Auto Expo 2014: Hubner to open plant in India

After being present in Indian market for a decade, the  Hubner Group, which manufactures complete systems for articulated buses, is setting up a plant in Bangalore. Production is slated to start in the next 2-3 months. Beginning with 20 percent localization, the company is targeting to achieve over 50 percent localization, going forward. Initially, around 15-20 workforce trained by the parent team in Germany will start production; as the business volume grows, this number could go up to 150-200 people.

Articulated buses are popular in Europe and other parts of the world for public transportation. In India, these buses have yet to get a foothold and the government intends to introduces these buses in metro cities on dedicated bus lanes to attract people to use public transport and reduce traffic congestion.

Talking to Autocar Professional, Markus Mazur, head (sales bus division, airport technology and special applications), Hubner GmbH & Co. KG, said, ‘India is very good market for articulated buses.  We have supplied the system to Ashok Leyland in the past; they have already produced articulated buses 8-10 years ago and these buses are running still in Chennai and Bangalore.”  

Hubner has been eyeing the Indian market for over a decade now. It had supplied products through imports as volumes were not very high. Tata Motors, which has displayed an articulated bus concept at the Auto Expo,  seems to be looking at the segment too. Huber is in talks with bus makers like Corona which is also keen on these buses. Besides this, private operators of BRT operations in various cities in India are also looking at these buses. 

“I have been coming to India since the past six years. I don’t know how fast his market will grow but we are very optimistic that it will grow. Products for the Indian market are different as compared to Europe in terms of functionality. In Europe we have push-articulated buses wherein you have the engine at the rear. Here we are talking to Tata for puller bus engine in front of the bus therefore we need other products,” concluded Mazur.