Transitioning into a positive growth trajectory

While the last two years have without question been something of a bumpy ride, Mercedes-Benz Buses has maintained its focus on growing its market share by giving its customers exactly what they need.

According to Jason Brunninger, general manager for Mercedes-Benz Buses, the Covid-19 pandemic and the increasing cost of fuel globally have presented massive challenges. “The negative aspects of the pandemic have, of course, affected the bus industry as a whole over the last two years. Despite this, thanks to various factors including the reduced restrictions on global travel over the last few months, there are still reasons for the bus and coach industry to be hopeful. I think it is true that the pandemic has had a catastrophic impact on the industry as a whole. However, while passenger numbers were down throughout the pandemic, we can also point to a slight recovery in the commuter space. We also hope to see a recovery in the tourism sector this summer.”

He adds that – like 2020 – last year was a demanding one. “2021 was once again a challenging year for the team. The bus industry remained in turmoil and this was reflected in the market numbers,” he expands. “This being said, I think we have been able to counter these challenges through a growth in market share, thanks to the support of our customers.”

Brunninger says that despite the struggles being endured by the bus and coach industry, Mercedes-Benz Buses has been fortunate to enjoy increasing sales year on year for the past three years. On the back of this, the company is planning to launch its new O500 2442 coach chassis in South Africa later this year.

While Brunninger is not at liberty to disclose too much about the launch of the new chassis at this stage, the industry will no doubt be excited to welcome this new addition, which has been designed to give operators exactly what they have been asking for. “The development of the O500 2442 coach chassis has been built on the reliability of its predecessor, and was based on customer feedback,” he explains.

The escalating price of fuel not only in South Africa, but across the world, is a major cause of concern for bus and coach operators. When asked his advice to operators in this regard, Brunninger says that he believes it is crucial to explore all the new technologies that are available to us. “These technologies will enable us to address the challenges raised by the increasing cost of fuel. A number of advances, such as the improvements in internal combustion engine (ICE) engine platforms, the outstanding efficiency offered by Mercedes-Benz’s Euro 5 and Euro 6 engines, and competitive total cost of ownership (TCO) will all help to alleviate the pressures brought about by ongoing fuel hikes,” he expands. 

Brunninger goes on to highlight the fact that Daimler Truck Southern Africa remains totally focused on and committed to the bus and coach industry. “Our transition into a hybrid dealer sales model last year has already started to yield positive results,” he says, “and as always, our team is here to support the industry and do our part to transition it into a positive growth trajectory as we move forward.” It’s clearly a case of onwards and upwards for Mercedes-Benz Buses!