• Handover of the first vehicle at the Daimler Buses plant in Neu-Ulm
• The 50 Citaro GÜ buses are used throughout Germany for rail replacement services
• More stability even at higher speeds thanks to patented Articulation Turntable Control ATC
• When railway lines need to be renovated and modernized, the articulated buses carry passengers to their destination safely, on time and in comfort
• Delivery of all 50 Citaro GÜ successively by the end of 2025

Leinfelden-Echterdingen/Neu-Ulm – At its Neu-Ulm plant, Daimler Buses yesterday handed over the first of 50 new Mercedes-Benz Citaro GÜ intercity articulated buses to SEV Deutschland GmbH, headquartered in Kernen im Remstal, Baden‑Württemberg. Marijo Sapina, Head of Private Customer Sales at Daimler Buses, handed over the bus to Erhard Kiesel and Timo Bohr, Managing Directors of SEV Deutschland GmbH, which specializes in providing national rail replacement services.

Each of the seven private bus companies from all over Germany that have joined forces to form SEV Deutschland GmbH will receive seven to eight of the modern intercity articulated buses with the Mercedes star. The Mercedes‑Benz Citaro GÜ will be delivered successively until the end of 2025.

“Thanks to their precisely tailored equipment, each of the new 18-meter articulated buses can be used flexibly, reliably and efficiently for the total range of rail replacement transport services. This is becoming increasingly important due to the increase in modernization and renovation work on long-distance and regional rail routes,” says Erhard Kiesel.

SEV Deutschland GmbH will use the new buses throughout Germany in long-distance and regional transport for urban tram routes and shuttle services. The enterprise receives contracts from both private customers and municipal authorities.

The 50 Citaro GÜ fully comply with the EU regulation UN ECE-R 107 for passengers with reduced mobility and offer the highest safety standards that go far beyond the EU directive GSR (General Safety Regulation).

The buses are technically prepared to transmit information to passengers in real time: For this purpose, they have a standardized FMS data interface and can therefore not only be integrated into the existing fleet management system of SEV Deutschland GmbH, but can also be integrated into the communication channels and background systems of the respective client.

Performance and comfort in rail replacement services

The 50 three-door Mercedes-Benz Citaro GÜ intercity articulated buses for SEV Deutschland GmbH are immediately recognizable by their intercity bus front‑end assembly with straight front and horizontally divided windows. With a total length of 18 meters, they offer state-of-the-art comfort and a high passenger transport capacity for up to 123 passengers. They are powered by the Mercedes-Benz OM 470 diesel engine with an output of 265 kW (360 hp), which is combined with a 6-speed automatic transmission and complies with the Euro‑VI E‑standard.

The articulated buses are equipped with 48 comfortable and hard-wearing Inter Star Eco intercity seats, which, thanks to the fabric-covered and upholstered seat backrests raised by 100 millimeters to 750 millimeters, and the integrated headrest, enable a relaxed seating experience even on longer journeys. LED technology is used to illuminate the passenger compartment, and LED night lighting is also available.

The EvoCool Basic roof-mounted air-conditioning system with active filters, which can be controlled separately for the driver’s area and passenger compartment, ensures clean air and a pleasant temperature on board. Two large TFT monitors, each with a diameter of 29 inches, inform passengers of important information on the route and connection options when continuing their journey. Mobile devices such as smartphones or tablets can be charged and operated at the dual USB charging sockets on the individual seat rows. The on-board WLAN router ensures unimpeded Internet access.

A passenger counting system informs the operator of the number of passengers on board the Citaro GÜ intercity articulated buses.

Accessibility equipment

The Citaro GÜ intercity articulated buses of SEV Deutschland GmbH comply with Annex 8 of UN ECE-R 107, which focuses on improving the accessibility and operability of buses for passengers with reduced mobility. As a result, the buses can be used without restrictions in urban traffic and can provide rail replacement services there as required.

Manual folding ramps facilitate boarding and alighting for passengers with limited mobility, senior citizens and parents with prams. Accessibility is also in the spotlight throughout the interior: All 50 Citaro GÜ buses have at least four seats without platforms. Opposite the center and rear entrance doors, there are two special‑purpose areas in each bus with integrated folding seats and leaning surfaces, which are designed as safe storage areas for wheelchairs and prams.

Safe travel to the destination in rail replacement services

Safety is also a top priority in rail replacement transport. The Mercedes‑Benz Citaro GÜ intercity articulated buses meet the high requirements for safe passenger transport in this segment, especially at higher speeds on intercity routes, thanks to modern safety equipment. One example is the patented dynamic Articulation Turntable Control ATC, which is standard equipment in all Citaro articulated buses. It permanently stabilizes the pivoting joint, keeps the bus in the lane, and functions in a similar way to ESP, but does not carry out any brake application. This means: optimum steering characteristics, high driving stability and great maneuverability even at higher speeds, crosswinds, ruts in the lane or rapid lane changes.

For additional safety in urban environments, Sideguard Assist 2 monitors the traffic area on the left and right sides of the vehicle. The equipment with state‑of‑the‑art safety and assistance systems also includes Frontguard Assist, Traffic Sign Assist, Attention Assist, Driving Style Assist (Eco Driver Feedback) and the TPM (Tire Pressure Monitoring) system. All lights and headlamps feature LED technology. There is also a reversing camera and a video surveillance system for the vehicle interior with seven cameras. In addition, the Citaro GÜ buses are equipped with the Bus Data Center for the use of the Omniplus On connectivity services.

About SEV Deutschland GmbH

Founded in 2024, SEV Deutschland GmbH is a consortium of seven private, medium‑sized bus companies from all over Germany, headquartered in Kernen in Remstal (Baden-Württemberg). With more than 5,000 modern buses of various
sizes – from midibuses to articulated buses – and a strong control center structure, the company offers rail replacement solutions from a single source throughout Germany, with the ability to meet short-term requirements just as reliably as it does requirements planned long-term in advance.

The comprehensive SEV partner network bundles the competences of Allgäu Airport Express GmbH (Mindelheim), Autobus Oberbayern GmbH (Munich), Bohr Omnibus GmbH (Lautzenhausen), Geldhauser Linien- und Reiseverkehr GmbH (Brunnthal), HVB Wiest+Schürmann Hechinger Verkehrsbetriebsgesellschaft mbH (Hechingen), Schlienz-Tours GmbH & Co. KG (Kernen) and Verkehrsbetriebe Oldenburg Land GmbH & Co. KG (Vechta).