Mercedes-Benz to export coaches to Saudi Arabia

Mumbai: The buses and coaches unit of Mercedes-Benz  has received a major contract from SAPTCO (Saudi Arabian Public Transport) for 300 Mercedes-Benz Travego coaches, for an undisclosed amount.

The first 150 coaches will be delivered before the end of this year and the rest will be delivered at the beginning of 2009.

SAPTCO, the country's biggest bus operator will operate the Travego coaches for the first time in Saudi. Amid other duties, these ultra-modern, two-axle coaches will be used for journeys between the pilgrimage cities in Saudi Arabia. SAPTCO has a total fleet of 2,500 vehicles.

The Mercedes-Benz Travego is the top model in the Mercedes-Benz coach range and features outstanding safety, comfort and environmental compatibility. The coaches are powered by Mercedes-Benz OM 457 LA diesel engines, producing 310kW (422 bhp).

All the vehicles will be fitted with an uprated air conditioning system, with a 39kW cooling capacity, in order to cope with the extremely hot desert climate.

Mercedes-Benz, part of Daimler AG, is a  German manufacturer of luxury cars, buses, coaches, and trucks

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