UD Trucks Croner base offers bus solutions in South Africa
In May UD Trucks re-entered the commuter bus market with the new UD Croner Bus. The fanfare of the launch, taking place in KwaZulu-Natal, gave UD Truck to introduce the new bus line with two variants, which will be available a commuter bus (PKE 280) and a rural bus (LKE 210) this year.
The new buses aim to strengthen commuter experiences in South Africa.
“The growing demand for sustainable and comfortable travel options has been a significant development over the past few years. The Croner Bus is the perfect answer to Africa’s need for an economical, sustainable ride that will reduce carbon footprint,” said Jacques Michel, Senior Vice President, of UD Trucks International Sales.
Trusted trucks
UD Trucks has manufactured trucks for more than 60 years. The trucks have also become trusted, so it is natural for the South African market to also introduce buses to the mix.
“It is an exciting time for our organisation, a new chapter,” says Filip van den Heede, Managing Director, of UD Trucks Southern Africa.
“We are proud to extend our Croner product line into the bus market while still maintaining the same quality, architectural design, and reliability.”
Re-entering the bus market is part of UD Trucks Southern Africa’s product diversification plan.
The UD Croner Bus connects rural communities with economic hubs and workers with the workplace. The Croner Bus features USB ports on all seats to accommodate commuters’ ability to stay connected whilst on the move.
Both the PKE 280 and LKE 210 buses are based on the same architecture as the South African medium duty leader, UD Trucks Croner.
Croner Bus PKE 280
The Croner Bus PKE 280 can seat 65 passengers and has space for an additional 10 people standing.
This variant is powered by a D8A280 engine that meets Euro III and Euro V emissions standards while also being fuel-efficient and equipped with high capacity.
Croner Bus LKE 210 and LKE 240
The Croner Bus LKE 210 and LKE 240 can accommodate 40 passengers in seating and 12 standing.
The bigger bus variants feature a D5A210 Euro V engine for the LKE210 while the LKE 240 is equipped with a D5A240 Euro V engine. Both engines can deliver excellent torque even at low speeds.
Top transport
“Considering African transport infrastructure challenges, these features will result in rapid response and smooth driving properties, which makes the UD Croner Bus a more fuel-efficient choice,” says Rory Schulz, Sales Director, UD Trucks Southern Africa.
The expansion of UD Trucks transportation solutions into the African market is expected to improve efficiency and accessibility and, at the same time, reduce environmental, social, and economic costs for commuters.
With Euro 5 and Selective Catalyst Reduction (SCR), it addresses safer environmental challenges while meeting current market demands
Safety first
The Croner Bus design prioritises passenger safety and comfort, and these are seen as critical features. For improved safety and visibility, bus entrances are illuminated to enhance commuter safety.
Providing support for standing passengers and preventing them from falling while the bus is in motion, full-length handrails enhance the ergonomic features and safety of the bus. Each unprotected seat has a lap-type safety belt to protect against sudden stops or collisions.
Transport technology
The PKE 280 (air sus) buses come with an electronically controlled air suspension system that is designed to improve driving comfort, contributing to better vehicle ergonomics. On the move, the system automatically controls chassis height and compensates for uneven weight distribution to ensure the bus is balanced.
Based on a Croner chassis with a high front and rear axle rating, the PKE 280 is considered lightweight but durable. Because of the reduction in chassis and bus weight, the bus can carry high loads of luggage inside and outside the coach. The increased carrying capacity of the bus enables the customer to carry more load thus maximizing productivity.
As part of our vehicle health monitoring feature, UD Telematics has been implemented, which comprises customer and dealer telematics and displays all critical alerts from UD Trucks buses.
