BRAZIL: May 21, 2025: Volvo Buses Global’s Brazil division began commercial production of its 28-metre electric bus at its Curitiba manufacturing facility, which can accommodate nearly 250 passengers.
This bus is now ready for export to global Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems, which use dedicated bus lanes, off-board fare collection, and often use articulated buses to increase capacity.
Although this bus may not be introduced in India, several Indian transport authorities have designed BRT systems with shorter bus configurations. Currently, India has the Ahmedabad BRTS (Janmarg), which serves as the foundation of public transport in Ahmedabad.
The Pune Rainbow BRT is one of India’s first BRT systems, with 58 stations and a 43-kilometer network that serves Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad.
Additional BRT systems are being developed in several Indian cities, including Surat, Rajkot, Indore, and Bhopal, to meet rising urban transportation demands and alleviate traffic congestion.
Globally, such long BRT buses, as introduced by Volvo, can transport a passenger load comparable to that of a tube train, but at significantly lower implementation and operating costs, while maintaining zero emissions.
Regarding the 28-meter BRT bus, André Marques, President of Volvo Buses Latin America, stated that the start of production in Brazil represents a significant step forward in Volvo Buses’ commitment to providing sustainable transportation solutions.
He stated that the introduction of high-capacity electric buses is part of this initiative, and that customer interest and demand for this application have steadily increased since the Volvo BZRT’s debut. The Volvo BZRT is a fully electric bus powered by two 200kW motors totalling 400kW (540 horsepower). It features a two-speed automated transmission based on Volvo’s I-Shift. The chassis can hold up to eight batteries, with a total capacity of 720 kWh. The charging time varies from 2 to 4 hours, depending on the type and power of the charging station.
Alexandre Selski, Director of Electromobility at Volvo Buses Latin America, stated, “We have combined the characteristics of our well-known conventional articulated and bi-articulated buses with cutting-edge Volvo Group electric technology to ensure quality and dependability.”
The Volvo BZRT is outfitted with advanced active safety technologies, which are consistent with Volvo Buses’ vision of Zero Accidents for the future of its vehicles. These include cameras that can detect potentially dangerous situations that the driver may not notice, as well as front and side sensors in blind spots to protect pedestrians, cyclists, and other road users.
The model also includes traffic sign sensors, which provide alerts on the instrument panel when signs and speed limits are detected on the road.
A notable feature is Volvo Dynamic Steering (VDS), a system that provides exceptional steering precision, increasing vehicle stability and accuracy while reducing physical strain on the driver’s shoulders and arms.
