Iveco to deliver up to 253 diesel buses to Prague, mostly from Turkey
Iveco will deliver three different types of buses to the capital. This is its first victory in Prague in more
Iveco will deliver three different types of buses to the capital. This is its first victory in Prague in more than a decade, replacing SOR Libchavy as supplier. Iveco won the tender for new 12-meter or articulated buses for the Prague Public Transit Company (DPP).
DPP announced today that three different tenders for the delivery of up to 253 new diesel-powered buses were won by Iveco Czech Republic. These are framework contracts for three different types: 143 18-meter buses, 100 standard 12-meter buses and ten buses of the Sd+ category, i.e. 14–17 meters long.
DPP last tendered a major bus purchase in 2018, when SOR Libchavy won all contracts for three different types of buses. All buses from that contract have already been delivered. Last year, DPP also tendered for the supply of 60 midibuses from Solaris and SOR. Recently, it also tendered delivery of the first electric buses, and the delivery from Skoda has already been handed over.
The total maximum volume of all three tenders is almost CZK 1.591 billion, while the estimated value of all three contracts was CZK 1.814 billion in total. If the DPP procures all the vehicles under the framework contracts, it would save up to CZK 223 million compared to the estimated price.
Although Iveco has its large plant in Vysoke Myto, the buses will be of Turkish manufacture. Iveco decided last year to include the Streetway model, which is produced at the company’s Otokar plant in Turkey, in its portfolio. Only ten Crossway models will be produced in the Czech Republic.
DPP received bids from a total of five companies in the tender for the purchase of up to 100 12-meter standard buses; besides the winning company the participants were Otokar Otomotiv, Solaris Czech, SOR Libchavy and Skoda Electric. The estimated value of this contract was CZK 600 million, the winning bid price was CZK 499 million.
Up to five different bids
In the contract for the purchase of up to 10 buses of the Standard+ category, which are primarily intended for the renewal of the fleet on the AE line connecting Vaclav Havel Airport Prague and the main railway station, DPP received only one bid. The estimated value of this contract was CZK 70 million, the winning total bid price was CZK 64.98 million. In the DPP tender for the purchase of up to 143 articulated buses, a total of four companies submitted bids, in addition to the winning company, Otokar Otomotiv, Solaris Czech and SOR Libchavy. The estimated value of this contract was CZK 1.144 billion, with the winning bid amounting to CZK 1.027 billion. In addition to the buses, all three public contracts include the purchase of a corresponding number of sets of hardware and software for diagnosing bus faults.
At least a quarter of buses will continue to run on diesel
The framework contracts are for five years. “They will allow us to continue to modernize the bus fleet and maintain at least 25% of it independent of electric charging or power infrastructure in the future,” said DPP chairman Petr Witowski. He claims emissions are comparable to those of natural gas buses thanks to strict standards. DPP does not want to get rid of diesel buses altogether.
Iveco Crossway 14,5 LE. Credit: Iveco