Solaris in Spain, 60 low and zero emission buses already ordered in 2020

More and more new bus contracts in Spain are marked with Solaris’ logo. The Polish producer sums up the latest success in the country and highlights that «customers from Spain are primarily interested in the comprehensive range of vehicles with alternative drives. Almost all orders placed this year concern low and zero emission vehicles». Lately, a new order for 11 Urbino 18 hybrid in articulated version has been secured by TUSGSAL from Badalona.

Therefore, over the past weeks the company announces it has significantly expanded its service network.

This growing penetration in the Spanish market might be linked with the acquisition, occurred in 2018, of Solaris by CAF group, which is based in Spain and has then strengthen the connection between Bolenchowo and that country. Furthermore, from October 2018 Solaris’ CEO is the Spanish Javier Calleja.

Solaris in Spain. 60 vehicles ordered this year

Solaris has been progressively increasing its presence in the Spanish market for a few months now. Only this year the company has landed deals for nearly 60 low and zero emission vehicles. All newly ordered buses, be it electric, hybrid or CNG-fuelled vehicles, will roll out on to the streets of Spanish cities by the end of the year.

Barcelona, Badalona and Elche to receive Solaris buses in Spain

14 articulated electric buses made by Solaris will hit the streets of Barcelona under an order placed by the municipal public transport operator TMB (which involves also Irizar e-mobility).

The operator TUSGSAL from the nearby Badalona opted, in turn, for hybrid buses of Solaris. Its fleet will see the addition of 11 Urbino 18 hybrid in 18-meter version by the end of 2020. Hybrid buses in 12-metre version will be delivered to the private operator Avanza based in the small town of Elche in the east of Spain. The same operator trialled a Solaris Urbino 12 Electric one year ago in Zaragoza.

Barcelona to get also CNG-powered buses from Solaris

What is more, Solaris has also secured orders for 20 eco-friendly CNG-propelled buses which are very popular in Spain. 13 Urbino 12 CNG buses were purchased by the private operator Moventis providing public transport services in the city of Barcelona. In addition, further gas buses, including one articulated vehicle, will be supplied by Solaris to the city of Burgos, and to Girona, Solaris points out.

Solaris Bus Ibérica was expanded in January

The representative of Solaris on the Spanish market is Solaris Bus Ibérica. Its active approach is visible not only through the number of won tenders, but also in the field of after sales. Expanded in January, the service network will allow to carry out maintenance work and repairs of Solaris buses in the fleets of Spanish operators even more efficiently. Clients will benefit from additional 100 service centres in Spain and Portugal within the Alltrucks Truck & Trailer Service network.

Over the last few years Solaris has been re-orienting the organisation of production and after-sales servicing towards vehicles with alternative, low or zero-emission, propulsions. This is strongly reflected in the sales structure of the company. In 2019 low- and zero-emission vehicles accounted for nearly 50% of all sold vehicles, whereas emission-free vehicles, i.e. trolleybuses and electric vehicles,

“What is crucial is that 90% of orders secured by Solaris this year concern buses with alternative drives. One third of these are vehicles featuring exclusively electric drives“, says Kepa Mendikute, the Managing Director of Solaris Bus Ibérica.