Setra milestones: Progress in numbers

1951

The first self‑supporting bus, the Setra S 8, is presented in Frankfurt

1955

Presentation of the Setra S 6 at the Geneva Motor Show

1959

Introduction of the first Setra modular system and Europe’s first self‑supporting articulated bus.

1964

Setra becomes the first bus manufacturer to install a retarder as a wear‑free braking system

1967

Launch of Series 100 and series introduction of independent wheel suspension with air suspension

1976

Series 200 enters production with innovative cross‑flow ventilation

The S 215 HD is named “Bus of the Year 1976”

1981

Setra presents its first double‑decker coach, the S 228 DT (Double‑Decker Touring)

1991

Presentation of Series 300 with a newly developed integrated mirror system and exterior design

1992

The Setra S 315 HDH is named “Coach of the Year 1993”

1996

The Setra S 315 NF is named “Bus of the Year 1996”

2001

Setra introduces the TopClass 400, setting new benchmarks in technology, design, and equipment. In the same year, the new touring coach generation is named “Coach of the Year 2002” at Busworld Kortrijk

2002

Sale of the 1,000th TopClass 400 vehicle

2003

Official presentation of the S 417 for the North American market at the United Motorcoach Association (UMA) trade show in Orlando, Florida

2005

In March, a bus company from northern Germany takes delivery of the 3,000th TopClass 400 vehicle, a Setra S 415 HD

In June, the 10,000th MultiClass vehicle, an S 315 UL, is delivered

Introduction of the new safety systems Adaptive Cruise Control (ART) and Continuous Brake Limiter (DBL) in TopClass 400 and ComfortClass 400 touring coaches

2006

In March, the 5,000th touring coach of the TopClass 400 and ComfortClass 400 series is delivered.

2007

Setra delivers its 90,000th bus since the brand’s founding in 1951

At Busworld in Kortrijk, Belgium, Setra presents updated TopClass 400 vehicles

Delivery of the 500th S 431 DT double‑decker and the 500th S 411 HD touring coach

2008

The 10,000th Series 400 touring coach, an S 416 GT‑HD/2, is delivered to a major Turkish customer

The low‑floor S 415 NF of the MultiClass 400 is named “Bus of the Year 2009”

2009

Setra presents two U.S. versions of the S 417 at the United Motorcoach Association (UMA) show in Orlando, Florida

2010

Delivery of the 2,500th MultiClass 400 bus

2011

Setra celebrates its 60th anniversary. Bus manufacturing in Ulm marks its 100th anniversary.

Delivery of the 100,000th bus since the brand’s founding

2012

Presentation of the completely newly developed ComfortClass 500 touring coach generation and introduction of Euro VI “BlueEfficiency Power” engine technology

2013

World premiere of the new Setra TopClass 500 touring coach generation

A Setra ComfortClass 500 S 515 HD is named “Coach of the Year 2014” in Belgium

All vehicles in the current product range are now equipped with Euro VI “BlueEfficiency Power” engines

The Freiburg‑based company Avanti completes the world’s longest bus journey to date, traveling from Germany to China and through Central and South America to Tierra del Fuego in a ComfortClass 500 S 515 HD

2014

Expansion of the ComfortClass 500 with four additional vehicle variants

Start of series production of the Setra TopClass 500 in Neu‑Ulm

Awarded the prestigious “Red Dot Award: Product Design 2014”

Presentation of the new MultiClass LE business intercity bus

2015

An Italian bus company takes delivery of the 2,500th double‑decker coach produced by the brand.
The S 431 DT is also the 250th vehicle of this type equipped with Euro VI engines

2016

Setra delivers the 2,500th ComfortClass 500 bus

The brand celebrates its 65th anniversary

2017

Presentation of the new S 531 DT double‑decker coach in Stuttgart

Delivery of the 15,000th Setra ComfortClass vehicle

A French company takes delivery of the 5,000th ComfortClass 500 vehicle with an S 511 HD

2018

With the S 531 DT double‑decker, Setra presents the world’s first touring coach to be equipped as standard with an engine‑compartment fire‑suppression system

2020

A total of 800,000 Voyage seating units are installed in Setra TopClass and ComfortClass touring coaches

2021

Setra celebrates its 70th anniversary

Daimler Buses contributes to combating the COVID‑19 pandemic with a mobile vaccination bus based on the S 415 LE business, featuring a fully digitalized vaccination process

The German Red Cross emergency services Heidenheim‑Ulm deploy a converted Setra S 415 LE business intercity bus as a large‑capacity transport vehicle during the pandemic

2022

Setra presents the next generation of the Setra TopClass and Setra ComfortClass

2023

Presentation of the completely newly developed Setra MultiClass 500 LE, comprising four Low Entry vehicle variants

With a Setra ComfortClass 500 S 516 HD, the brand delivers the 10,000th touring coach of the Series 500.

2025

At the Busworld trade fair in Brussels, the Setra TopClass S 516 HDH is named “Coach of the Year 2026”

Setra presents the H₂ Coach technology demonstrator, the brand’s first fuel‑cell‑powered touring coach

2026

Daimler Buses announces that testing of its first battery‑electric touring coach technology demonstrator, the “eCoach,” will begin shortly. The vehicle is based on the conventionally powered Setra S 516 HD