MAN delivers milestone bus to returning Australian customer

For the second time in its history, MAN took part in the Australasia Bus & Coach Expo together with its local importer, Penske Australia & New Zealand, held this year in Sydney on July 15 and 16. Alongside the rolling chassis that form the core of the German commercial vehicle manufacturer’s bus business in the region, another attraction on the stand was the 70th bus built on MAN running gear for Fallons Bus Group, with bodywork produced by local company Coach Concepts, which specialises in long-distance and school buses.

In recent years, distant export markets have played an increasingly important role in the business strategy of MAN’s bus division. In these markets, the lion-badged brand is represented almost exclusively as a chassis manufacturer, working with experienced local bodybuilders, among which Thailand’s TopBest, Peru’s Modasa and Egypt’s Geyushi enjoy special, primary status as MAN Lead Bodybuilders. Under this arrangement, MAN recently delivered 311 luxury coaches to Thailand, while in May this year it took part as an exhibitor for the first time in its history at the Busworld Southeast Asia 2026 trade fair in Jakarta, Indonesia, presenting its chassis portfolio at the event. Australia is also among the target countries served with chassis; during its previous appearance at the Australasia Bus & Coach Expo in 2022, MAN unveiled the all-electric Lion’s Chassis E platform intended for markets outside Europe. At this year’s showcase, chassis once again took centre stage on the company’s booth, although a complete bus was also on display, marking a significant milestone for the brand’s presence in Australia: the 70th bus built on MAN running gear for the local operator Fallons Bus Group.

Founded in 1962 in the state of Victoria, Fallons Bus Group has based much of its operation since 2012 on buses built largely on MAN technology, covering scheduled services, charter work and school bus operations. The family business, currently run by the founder’s grandchildren, first gained favourable experience with the German group’s models by buying used MAN buses and later new ones, and according to local reports has remained loyal to them ever since. The newly delivered milestone vehicle is built on a two-axle MAN Lion’s Chassis IC (RR8) interurban rolling chassis, equipped with a 330 hp (243 kW) Euro 6 diesel engine, and will primarily be used as a school bus. MAN products are particularly popular in Australia’s school bus segment, where operators are placing increasing emphasis on driver assistance systems. Members of the Lion’s Chassis family come as standard with features including ABS, ASR, ESP, emergency brake assist, adaptive cruise control, and lane departure warning and lane keeping assist, combined, according to the manufacturer, with low operating costs. Luke Fallon, director of Fallon Bus Group — a role he shares with his two brothers, Brock and Heath — also highlighted modern safety equipment as one of the main attractions of MAN buses, alongside reliable running gear and the high level of manufacturer and distributor support provided through more than 60 authorised dealerships and service points.

The milestone bus’s body, narrower than is customary in Europe at just 2,500 mm wide, was built by the Australian company Coach Concepts, founded in 2004. The right-hand-drive vehicle, in line with local traffic regulations, features distinctively Australian styling cues such as a split windscreen, a very simple windowless rear panel and, of course, the sturdy kangaroo bar, which in Australia’s desert landscapes means far more than a simple design element.

„Australia and New Zealand are extremely important markets for our international bus business. Working together with Penske, we want to further strengthen our market position and expand our business activities in a region that promises huge growth opportunities in the years ahead” said Tom Kuiphuis, regional head of MAN Truck & Bus’s bus business in Australasia. Penske Australia has also recently received an order from local transport company Kinetic for 22 low-entry MAN Lion’s Chassis LE (RC2) rolling chassis, with deliveries expected in early 2027.

Cover image: MAN Truck & Bus/Penske Australia & New Zealand