• Europe’s best‑selling touring coach reaches production record
• Tourismo in its third generation: a highlight in efficiency, safety and comfort

Leinfelden‑Echterdingen – Daimler Buses delivers a new record number: At the beginning of 2026, the 40,000th Mercedes‑Benz Tourismo ceremoniously rolled off the production line. This once again underscores the high‑deck coach’s enormous popularity with customers and passengers. It is one of the most successful touring coaches on the European market. Mirko Sgodda, Head of Marketing, Sales and Customer Services Daimler Buses, is pleased about the strong acceptance and sees it as a reward for Daimler Buses’ efforts in a highly competitive market environment: “Across all three generations of the high‑deck coach, Daimler Buses has consistently further developed and refined the Mercedes-Benz Tourismo concept. We have always kept our customers, bus drivers and passengers in mind. This applies to efficiency, comfort, design and, of course, exemplary active and passive safety. This is the only way the Tourismo could become Europe’s best‑selling touring coach.”

The sales success has good reasons:

• Efficient drive technology and low fuel consumption make the Tourismo particularly economical.
• Modern driver assistance and safety systems offer added protection and safety on the road.
• Comfortable seats, easy boarding and a standard kneeling function make the Tourismo exceptionally comfortable.
• With its distinctive body design and optimized aerodynamics, the Tourismo combines modern design with maximum efficiency.
  
  

Premiere of the first generation of the Tourismo 

The success story of the Mercedes‑Benz Tourismo begins in 1992 with the O 340, followed by the O 350 Tourismo, the first bus with a star to carry a model name. Mercedes‑Benz relies on a clear positioning: The high‑deck coach covers the business class segment — economical, comfortable, and solidly built. The 12‑meter two‑axle model quickly develops into a best‑seller.

In autumn 2006, the second generation of the Tourismo follows at the IAA Commercial Vehicles show in Hannover — with completely new accents. The high‑deck coach is now available in three lengths from 12 to 14 meters and as two‑ and three‑axle variants. In addition to the body, the equipment is more individually configurable, allowing the Tourismo to adapt to specific operations and country‑specific requirements. A key part of the safety equipment is the Electronic Stability Program ESP. The new Tourismo quickly becomes a sales hit: In 2015, sales reach a total of 10,000 units. At this time, Mercedes‑Benz already presents the Tourismo with new assistance and safety systems: the Lane Assist and the AEBS emergency braking system are added.

Third‑generation Tourismo: Convincing again in technology, safety and comfort

After more than 26,000 units, the third generation of the Mercedes‑Benz Tourismo high‑deck coach has been available since autumn 2017. The touring coach impresses with its characteristics more than ever — for operators, passengers and drivers alike. With a wide range of equipment variants and powertrains, the high‑deck coach covers an unusually broad spectrum. Its fields of operation range from long‑distance line service to long‑distance touring, including shuttle and employee transport.

New assistance systems promise high active safety. For example, the Active Brake Assist 4: the only emergency braking system for buses that automatically brakes for moving vehicles, stationary obstacles and pedestrians. Or Sideguard Assist, which warns the driver of pedestrians, cyclists and stationary obstacles when turning right.

The Tourismo underscores its efficiency at every refueling stop. Low fuel consumption is due to outstanding aerodynamics with an unmatched drag coefficient of c_w = 0.33 and the famously efficient powertrain. With equipment such as the Predictive Powertrain Control (PPC) or Eco Driver Feedback (EDF) with individual tips for current driving style, fuel consumption and emissions can be further reduced.

Safety Coach presents the latest safety technology in the Tourismo

In 2023, the classic among high‑deck touring coaches embarks on the road comprehensively upgraded — presented for the first time in the new Tourismo Safety Coach. The range of modifications for the popular two‑ and three‑axle models with four lengths from 12 to 14 meters includes LED headlights and MirrorCam, new assistance and infotainment systems, a converter automatic transmission and newly designed rear lights. As an alternative to the standard halogen H7 headlights, the Mercedes‑Benz Tourismo is now optionally available with LED headlights in the same housing. The new Mercedes‑Benz Tourismo also achieves progress in exemplary efficiency and environmental protection: automatic body‑lowering by 20 millimeters now takes place at 79 km/h instead of 95 km/h as with its predecessor.

Typical for the new Tourismo are the innovative assistance systems fully installed in the Safety Coach. The new Active Brake Assist 6 Plus emergency braking system is even more powerful. The system covers the entire vehicle speed range and is always active in the background. It can warn and intervene early in the event of a potential collision with moving or stationary vehicles. Up to a speed of 60 km/h, it can also react to pedestrians and cyclists. The safety system ABA 6 Plus can respond to crossing, oncoming or lane‑running persons and moving cyclists with automatic full braking. ABA 6 Plus can provide additional safety benefits for cyclists — whether in rural or urban traffic.

The new Sideguard Assist 2 responds and warns even more precisely in the event of a collision risk with pedestrians and cyclists. Previously available on the door side, it is now also used on the driver’s side. Completely new is the Frontguard Assist. The system warns of obstacles or persons directly in front of the vehicle. Sideguard Assist 2 and Frontguard Assist combine into a complete warning system covering obstacles and persons at the sides and in front of the bus. Together with the standard reversing camera or the optional 360° camera system, the driver receives a comprehensive warning system around the vehicle.

Also new is Traffic Sign Assist, which warns when exceeding the permitted speed. In addition, Adaptive Cruise Control ART, Lane Assist SPA, Tire Pressure Monitoring TPM, and Attention Assist (AtAs) are included. Attention Assist uses a discreetly installed driver camera to detect signs of fatigue or distraction. If the system detects irregularities in gaze or eyelid behavior, it alerts the driver with an acoustic warning and display message — for maximum safety on long trips.

Striking is another new feature: the optional MirrorCam replacing conventional exterior mirrors. The camera images are transmitted to 15‑inch monitors mounted inside on the A‑pillars. MirrorCam offers numerous advantages: extended field of vision, significantly improved night visibility, reduced dirt contamination, fewer maneuvering incidents, and reduced fuel consumption due to a smaller frontal area.

The new multimedia system called Coach Infotainment Series offers next‑generation media usage for professional touring applications. This starts with high‑quality digital radio reception DAB+ and extends to Bluetooth audio streaming. In addition, an HDMI interface allows connection of a laptop — for example for study‑trip information or seminar content. Other devices, such as a tour guide’s smartphone or a data stick, can be connected via USB ports. The central interface is a seven‑inch monitor in the cockpit, located in the right‑hand control panel and thus accessible from the companion seat. Integrated is a 3D navigation system providing the driver with real‑time traffic updates and allowing quick communication to passengers in case of route changes or delays.

Omniplus: digital is completely normal

Another advantage of the current Tourismo is the comprehensive service of the Omniplus brand. This covers services from oil changes for low‑emission diesel engines to parts supply — increasingly produced locally via 3D printing. Operators can purchase parts 24/7 in the Omniplus eShop. Genuine remanufactured parts optimize cost efficiency and CO₂ footprint. Tailored service contracts provide security and cost transparency — as do the diverse and continuously expanded digital services of Omniplus On. For Omniplus, digital has long been completely normal.