Maxson Goh reports from MAN’s e-coach sneak peek in Turkey
Can a man not mention a trip to Turkey without the default reply from his friends being hair transplant related? Well for the record, here’s what I was really up to…
Now if this isn’t the first of my articles you’re reading, there’s a chance you may have picked up on my fondness for colder weather. Therefore, I was the perfect choice of the CBW team to cover the new MAN e-coach sneak peek at the manufacturer’s plant in the sizzling hot (compared to England) Turkish capital of Ankara. The launch of the e-coach is a significant milestone for MAN, which established its first production facility outside Germany in Istanbul back in 1966. According to the company, the prototype is the first fully electric coach introduced by a major European manufacturer, with a production model set to make its premiere at the Busworld trade fair in Brussels this October, and mass production in left-hand-drive form planned to commence in 2026 at its Ankara facility.
It was a sweltering 27°C as my Turkish Airlines flight descended into the capital, which I suppose for normal people is
a ‘wonderful summer’s day,’ though perhaps not quite my ideal.
But you’re not here to read about me moaning about the weather, so let’s get to business. The sneak peek consisted of a two-night event hosted by MAN, giving journalists and customers alike the first look at the manufacturer’s prototype electric coach. Guests were given the option of attending on 6 to 8 or 7 to 9 May, and I opted for the latter. Just moments after landing, I found myself aboard a Volkswagen minibus alongside fellow journalists, swiftly heading to the Divan Ankara Hotel.
The journey of about one hour gave me a brief glimpse of the bustling city, and I noted that a particular model of MAN Lion’s City Classic was still in widespread use. However, the real highlight came later that evening – a lavish meal at the Adana Sofrasi Grill that seemed to never end. Each dish was so filling and satisfying that it felt like the main course, only to be followed by yet another equally indulgent dish. I wish I could tell you what the dishes were, but neither I nor my tablemates had any clue!
Each delightfully flavoured course was a mystery, leaving us all guessing. Eventually, we decided to embrace the experience with a ‘just eat and don’t question’ approach. I did however manage to find out the dessert was called kadayif and consisted of vanilla and sugar syrup wrapped in dough threads. By the end of the evening, I was thoroughly full and ready to call it a night, knowing that the next day would bring the highly anticipated main event.
Product Development Centre
The next morning after breakfast, I found myself on a Neoplan coach headed to MAN’s Ankara Product Development Centre (PDC), a newly opened 300,000 square metre facility that includes workshops, laboratories and a 1.4-kilometre test track. “The PDC carries out all development activities, documentation studies, prototype production and project management for buses, including vehicle testing – now also for the e-coach,” said MAN Chief Development Officer Frederik Zohm. “We have the high level of expertise and tireless commitment of an international team to thank for this, making MAN fit for the future.”
Upon arrival to the PDC, journalists were invited to a meeting room where MAN Head of Product Strategy for buses Michael Roth shared a brief glimpse into the future of MAN buses and coaches in a time when emission regulations are becoming more stringent. “Upcoming European CO₂ emission limits mean that we must ensure 90% of our city bus sales are zero-emission in 2030,” he said. “And for coaches, the target is 43% lower average emissions, meaning there will be a baseline calculated throughout this year and beginning of next year, and based on this baseline, every competitor in the market needs to reduce their CO₂ footprint of the fleet by 43%. And reducing that means things like biodiesel is not counting towards the European Union as being sustainable. Therefore, we will further extend our portfolio and develop a clear strategy towards the zero-emission target in 2030 and will step out of combustion engines in the city bus segment with the introduction of Euro VII.”
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