News 2026

Over the coming years, Daimler Buses plans to invest up to €200 million in its Europe‑wide, bus‑specific service network – more than ever before. With more than 630 locations, including 36 company‑owned service centers, the manufacturer already operates the densest bus-specific service network in Europe. Through new service locations, the modernization of existing facilities, and an expanded portfolio – particularly for charging infrastructure – the company aims to further strengthen its leading position in bus services.

Daimler Buses expects growing customer interest in both the setup and operation of e‑infrastructure from a single source. The manufacturer already offers such solutions and is systematically expanding its portfolio: new additions include a dedicated hotline and a specialized team exclusively for charging‑station services – initially in Germany and, over the next few years, also in numerous other European countries. The company sees significant potential in the infrastructure business. Till Oberwörder announced this today during a press briefing held on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of Daimler Buses’ service brand OMNIplus. Another important growth area identified by the manufacturer is digital services and connectivity.

Till Oberwörder, CEO Daimler Buses: “Service makes the difference! Buses only earn money when they are in operation. To ensure this, our customers need a partner who supports them from vehicle selection and the right infrastructure through to fast and reliable maintenance. The same applies to charging stations: if they fail, operations come to a standstill. Daimler Buses is therefore becoming a provider of service ecosystems, enabling companies to focus fully on their core business. This is exactly what sets us apart from others in our competitive environment.”

Daimler Buses also announced today that it will soon send its first battery‑electric coach on test drives as a technology carrier, the “eCoach”. It is based on the conventionally powered Setra 516 HD model. The project, which is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, contributes to the company’s e‑roadmap.* The manufacturer has been offering the Mercedes‑Benz eCitaro electric city bus since 2018 and will launch the battery‑electric interurban bus Mercedes‑Benz eIntouro on the market starting this year. The eIntouro is also suitable for shorter trips, shuttle services, excursion traffic, or school bus operations. These currently represent the most practical use cases for electric buses outside urban public transport. Daimler Buses plans to offer battery‑electric and, at a later stage, fuel‑cell‑powered coaches by the end of the decade, but continues to see insufficient charging and hydrogen infrastructure for long‑distance operations. At the end of 2025, Daimler Buses announced plans to also install public charging stations at tourist hotspots and major transport hubs, including Munich and Cologne. With this initiative, the manufacturer aims to provide an important impulse to the market.

The charging‑station hotline is available in eight languages and is designed to resolve around 85 percent of cases via remote access. The service team supporting the hotline in Germany operates nationwide and consists of trained electrical specialists for on‑site deployments. Daimler Buses also installs its own charging stations directly at its customers’ bus depots, thereby becoming the operator of charging parks within customer depots – a model referred to as Charging‑as‑a‑Service.

Daimler Buses has been relying on vehicle connectivity since as early as 2017. Today, around 50,000 Daimler Buses vehicles across Europe are connected. The manufacturer now equips all new vehicles with the required technology, enabling buses to send and receive data at the customer’s request. Daimler Buses will be the first manufacturer in Europe to introduce over‑the‑air updates this year, allowing vehicles to receive software updates without a workshop visit. In addition, the company offers services such as monitoring wear parts, vehicle tracking, and analyzing consumption data as part of fleet management services. Digitalization plays an even more important role for battery‑electric buses, as it enables optimal control of charging processes and the most efficient route planning. Daimler Buses has designed the software architecture of its buses to log vehicle access and prevent any external remote control. All data is processed in accordance with European security and data‑protection standards.

For 30 years, Daimler Buses’ service brand OMNIplus has bundled all service and digital offerings for bus operators. Today, the network comprises more than 630 service locations across Europe, including over 130 specialized e‑bus sites with certified high‑voltage experts. With the new sub‑brand OMNIplus Charge, Daimler Buses, together with the experts from its wholly owned subsidiary Daimler Buses Solutions, also provides all services related to charging and hydrogen infrastructure from a single source – ranging from feasibility studies to turnkey implementation. Since its launch, more than 70 projects have already been secured.

In 2025, Daimler Buses successfully defended its market leadership in its most important core markets in Europe, Brazil and Mexico. The segment sold around 27,000 units worldwide, representing an increase of 2 percent compared with the previous year. In addition, Daimler Buses increased its revenue by 14 percent to around €6 billion. The company also achieved an adjusted return on sales of 10 percent (prior year: 8.3 percent). These results were driven by strong demand and the consistent implementation of efficiency measures.