The Saudi bus operator SAPTCO (Saudi Public Transport Company), in a joint venture with the French transport operator RATP – Dev (Régie Autonome des Transports Parisiens), has placed an order for 600 Mercedes‑Benz Citaro buses.
This represents the largest single order for Mercedes‑Benz Citaro city buses in the history of Daimler Buses. The contract signing took place at the UITP Global Public Transport Summit in Montreal on 16 May 2017. The initial batch of around 200 Mercedes‑Benz Citaro G and Mercedes‑Benz Citaro Solo buses will be handed over to the customers as early as 2018. The remaining 400 vehicles will then be delivered up to 2020. The vehicles are to be deployed in the Saudi capital of Riyadh, where for the most part they will operate on newly established BRT routes (Bus Rapid Transit). The large order will be processed via the Daimler Commercial Vehicle Regional Centre for the Middle East and North Africa, which is headquartered in Dubai.
"We are delighted to cooperate with our long-standing partner SAPTCO to provide high-standard services to the local public transport in Riyadh", explains Hartmut Schick, Head of Daimler Buses. "We are honoured by this trust, the Saudi bus operator placed in us. It once again reflects the fact that thanks to our high-quality products, we are also continuing to grow profitable beyond our core markets."
The agreement is an important milestone in the partnership between Daimler Buses and the two bus operators SAPTCO and RATP ‑ Dev. SAPTCO is already a long-standing customer for touring coaches and in 2016 purchased more than 200 Mercedes‑Benz Travego 15 SHD touring coaches. The order for 600 Mercedes‑Benz Citaro buses is the first major order in the city bus sector.
