Daimler Buses, Farizon, Kia

Daimler Buses unveiled the first prototype of the next-generation eCitaro in Munich on November 10. Starting in 2028, the city bus will be built on a purpose-developed battery-electric platform and will no longer share it with the combustion-engine Citaro. Market launch is planned for 2028, with the official world premiere set for October 2027 at Busworld Europe in Brussels. From 2030, Daimler Buses plans to stop selling diesel Citaros in Europe and to offer only electric city buses among its new vehicles.

The modular platform covers vehicle lengths from ten to just over 18 meters in seven variants: three low-floor and four low-entry models, which for the first time will also allow the eCitaro to serve intercity routes. Instead of NMC cells, the bus uses LFP cells in packs of about 50 kWh, with 300 to 700 kWh possible depending on length. Low-floor buses get the ZF AxTrax 2 LF electric portal axle with up to 360 kW of system power, compared with about 280 kW in the current model. Charging is possible via CCS at up to 400 kW or via pantograph or charging rail at up to 450 kW. The new eCitaro is expected to weigh about 750 kilograms less than the current model.

The design is more angular and boxy, cameras replace the side mirrors, and two 12-inch displays form the cockpit in the fully low-floor interior. The bus is being developed in Mannheim and will be built in Germany, France, and the Czech Republic. Daimler Buses has not yet announced any range figures.

Farizon, a subsidiary brand of Geely, presented the updated SV electric van, model year 2027, in Königswinter near Bonn on November 9. Its centerpiece is the CTP-S battery, which is designed for high charging power. According to the manufacturer, this allows fleets to use even short stops for charging.

The SV is available in several vehicle sizes and cargo configurations and comes with a comprehensive set of driver assistance systems. In Euro NCAP's safety rating for light commercial vehicles, it earned five stars; this rating is not based on a new test of the 2027 model year. The van targets delivery services, trade businesses, and fleet operators whose vehicles make several tours a day. Farizon has not yet announced specific figures on range, maximum charging power, charging times, market launch, or price.

Kia is bringing the PV5 electric minibus to market as a Crew variant that combines a five-seater with the Cargo version. In the passenger configuration, the PV5 Crew has two seats in front and three in the rear, with a partition separating the cargo area behind the second row. The second-row seats can be folded up and, together with the partition, slid forward. The PV5 Crew then becomes a two-seater with a 2,086-millimeter-long, 3.7-cubic-meter cargo area.

The cargo area has a rail system for securing loads and a non-slip floor, and payload is 590 to 625 kilograms depending on trim. There are two sliding side doors and a rear double door that opens up to 180 degrees. The front-wheel-drive system delivers 89 kW (122 hp), and top speed is 135 km/h. The battery has a capacity of 51.5 kWh; a larger battery apparently isn't available for the Crew model.

The base version starts at €42,090 (€35,369.75 net). The Plus version, which adds a 230-volt outlet in the cargo area, V2X hardware preparation, and heated front seats and steering wheel, starts at €42,705 (€35,886.55 net). Deliveries are scheduled to begin this December.