MAN Secures Major Order for 100 Electric Buses in South Africa

A major step toward cleaner public transportation has been reached: MAN Truck & Bus has signed an agreement with the Paruk Group in South Africa to supply 100 fully electric city buses. This represents MAN’s largest electric bus contract outside Europe and highlights how global markets are increasingly embracing zero-emission mobility.

“This project marks a significant move toward making city transport worldwide more environmentally friendly, quieter, and safer. It also underlines the strategic importance of our international chassis operations,” said Barbaros Oktay, Head of Bus at MAN Truck & Bus. “We are proud to work with the Paruk Group to help lead the development of electric mobility in Africa.”

The ordered buses belong to the Lion’s Explorer E series, designed specifically for markets outside Europe. While MAN typically delivers complete buses in European regions, the global strategy focuses on producing chassis that are then completed locally by approved body manufacturers. For this order, both the chassis and the vehicle bodies will be built in South Africa.

Local manufacturing to support regional development

All 100 electric buses will be produced in South Africa — the chassis at MAN’s Pinetown facility and the bodies at the Olifantsfontein plant. By manufacturing locally, MAN is supporting regional job creation and advancing the local electric vehicle production ecosystem.

The Lion’s Explorer E is a 12-meter high-floor bus with four battery packs totaling 320 kWh, positioned under the floor between the axles. Deliveries will begin in 2026 and are expected to be finished by late 2027.

“We operate one of the largest MAN bus fleets in the world, built on more than three decades of partnership and shared goals,” said Mohmed Paruk, owner of the Paruk Group, which runs a fleet of around 2,000 buses—approximately 1,500 of them MAN. “Transitioning from diesel to electric is not just about new technology; it reflects our commitment to sustainable transport for the future. With MAN, this transition feels like a natural next step.”

Jan Aichinger, Managing Director of MAN Truck & Bus South Africa, added: “We are proud not only to introduce MAN electric buses to African roads, but also to be the first automotive manufacturer in South Africa to localize the production of an electric vehicle.”

Building on previous success

In 2023, MAN introduced its first fully electric bus in Africa, delivered to Cape Town and tailored to local operating conditions. “Producing the buses locally ensures they meet the real-world needs of operators and can integrate smoothly into current transport networks,” explained Oktay. “With this new large-scale order, we expect electric transport in South Africa to accelerate significantly.”

MAN Truck & Bus is already a leading supplier in the South African bus market, and the company aims to hold the same position in the electric vehicle segment. “Just as our Lion’s City E buses have been widely adopted in Europe — with roughly 3,000 units delivered — we are working to achieve similar success here,” Oktay said.