Our Magnus.H is celebrating: this month marks one year since its official launch. It is our youngest model and, why not say it, also one of the most special for us. Today it is fully established within the Castrosua family, but a year ago it was a great novelty.
The company Soler i Sauret was the first of our clients to trust this model. We delivered the prototype unit to them in December 2018.
However, commercial relations between Castrosua and Soler i Sauret go back a long way. Specifically, to 1994. Since then, more than 90 vehicles have passed through their fleet bearing the Castrosua signature.
Today we chat with Joan Soler, the company’s CEO, to ask him some questions about the Magnus.H and his position as a benchmark company in collective passenger transport.
Magnus.H and the commitment to hybrid technology
Soler i Sauret was the first company to trust the Magnus.H, acquiring the prototype unit in December 2018. As a client, do you remember what Soler i Sauret’s first impression of this new vehicle was?
Very positive. The design of the bodywork, both exterior and interior, is very attractive. The finishes and materials used are, as always, of high quality. The integration with the Scania chassis is very well achieved, even the roof section where the energy accumulators are housed.
What prompted you to opt for a hybrid technology vehicle? How has the reception been among drivers and users towards this type of vehicle?
We already had some experience with vehicles with this technology for urban use, with very good results. Based on this, we decided to start introducing this technology in metropolitan services.
Since then, how has your experience with the Magnus.H been? What aspects would you highlight about this model?
Very good. It is a hybrid vehicle that adapts very well to the service it provides, with a low-entry accessibility solution and parallel hybrid traction. Both are simple and efficient proposals.
Do you plan to acquire more Magnus.H vehicles?
It is possible. The environmentalization of our fleet is an objective we have as a company within our commitment to sustainability, and this vehicle adapts very well. Likewise, it is a product of proven quality, both the bodywork and the chassis, and with a simple and efficient proposal that facilitates our operational tasks. In the next tenders we will carry out for fleet acquisition, this model will be a strong candidate.
The relationship with Castrosua and the role of Soler i Sauret in the collective passenger transport sector
In 1994, commercial relations with Castrosua began, with a total of 93 units sold since then. How has this relationship evolved since then? Could you comment on that first CS40 City that became part of the Soler i Sauret fleet?
It was a vehicle that marked a change. It was a SCANIA chassis with an automatic gearbox, air suspension, and other improvements that offered a significant leap in performance. The bodywork provided an added quality in terms of finishes and design.
What actions are, and have been in recent years, part of Soler i Sauret’s commitment to innovation for sustainable and safe mobility?
For years, we have been committed to innovation as a factor of competitive advantage, both in internal aspects of organization and procedures, and in service improvements in various areas such as communication. Many of these innovations have been developed in collaborative projects with various suppliers and have become a sector standard.
The latest project, already in the implementation phase, will allow us to inform users about the occupancy level of a journey in real time, so they can improve their choice and planning of the route they intend to take. In terms of safety, we introduced a driving monitoring system years ago, thus helping drivers to drive more efficiently and safely.
Finally, sustainability has also been a clear objective with the incorporation of less polluting fleet, electric auxiliary vehicles, and environmental management systems.
Finally, Soler i Sauret was founded in 1925. From the perspective of a company with almost a century of history and so important for collective passenger transport, what milestones, since then, do you believe have been the most decisive for the sector? How do you see the future of the bus sector?
Each era has had its significant changes. The future of the bus sector, like all sectors, has good opportunities that we will have to know how to materialize. Mobility is one of the great challenges and one of the great debates of the coming decades, in an economic environment with limited public investment capacity. In this context, bus services will play a fundamental role.
