Volvo Buses, a global leader in sustainable mobility solutions, and Castrosua, a renowned bus body manufacturer, have formalized a strategic collaboration for the development, manufacturing, and commercialization of city buses in Spain. The final product will be the combination of the Volvo BZL Electric chassis and the Nelec body designed by Castrosua. This agreement reinforces both companies’ commitment to promoting sustainable mobility in cities.
The collaboration between Volvo Buses and Castrosua aims to enhance the energy efficiency, safety, and innovation of city buses, while reducing their environmental impact. This strategic partnership will enable both companies to combine their knowledge and capabilities to develop more advanced and sustainable public transport solutions.
This alliance will allow Volvo to continue transforming its business model in Spain, where it will focus on the urban segment with Castrosua. This alliance is based on the Volvo BZL model, focused on growth and the development of electromobility as a sustainable transport solution, continuing the transformation initiated by Volvo in Europe, where it will be carried out through other manufacturers.
“We are excited to join forces with Castrosua in this initiative,” says Jaime Verdú, General Manager of Volvo Buses in Spain. “Our shared vision of a future with cleaner and more efficient public transport has led us to this collaboration. Together, we will strive to provide mobility solutions that meet the highest standards in terms of quality, sustainability, and performance.”
Grupo Castrosua is one of the leading companies in body production in our country and is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. With its headquarters located in Santiago de Compostela, the company has extensive experience in the design and assembly of state-of-the-art bus bodies.
For her part, Beatriz Castro, CEO of Grupo Castrosua: “We are very pleased to announce our collaboration with Volvo Buses to manufacture electric buses, convinced that it will be a very interesting new offering for the market and, without a doubt, this agreement reinforces our objective of achieving valuable strategic alliances.”
Both companies will collaborate and share technical knowledge and resources to develop city buses, applying new technologies throughout the development, production, and proper functioning. These processes will involve collaboration in monitoring the quality of both products, audits, and the use of more environmentally sustainable methods, such as circularity and material recycling. The first vehicle for commercial activities and real-world operational testing will be completed in the second quarter of next year, and the first deliveries to transport operators can be made by the end of 2024.
The collaboration between Volvo Buses and Castrosua demonstrates a firm commitment to sustainability and intelligent mobility at a time when cities are seeking cleaner and more efficient transport solutions. This strategic alliance promises to bring about significant advancements in the public transport industry.
Volvo BZL Electric
The Volvo BZL is developed with the same technology as that used in the Volvo 7900 electric. Between the two models, there are already more than 1,000 fully electric Volvo units operating worldwide. With a length of 12 meters, configuration of up to 5 batteries, and a nominal capacity of 470 kWh, the Volvo BZL is a safe bet for operators. It features flexible and combined charging: opportunity charging and depot charging, adapting to the operational needs of each fleet. Volvo Buses offers its commitment to available energy, studying and guaranteeing the achievement of routes for operators.
Nelec Bodywork
The Nelec stands out for its environmental responsibility, as in addition to the electric chassis, it incorporates other measures such as greater energy efficiency and weight reduction. Furthermore, its renowned design and the careful detail of the entire driver’s area also contribute to giving the Nelec a unique personality and complementing sustainable mobility solutions adapted to today’s reality, while also being agilely configurable to market requirements.
