The Volkswagen Volksbus is a range of step-floor city bus chassis assembled in Germany and produced by the Brazilian manufacturer Volkswagen Truck & Bus since 1993. Volkswagen Truck & Bus builds chassis in the 5 to 18 tonne class for microbuses, minibuses, midibuses and coaches, and most of them are powered by MWM engines. The bodies are added by private coachbuilders, who finish each vehicle as a school bus, shuttle, tour bus or coach.
Volkswagen Volksbus at a glance
| Maker | Volkswagen Truck & Bus, Brazil |
|---|---|
| Production | since 1993 |
| Type | step-floor city bus chassis |
| Class | 5 to 18 tonnes |
| Segments | microbus, minibus, midibus and coach |
| Engines | mostly MWM |
| Code letters | E for electronic, D for front engine, T for rear engine |
| Examples | 8.150, 9.150, 15.180, 17.210, 17.260, 18.310, 18.320 |
| Current coach models | 18.280 OT LE and 18.320 EOT |
| Coachbuilders | Marcopolo, Irizar, Neobus, Caio, Comil, Mascarello, Modasa and others |
| Markets | South America, Mexico, South Africa and Kenya |
| Titan name | used on the 18.310 OT Titan |
History of the Volkswagen Volksbus
The Volksbus has been produced by Volkswagen Truck & Bus in Brazil since 1993 and is assembled in Germany as well. It is a chassis rather than a complete vehicle: a step-floor platform for city and intercity buses, built in classes from 5 to 18 tonnes and covering microbuses, minibuses, midibuses and coaches. Most chassis use MWM engines, and the model names follow a system in which the first number gives the gross weight and the letters describe the layout, with E for electronic, D for front engine and T for rear engine.
Over the years the range has included front- and rear-engined chassis and electronic versions of both. Examples in the wider family are the 8.140 CO, 8.150 OD and EOD, 9.150 OD, 9.160 OD, 15.180 EOD, 16.180 CO, 16.210 CO, 17.210 OD and EOD, 17.240 OT, 17.260 EOT, 18.310 OT and 18.320 EOT, with the 18.310 also sold as the Titan. The current range is grouped by size: the 5.140 EOD, 8.120 OD and 8.150 OD and EOD as microbuses, the 9.150 OD and EOD and 9.160 OD as minibuses, the 15.180, 15.190, 17.210, 17.230 and 17.260 EOD as medium models and the 18.280 OT LE and 18.320 EOT as coaches.
All bodies are assembled by private coachbuilders, who build them to the configuration the customer wants, whether a school bus, shuttle, tour bus or coach. Among the main users of Volksbus chassis in South America are Irizar, Marcopolo, Neobus, Caio Induscar, Rosmo, Comil, AGA, Mascarello, Modasa, Inrecar and Metalpar; in Mexico AYCO and Novacapre, in South Africa Busmark 2000, Busaf, Irizar and Marcopolo, and in Kenya Banbros. The chassis therefore appears under many body names, with the Volkswagen part covering the step-floor platform, the engine and the drivetrain rather than the passenger body.
Design and features
- Chassis, not a bus: coachbuilders add the body, so the same platform becomes a school bus, shuttle or coach.
- Wide class: from 5 to 18 tonnes, covering microbuses to full coaches.
- MWM engines: most of the range is powered by MWM diesels.
- Code system: E for electronic, D for front engine and T for rear engine.
- Many bodybuilders: Marcopolo, Irizar, Caio, Comil, Mascarello, Modasa and others.
Volkswagen Volksbus versions
- Microbus: 5.140 EOD, 8.120 OD, 8.150 OD and EOD.
- Minibus: 9.150 OD and EOD, 9.160 OD.
- Medium: 15.180 EOD, 15.190 EOD, 17.210 EOD, 17.230 EOD, 17.260 EOT.
- Coach: 18.280 OT LE and 18.320 EOT.
- 18.310 OT Titan: the Titan-badged rear-engined chassis.
The Volksbus is the passenger side of Volkswagen Truck & Bus, alongside the Constellation heavy trucks and the Delivery light trucks. More cars are in the Volkswagen collection.
Video: Volkswagen Volksbus 18.280 OT LE 2015 review
Video by MotorCarTube on YouTube.
Sources
- Volkswagen Volksbus, English Wikipedia: range, model codes, current models, coachbuilders
