Preparations for fully electric vehicle manufacturing are moving to the next level at the MAN city bus plant. Some €27.4 million is being invested in the facility.
The next phase of the plant location’s modernisation and preparation for electric transport is already underway at MAN’s plant in the Polish town of Starachowice. The operating company, MAN Bus Sp. z o.o. Starachowice, received approval in August 2018 to expand its activities to include manufacturing complete electric buses within the “Starachowice” Special Economic Zone. The capital expenditure related to accommodating electric-powered bus production is estimated at close to 118 million Polish złoty (around €27.4 million). Completion of the works is planned for the end of 2021.
This is another important stage in the development of the assembly plant, which acts as a centre of excellence for MAN in the production of low-floor city buses. 1,724 buses have rolled off the production line in the past year alone. The expansion of the Starachowice plant lays the foundation for MAN to branch out into zero-emissions vehicles in the near future – while maintaining the same high quality as ever. Before mass production begins in 2020, the project will need to be carefully prepared, with a safety concept devised and the electric vehicles optimised in terms of efficiency and ergonomics.