POLAND Polish manufacturer Solaris Bus and Coach recently announced the sale of over 1,200 buses. Combined with volume deliveries of its Tramino lowfloor trams the firm has maintained top position in the Polish bus market and strengthened its position in Germany as the largest importer.
The increase in sales represents an 8% year-on-year increase. In total, 1,205 new buses were sold across Europe (2010: 1,120 buses). Turnover at Solaris Bus & Coach S.A. rose by 17% to a new record high of 370m EUR (2010: 316m EUR).
Solaris sold 518 buses into its home market, increasing its sales by 27% (2010: 407 units) and taking a 42% share for buses above 8.0 tonnes gross vehicle weight.
Sales in Germany rose to 248, an increase of 31% (2010: 190 buses), representing a 6% share of the total German bus market. Further significant markets included France with 149 buses (2010: 54 buses) and Scandinavia with 140 (2010: 304 buses).
Of the vehicles sold in 2011, 63 were Urbino family hybrid buses, showing as 5% of all new Solaris buses.
