The huge demand in Brazil for emission-free buses means Mercedes-Benz will start assembling its first electric bus in the Latin American country between November and December, an executive said Wednesday.
Mercedes-Benz estimates that by 2023, the demand for electric buses in Brazil will reach 1,000 units, while the demand for electric buses will increase to 3,000 units in 2024, Director of Sales & Marketing of Buses Walter Barbosa said in a press conference.
Mercedes-Benz is expected to join BYD and some local importers in the Brazilian market.
Sao Paulo is the city with the most demand for electric buses in Brazil with an estimated 2,600 electric buses by 2024.
Mercedes is said to be investing $18.62 million in the electric bus assembly project, Barbosa said.
The Mercedes-Benz 84-passenger electric bus is called the EO500U and has a range of 250 kilometers. The vehicle has a recharging time of between 2.5 and 3 hours.
Mercedes-Benz did not give details on the price of the electric buses, but said prices were expected to be 3 to 3.5 times higher than buses with internal combustion engines.
In 2021, bus sales topped 14,000 in Brazil, about the same as the previous year, according to automaker association Anfavea.
