Scania unveils new line of Philippine-made coach buses

MANILA: With the introduction of the 2023 Scania Touring, Scania, the world's leading supplier of sustainable transportation solutions, aims to become the top coach bus supplier in the Philippines.

Based on more than a century of engineering experience, the new generation of Scania Touring has been developed to meet the demands of today’s and tomorrow’s bus operators. Energy efficient and available in a wide range of powertrains, it offers the latest technology in everything from safety systems to reduced emissions and noise levels.

Through excellent uptime and fuel economy, high levels of passenger comfort and generous luggage capacity, the 2023 Scania Touring allows sustainable mobility to go hand-in-hand with operating economy.

“And to offer local bus operators utmost flexibility and more savings, Scania is unveiling the first Scania Touring with a Philippine-made body to be handed over to Bicol Isarog Tranport System, Inc.

This provides operators, like Bicol Isarog, a myriad of options in terms of body configurations and choice of materials not to mention parts are readily available. But you can expect the same level of engineering excellence and riding comfort as with all Scania buses,” said Don Ramos, Sales Manager of local Scania distributor, BJ Mercantile, Inc.

Del Monte Motor Works, Inc. (DMMW), a local bus body manufacturer, and Scania joined forces after the latter company's shop and production process were thoroughly inspected by the former in 2019.

Following that, DMMW was required to comply completely with the Body Building Guidelines of Scania. Every stage of the procedure is well documented, and all data is sent to Scania Headquarters in Sweden for oversight. The resulting bus body is protected by a Scania patent and is not transferable to other brands.

Customers then have a wide range of interior design options to pick from, including the audio-video setup, internal lighting, and seat options like standard bus seats, premium seats, or top-of-the-line lazy boy seats. For long-distance excursions, they can add a bathroom, and some people choose to turn the bus into a mobile conference room or a mobile hospital.

“Scania has been a part of our wishlist being one of the best European brands known for its high quality, durability and safety features that is why we grabbed the opportunity to be the first to own the Scania Touring with a locally made body and we have 13 more buses for delivery next year. Another important factor is their very good after-sales support courtesy of the 24/7 workshop and guarantee of parts availability,” said BJ Cu, General Manager of Bicol Isarog.

What also sets Scania apart is the Fleet Management System (FMS) that allows operators more control over their fleet, boosting operational economy and productivity. It promotes efficient and safe driving as the system monitors driving performance aside from vehicle data and fleet position.

The FMS can evaluate what factors affect fuel consumption such as increased idling, harsh braking, acceleration and/or even fuel theft. It can detect mechanical and electrical errors remotely informing Scania’s professional technicians which parts and tools to bring for faster repair in the unfortunate event of breakdowns on the road. But those can be easily avoided by scheduling regular Preventive Maintenance when prompted by the FMS.

As testament to Scania’s commitment to safety, Scania Touring buses are equipped with the standard Electronic Stability Program (ESP), Speed Limiter, Traction Control, Driving Mode (economy and standard), Hill Hold, and Auxiliary Brake. Other functions that can be added to further support the driver whether they are on the open highway or in busy city environments are Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keep Assistance, Blind Spot Warning, Electropneumatic Parking Brake, Vulnerable Road User Collision Warning and Underrun Protection.

To learn more about Scania, customers can visit the brand’s showroom located at 1132 EDSA Balintawak, Quezon City. They can also call (02) 361-0088, email scania@bjmerc.com, or visit Scania’s local website and Facebook page.

Photos from BJ Mercantile Inc.,

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