Last week, we revealed the world’s best trucks; now it’s time to announce the best van and bus on the planet. As was the case with the trucks, the International Van of the Year and International Bus of the Year were named at an awards function held on the press day of the IAA Transportation exhibition in Hannover, Germany.
2023 International Van of the Year: Volkswagen ID. Buzz Cargo
The new all-electric Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles ID. Buzz achieved 110 points, just ten more than the new Ford Pro E-Transit. The Renault Kangoo E-Tech Van, Nissan Townstar Zero-Emission and Mercedes-Benz eCitan were jointly placed in third position. The other shortlisted candidates included new models from the Fiat Professional Doblò and Scudo ranges. In a sign of the times, the three podium positions were occupied by electrically powered vans.
Carsten Intra, CEO of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, was presented with the IVOTY 2023 trophy by Jarlath Sweeney, Chairman of IVOTY. According to Sweeney, it’s not too often that a totally new van concept comes around and immediately enters the marketplace.
“The new ID. Buzz is the case in point and has been duly honoured with this award, the highest accolade in the light commercial vehicle industry. Congratulations to Volkswagen Commercial Vehicle’s design team on creating this unique vehicle that’s perfect for environmentally conscious urban transport. It certainly makes a statement with its futuristic and slick styling, yet harks back to the original Transporter T1, from 70 years ago, with its V shaped bonnet, prominent VW badge, and short overhangs,” he told guests at the awards function.
Intra says the first orders from markets demonstrate that the new ID. Buzz Cargo is the right model for commercial customers at the right time. “Highly emotional feedback appears wherever the ID. Buzz appears and last but not least: this new form of mobility gets the right acknowledgement. But the highest recognition is the vote from this highly respected jury: winning this important International Van of the Year Award is such an honour! On behalf of the entire Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles team, I would like to thank the jury members very much for this. We are extremely proud and see this confirmation of our work as a motivation to continue as before: to offer the right commercial vehicle for each of our customers,” he said.
Now in its 31st year, this extremely sought-after trophy is awarded to the van that best contributes to the efficiency, safety, sustainability and environmental standards within the light commercial vehicle sector. To be eligible, the vehicle must be new, in series production by the end of the year for which it receives the award, and present a significant technological innovation. The ID. Buzz Cargo more than fits the bill in this regard.
2023 International Bus of the Year: MAN Lion's City E
The MAN Lion's City E was named 2023 International Bus of the Year and Rudi Kuchta, Head of Business Unit Bus at MAN Truck & Bus, received the trophy from Tom Terjesen, President of the International Bus of the Year jury.
In May this year, the jury welcomed five bus manufacturers from all over Europe to Ireland for the international bus comparison test. After an intensive week of testing with numerous driver experiences and long technical discussions, the verdict was in favour of the MAN Lion's City 12 E. The 23 European trade journalists were particularly impressed by the overall concept of the city bus, which scores points for its range, reliability, comfort and, above all, sustainability.
"The new MAN Lion’s City 12 E has a ground-breaking design, high grade of comfort and a very quiet area inside. The driver’s cabin is one of the best on the market and it has a high standard of safety. MAN has focused on electric mobility from the first drawing and to a real product. In that way everything fits together and is not a ‘diesel bus converted to electric’. The International Bus & Coach of the Year Jury had a positive feeling from the first test drive and up to the decision that MAN Lion’s City 12 E is the Bus of the Year 2023," noted Terjesen.
The International Bus of the Year award – which has been presented for three decades – is considered the most important accolade in the bus industry. "We are all the more proud that our MAN Lion's City E was so well received by the expert jury and that we are now receiving this prestigious award," said Kuchta, adding, "The award impressively demonstrates the outstanding work done by the entire MAN team. At the same time, it is an outstanding further chapter in the success story of our MAN Lion's City E."
This electric city bus went into series production back in 2020 and over 1 000 eBuses have been ordered in total since the start of sales. "However, we want to put significantly more electric buses on the road. In the last fiscal year, just under 6 percent of our new city buses were electric; by 2025, that figure will be half. And we expect around 90 percent of our city buses to be battery-powered by 2030," says Kuchta.
In addition to its so-called "Reliable Range" (up to 270 km), it also offers a "Maximum Range" of up to 350 km. It has a central motor on the rear axle, or two central motors on the second and third axles in the articulated bus, which benefits driving behaviour and recuperation.
The International Bus of the Year and International Coach of the Year awards have been presented since 1989. MAN is no stranger to these awards, having won the trophies 12 times for its MAN and Neoplan bus brands – six times for Coach of the Year (2022, 2020, 2006, 2004, 2000, 1994) and six times for Bus of the Year (2023, 2015, 2005, 1999, 1995, 1990).
