FISHER BODY FAMILY PLANS ELECTRIC-DRIVE BUS BUSINESS
Some of the descendents of the family that founded Fisher Body Co. in 1908, later to be integrated in General Motors Corporation, are returning to their roots with Fisher Coachworks LLC, a company formed earlier this year to become a manufacturer of electric-drive buses following a new design that doubles fuel efficiency.
SCANIA HIGER A80 PASSED THE EUROPEAN ROLLOVER TEST STANDARD
On July 1st 2008 a Scania Higer A80 bus underwent the ECE R66-01 Bus Upper Framework Strength norm as published by UN European Economy Committee, and now also adopted by the Chinese government. It was carried out on the 12-meter Scania Higer A80 luxury bus in the China Quality Supervision and Testing Center for Buses, in Chongqing; the bus whitstood this tilt test successfully. Higer is the first Chinese bus manufacturer who succeeded in withstanding this test after the new standard came into force.
UNVI DELIVERS OPEN-TOP DOUBLEDECKER TO FRANCE
Spanish body manufacturer Unvi delivered their first new Urbis 2.5DD sightseeing open top doubledecker to the French company Podiocom. The 12m bus built on a Volvo B9TL chassis will begin its career in July by following the Tour de France.
VOLVO BUSES AND WRIGHTBUS LAND MILESTONE ORDER IN UK
Volvo Buses has received its largest single order so far in Europe. Jointly with the bodybuilder Wrightbus, the company will deliver buses in the coming years in the UK valued at SEK 1.5 billion. Volvo’s share of the order value is about 35-40%.
MARCOPOLO: 17,807 BUSES BUILT IN 2007
The Brazilian coachbuilder Marcopolo last year completed 17,807 buses, built on chassis from 15 different manufacturers. The main chassis suppliers are Volvo, Scania and MAN, but its buses are also built on lesser-known makes like Daewoo, Nissan Diesel, Voldai and Tata, its Indian co-operation partner.
