Munich, Germany- MAN Truck & Bus SE., has achieved a major milestone in sustainable mobility with its largest eBus order outside Europe. The company has signed a contract with South Africa’s Paruk Group to deliver 100 fully electric city buses, based on the Lion’s Chassis E platform.
“This order marks a significant step in making urban transport cleaner, quieter, and safer worldwide,” said Barbaros Oktay, Head of Bus at MAN Truck & Bus. “It also underscores the strategic importance of our international chassis business. Together with the Paruk Group, we’re setting new standards for electric mobility on the African continent.”
The ordered Lion’s Explorer E models are designed specifically for international markets. While MAN produces complete buses in Europe, the global strategy emphasizes local completion by certified body manufacturers. In South Africa, however, both the chassis and body will be produced locally — the chassis at the Pinetown plant and the body at the Olifantsfontein facility.
This local production model will strengthen regional value creation and support the development of green manufacturing capabilities. The 12-meter Lion’s Explorer E features a high-floor design and four 80 kWh battery packs located under the floor between the axles. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2026 and conclude by the end of 2027.
“We’ve shared over 30 years of partnership and trust with MAN,” said Mohmed Paruk, owner of the Paruk Group, which operates one of the world’s largest MAN bus fleets. “Transitioning from diesel to electric is not just a technological shift it’s a commitment to sustainability. With MAN by our side, this evolution feels natural.”
With approximately 2,000 buses of which 1,500 are MAN vehicles the Paruk Group is a key player in South Africa’s transport sector.
Mr. Jan Aichinger, Managing Director of MAN Truck & Bus South Africa, said, “We are proud to not only bring MAN’s first eBuses to African roads but also to be the first manufacturer in South Africa’s automotive industry across both passenger and commercial vehicles to localize electric vehicle production.”
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