MG Group, MAN unveil 12-metre bus at BusWorld

Alma Motors, part of the MG Group which makes bus bodies, components and offers design and engineering services, has unveiled a new luxury bus based on a chassis and engine provided by MAN.

Fully conceptualised and designed by the MG Group, the 12-metre-long bus, powered by a 220hp engine, comes with a slew of safety and comfort features. While each seat comes with a safety belt, the bus has eight exits including two roof hatches and four breakable windows but the highlight is a rear exit called the EMsecure, which results in the rear of the vehicle opening up fully and a retractable stairway unfolding to enable passengers to get off. The company has patented this feature.

Keeping in mind Indian road conditions, the front-engined bus called the Mammoth, has a Ride Height System that raises the chassis by 50mm for increased ground clearance. In addition to regular cruise control, the bus is equipped with Downhill Cruise Control that helps maintain constant speeds while driving downhill, without using service brakes or downshifting gears. The bus is shod with radial tubeless 295/80R22.5 tyres for road stability, increased fuel efficiency and tyre life, the company said. The bus body has been certified by MAN.

According to Anil Kamat, executive director, MG Group, the entire concept and design of the bus aims to showcase the MG Group’s creativity. The entire design was done in about 10 months flat, Kamat added.

According to Kamat, the bus is aimed at both local and export markets. Given the features it comes with, the bus will be targeted at premium passengers in the inter-city segment but Kamat says, for now, he wants feedback to provide a top-class solution for those who use buses.

In the inter-city segment, several multinational players such as Volvo, by far the best known, and others like Mercedes and Scania are introducing their products.

According to Kamat, the company will also launch a 12-metre offering with a 280hp engine as well as a rear engined bus in a year’s time.

The MG Group hopes to also leverage MAN’s 60-strong service network in India as well as its global reputation, Kamat said.

For the MG Group, this is its third participation at the biennial BusWorld exhibition in Mumbai. The MG Group began its bus fabrication business in 1996. It makes bus bodies for all M&M buses from its Zaheerabad facility, as well as bus bodies for the AP State Road Transportation Corporation and for Ashok Leyland-Nissan’s 27-seater bus, the Mitr. Over the past 18 years, it has made close to 90,000 buses.

India is slated to be one of the biggest markets for buses with demand spanning a variety of price segments depending on whether the need is urban/metro-based, inter-city and for rural areas.