Long Version: Daimler Buses presents the first near-production prototype of the next-generation Mercedes-Benz eCitaro

• Eight years of eCitaro: from pioneer to benchmark in the electric city bus segment
• New second-generation battery-electric vehicle platform: designed from the ground up for electric mobility
• Optimized operating efficiency, increased passenger capacity, maximum availability and enhanced comfort
• New design in the distinctive Mercedes-Benz look
• Market launch from 2028, ten years after the debut of the first eCitaro
  

Leinfelden-Echterdingen – Daimler Buses is providing a first glimpse of its next-generation city bus. As part of the third eMobility Days in Munich, the company is presenting the first near-production prototype of the next-generation Mercedes-Benz eCitaro, a vehicle developed entirely from scratch and consistently designed for all-electric operation.

Eight Years of eCitaro: From Pioneer to Benchmark in the City Bus Segment

With the world premiere of the first Mercedes-Benz eCitaro in 2018, the company began the electrification of its city bus portfolio. Since then, Daimler Buses has continuously enhanced the vehicle in line with customer requirements and has now delivered more than 4,600 eCitaro buses to customers, making it one of Europe’s most successful electric buses. The eCitaro has also received numerous awards, including the Sustainable Bus Award and the German Sustainability Award. The Mercedes-Benz eCitaro has even won the title of “Electric Bus Champion” on three occasions.

To ensure that the next generation can build on this success, a completely new vehicle architecture was required, as the potential of the previous architecture had been exhausted. A new architectural concept enables maximum scalability through clearly defined modules. Increasing regulatory requirements were also a key driver behind the new development. Last but not least, the new vehicle concept makes it possible to address current and future market requirements.

Second-Generation Electric Vehicle Platform: Designed from the Ground Up for Electric Mobility

The current eCitaro is based on a vehicle concept that was originally developed for diesel drive. In contrast, the new generation of city buses has been designed as an all-electric vehicle from the outset. It is based on a completely new second-generation battery-electric vehicle platform. The new vehicle architecture covers all lengths from the 10-metre solo bus to the 18-metre articulated bus. It also enables proven components from the Mercedes-Benz Trucks portfolio to be adapted specifically for bus applications, allowing Daimler Buses to benefit from developments, experience and economies of scale in the truck sector.

The consistent focus on electric drive from the very beginning not only enables optimized battery positioning and improved weight distribution, but also reduces the unladen weight of the articulated bus by around 750 kilograms, resulting in increased passenger capacity. The new electronic architecture of the next eCitaro generation also enables additional digital features such as over-the-air updates via mobile networks and the subsequent activation of optional functions.

Optimized Operating Efficiency, Increased Passenger Capacity, Maximum Availability and Enhanced Comfort

The benefits of the new vehicle architecture are immediately apparent for operators. Thanks to reduced energy consumption, the next-generation eCitaro offers greater range and lower total cost of ownership (TCO) than the current eCitaro. Furthermore, the fully electric vehicle concept increases passenger capacity while enhancing passenger comfort. Long-life components and extended service intervals ensure higher vehicle availability.

New Design in the Distinctive Mercedes-Benz Look

The new vehicle generation also introduces a completely new design for the electric city bus. This includes a redesigned exterior as well as a revised interior featuring a new spatial concept and a new cockpit. At the same time, the new generation remains instantly recognizable as a Mercedes-Benz, with a distinctive appearance that embodies innovation, dynamism and a forward-looking character.

Market Launch from 2028, Ten Years After the First eCitaro

At the Daimler Buses eMobility Days 3.0, Daimler Buses is providing a first preview of the next generation of the Mercedes-Benz eCitaro. The official world premiere of the new generation of city buses is scheduled for October 2027 at Busworld Europe in Brussels. The market launch is planned from 2028, exactly ten years after the world premiere of the first Mercedes-Benz eCitaro in 2018.