chinese manufacturer at the Next Mobility Exhibition, King Long, through its dealer for Italy Dierre Dimensione Ricambi, is focusing strongly on the electric range for urban mission profiles, with the Pev 6, 9 and 12 metre models.

TAM

Dominating the stand of Tam Europe, a Slovenian manufacturer, will be the only city bus in the company’s portfolio, the Vero, a modular vehicle, available in different sizes and versions, obviously electric.

ZONSON

We end up the review with the Chinese Zonson (Bazn Auto) in Milan with dealer Pagliani Service, fresh winners of a tender for ANM Napoli: on show in Milan is the all-electric trident composed of the 6-metre Pure Electric City Bus, the 8.5-metre Euro Lights’ and the 12-metre City Joy; for the shortest model this is the first Italian hosting.