The Abu Dhabi Department of Transport (DoT), through Famco Al Futtaim Auto & Machinery Co (FAMCO), has received the full order of 168 intercity buses with the Magnus.E body from Grupo Castrosua on Volvo B11R Euro VI chassis. FAMCO is one of the companies of the Al-Futtaim Group, a conglomerate of around 250 companies and more than 50,000 employees.
The units, whose deliveries began at the end of 2019, are all high-floor, approved for class III, and are already operating in the urban and suburban areas of Abu Dhabi and in the city of Al Ain through the operators City Transport and Hafilat Industry LLC.
All units are 13 meters long, have two doors with air curtains, 47 seats with two-point seatbelts, and space for a wheelchair. Among their equipment, a high-capacity air conditioning unit, 3 air purifiers to improve indoor air quality, an automatic fire suppression system, route signs (1 front sign, 1 side sign on the right and another on the left, and 1 rear sign) stand out. They also have a lifting platform to facilitate access for people with reduced mobility and feature double glazing and two skylights.
The driver’s seat is fully ergonomic, with lumbar adjustment, a left armrest, a seatbelt, and an integrated microphone, as well as a warning to the driver if the seatbelt is not fastened. It is equipped with a rear-view and front-view camera connected to a monitor at the driver’s station, USB ports in the passenger area, exterior lighting panels above the doors, and 3 monitors distributed throughout the interior of the vehicle with user information.
The driver’s door has a semi-vandal-proof protective screen, and the rearview mirrors are electrically adjustable and heated. The luggage compartments have pneumatic opening and feature LED crossing lights. Additionally, it incorporates a passenger counter and a video surveillance system.
This order for the United Arab Emirates is the largest international order to date for Grupo Castrosua and is the result of the line of work initiated years ago to strengthen our strategic internationalization strategy. We are very proud to be able to meet the demands of such a distant market, as well as the perfect coordination with Volvo throughout the process. We have been able to win a tender in the United Arab Emirates, complying with all local regulations and with a fully customized design.
