Daimler has launched two new bus models – Mercedes‑Benz 917 and Mercedes‑Benz 1730 – in Kenya. Both bus models, assembled in Nairobi in association with local sales partner DT Dobie Kenya for the domestic market, interestingly are built on made-in-India as well as Brazilian chassis.
While the compact Mercedes‑Benz 917 city bus is targeted for use as an urban, school or shuttle bus and can accommodate up to 37 people, the more spacious Mercedes‑Benz 1730 is designed for long-distance travel and has room for approximately 60 passengers. Daimler says Kenya is one of the most important sales market for the bus segment in Central and East Africa, with a total market of up to 2,500 new vehicles per year.
At present, truck chassis are used in the vast majority of buses in Kenya. Due to the comparatively hard suspensions and high entrance steps, however, passenger comfort is low. These two new bus models are built on the proven OF 917 (permissible gross vehicle weight of 10.4 tonnes) and OF 1730 (perm. GVW 18 t) bus chassis. These come from the Daimler plants in Chennai (India) and São Bernardo do Campo (Brazil). Both chassis have already proven themselves in practice on tough routes in India and Brazil. The chassis will be assembled locally and equipped with a certified body that will be certified by body manufacturers in Kenya in accordance to Daimler standards. Daimler Buses is the only manufacturer in the Kenyan market to install ABS braking systems and precision steering systems.