LITHUANIA
Lithuanian minibus manufacturer Altas, known in the UK thanks to its partnership with EVM, has announced plans to expand its EV product portfolio with two new, larger capacity electric buses. The manufacturer is to partner with Zhongtong Bus & Holding Co and has signed an agreement which will give Zhongtong access to Altas’ extensive knowledge of the European market and customer needs, whilst allowing Altas to take advantage of the Chinese company’s experience in applying electric drive to larger buses.
A new 7.5m city bus vision will be presented at the Altas Auto stand at Busworld, the first of a planned range of small buses that meet European specifications and requirements.
At 7.5m in length and less than 2.1m wide, Altas says the new mid-size bus has been designed for easy driving on narrow city streets that are difficult for conventional buses to access. It will carry up to 37 passengers. A longer 8.7m bus with a maximum capacity of 60 passengers is also planned.
“The strategic partnership will enable two companies to fulfill our goals. By combining Zhongtong Bus competencies in the production of electric buses and Altas Auto experience in the European small bus market, we are expecting to further strengthen our positions and provide a solid ground for even closer cooperation in the future,” said Edvardas Radzevicius, CEO of Altas Auto.
“We hope that by applying our competencies in the production of electric buses and the skills and knowledge of Altas Auto in the European small and medium bus market, we will be able to create and deliver high-quality products that meet customer expectations in a relatively short time,” added Jiliu Li, General Manager of Germany-based Zhongtong Bus Europe.
