Neoplan

2025-09-17T14:39:11Z

2A02:2F0E:D909:6900:B9C7:336F:5EF7:1911:

{{Short description|German bus and coach manufacturer}}
{{For|the defunct North American Neoplan licensee of 1981 to 2006|Neoplan USA}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{More citations needed|date=February 2008}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Neoplan Bus GmbH
| logo = Logo Neoplan.svg
| type = [[Division (business)|Division]]
| predecessor =
| successor =
| founded = {{start date and age|1935|07|01}}<ref name=NeoplanLocations>{{cite web|title=Locations – The plants of Neoplan Bus GmbH|url=http://www.neoplan.de/en/The_fascination_of_NEOPLAN/Locations/Locations.jsp|work=MAN Nutzfahrzeuge Group|publisher=neoplan.de|access-date=24 November 2009}}</ref><ref name=Neoplan35-53>{{cite web|title=Milestones – History from 1935 to 1953|url=http://www.neoplan.de/en/The_fascination_of_NEOPLAN/History/Milestones/1935_to_1953.jsp|work=MAN Nutzfahrzeuge Group|publisher=neoplan.de|access-date=24 November 2009 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080514155630/http://www.neoplan.de/en/The_fascination_of_NEOPLAN/History/Milestones/1935_to_1953.jsp |archive-date = 14 May 2008}}</ref>
| founder = {{ill|Gottlob Auwärter|de}}<ref name=NeoplanLocations/>
| location = [[Stuttgart]], Germany<ref name=NeoplanLocations/>
| locations =
| key_people = Joachim Reinmuth ([[chairman]] of the board of management)<br />former designers: Albrecht Auwärter, Bob Lee, Konrad Auwärter
| industry = [[automotive industry|Automotive]]
| products = Buses<br />[[coach (vehicle)|Coaches]]<br />[[Trolleybus]]es<ref name=products/>
| area_served = Worldwide
| revenue =
| operating_income =
| net_income =
| aum =
| assets =
| equity =
| num_employees = 1,300
| parent = [[MAN Truck & Bus SE]]
| divisions =
| homepage = {{official website|https://www.neoplan.com/|neoplan.com}}
| footnotes =
}}

'''Neoplan Bus GmbH''' is a German [[automotive industry|automotive]] company that [[bus manufacturing|manufactures buses]], [[trolleybus]]es and [[coach (vehicle)|coaches]]. It became a [[subsidiary]] of [[MAN Truck & Bus SE]] in 2001.
[[File:Co Bus airport bus (cropped).jpg|thumb|Neoplan Airport bus]]

==History==
===Early days===
[[File:NeoplanSkyliner.jpg|thumb|[[Trathens Travel Services]], [[Plymouth]] 1983 [[Neoplan Skyliner]]]]
[[File:Neoplan Doppelstockbus Viernheim 100 3625.jpg|thumb|[[Neoplan Skyliner]] in February 2006]]
[[File:DXB on 23 September 2007 Pict 6.jpg|right|thumb|Neoplan Airliner at [[Dubai International Airport]], 2007]]
[[File:Stagecoach Oxfordshire 50123 OX04 BZS.JPG|right|thumb|[[Stagecoach Oxfordshire]] [[Neoplan Skyliner]] in June 2009]]
[[File:JR Bus Kanto Neoplan Megaliner.jpg|right|thumb|[[Neoplan Megaliner]] in Japan]]
The company was founded by {{ill|Gottlob Auwärter|de}} (1903–1993) in [[Stuttgart]] in 1935, and manufactured [[coachwork|bodywork]] for [[bus]] and [[truck]] [[chassis]]. By 1953, the company had moved away from manufacturing buses on truck chassis, to a partial [[monocoque]] design with a steel tube skeleton, providing the structural support, enhanced by welded side panels.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Weiers|first=B.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JqceAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA101|title=Transit Bus Manufacturer Profiles: Project Memorandum|date=1982|publisher=Urban Mass Transportation Administration, Office of Bus and Paratransit Systems|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Behling|first=Noriko Hikosaka|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=V4CF1ji4Z2gC&pg=PA455|title=Fuel Cells: Current Technology Challenges and Future Research Needs|date=2013|publisher=Newnes|isbn=978-0-444-56325-5|language=en}}</ref> The engine was moved to the [[rear-engine design|rear]]. In 1957, [[air suspension]] was made available.

===1960s===
In 1961, a new bus design, the ''Typ Hamburg'', was unveiled at the [[Geneva Motor Show]]. Developed by the founder's eldest son, Albrecht Auwärter, and another student, Swiss national Bob Lee, as part of their dissertation at [[Hamburg University]]. The design was the first bus to allow passengers to regulate their fresh air supply through a nozzle from two air ducts, commonly seen in contemporary designs, as well as offering air suspension.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|last1=Pilz|first1=Hans-Joachim|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dXN7zQEACAAJ|title=Auwärter NEOPLAN Omnibusse|last2=Schneider|first2=Andreas|date=2020-06-10|publisher=Podszun GmbH|isbn=978-3-86133-962-5|language=de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last1=Kraus|first1=Wolfgang|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8sSZCAAAQBAJ&pg=PA69|title=Nutzfahrzeuge Gestern - Heute - Morgen: Automobil Kolloquium 2013 Dokumentation|last2=Eckermann|first2=Erik|date=2015|publisher=BoD – Books on Demand|isbn=978-3-7347-8786-7|language=de}}</ref>

Both Albrecht and Lee joined Neoplan after graduating from university. Albrecht took over management of the company in 1965, and Bob Lee later became head of Engineering and Design.

In 1964, the founder's second son, Konrad Auwärter, developed a [[double-decker bus|double-deck bus design]] for a service bus as part of his dissertation.<ref name=":1" /> The "Do-Bus" design had low weight, and could carry over 100 passengers. It also featured a low-frame front [[axle]] with forward-mounted [[steering]] gear that permitted a low, flat floor. The double-deck principle was applied to the coach design, creating a high-capacity, comfortable touring vehicle. This vehicle was known as the [[Neoplan Skyliner|Skyliner]].

===1970s–1980s===
In 1971, the Cityliner was introduced to the public. This design had a passenger platform above the driver's cab, and included an onboard toilet. The vehicle also made use of [[glass-reinforced plastic|glass-fibre reinforced plastic]] for certain areas of the body; this was the first instance when this technique was used.

A second manufacturing facility opened in [[Pilsting]] in 1973, and a third opened in [[Kumasi]], Ghana in December 1974 to support increasing orders.

Several more plants were added in the 1980s, including two in the United States. The United States plants were later spun off into a separate, and now defunct, independent company ([[Neoplan USA]]) that used the Neoplan name under licence. Chinese production started in 1986, originally producing North brand Neoplan buses via companies under the [[Norinco]] umbrella: this was spun off into a separate joint venture with [[Youngman]].<ref>{{cite web |title=60 North Buses to Be Delivered to Shanghai City |url=https://m.chinabuses.org/news/6300.html |website=China Buses |access-date=5 December 2024}}</ref>

===1990s-2000s===
Further manufacturing facilities were opened during the 1990s and 2000s.

The Starliner was introduced in 1996, and would go on to win the ''[[Bus & Coach of the Year|Bus of the Year]]'' award for two consecutive years – in 1998 and 1999.

In 1999 the company unveiled a prototype fuel cell bus.<ref name=":0" />
[[File:2022, Neoplan Tourliner, Samos island, Greece.jpg|alt=Neoplan Tourliner (Samos island, Greece)|thumb|Neoplan Tourliner (Samos island, Greece) in August 2022]]
In 2001, Neoplan, or correctly, "Gottlob Auwärter GmbH & Co KG" was acquired by [[MAN SE|MAN AG]] subsidiary [[MAN Truck & Bus|MAN Nutzfahrzeuge AG]] to form [[Neoman Bus]] GmbH.<ref name=":0" /> The Starliner won the ''Bus of the Year'' award for two more consecutive years in 2001 and 2002.

In 2008, the [https://www.auwaerter-museum.de/ Gottlob Auwärter Museum] was opened in Stuttgart, opposite the headquarters of [[Stuttgarter Straßenbahnen|Stuttgarter Straßenbahnen AG]].

On 1 February 2008, Neoman Bus GmbH was fully integrated into the bus division of the larger MAN Nutzfahrzeuge Group, and ceased to exist in its own right. Neoplan and [[MAN Truck & Bus]] began operating as two separate but integrated marques of MAN Nutzfahrzeuge Group.

==Products==
=== Buses ===
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* Cityliner
* Electroliner<ref name=products/><ref name=Electroliner>{{cite web|title=Neoplan Electroliner|url=http://www.neoplan.de/datapool/mediapool/800/Electroliner_engl.pdf|work=MAN Nutzfahrzeuge AG|publisher=neoplan.de|access-date=30 November 2009 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061211120120/http://www.neoplan.de/datapool/mediapool/800/Electroliner_engl.pdf |archive-date = 11 December 2006}}</ref> (electric trolleybus)
* Neoplan Airliner<ref name=products/><ref name=Airliner>{{cite web|title=Neoplan Airliner|url=http://www.neoplan.de/datapool/mediapool/400/5827_Br_Flughafen_EN_sc.pdf|work=MAN Nutzfahrzeuge AG|publisher=neoplan.de|date=September 2007|access-date=30 November 2009}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> ([[Airport_bus#Airside_transfer|airport apron bus]], 1960–present)
* [[Neoplan Skyliner|Skyliner]]
* Tourliner
{{div col end}}

=== Discontinued models ===
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
*[[Neoplan Centroliner|Centroliner]] ([[low-floor bus]]; 1997–2009)<ref name=products>{{cite web|title=Neoplan overview|url=http://www.neoplan.de/datapool/mediapool/200/14422_Uebers-Poster_EN.pdf|work=MAN Nutzfahrzeuge AG|publisher=neoplan.de|date =|access-date=29 November 2009}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref><ref name=Centroliner>{{cite web|title=Neoplan Centroliner|url=http://www.neoplan.de/datapool/mediapool/100/CENTROLINER_ENG_.pdf|work=MAN Nutzfahrzeuge AG|publisher=neoplan.de|date= |access-date=30 November 2009}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>
* Typ Hamburg (1961)
* [[Neoplan Megaliner|Megaliner]]
* [[Neoplan Jumbocruiser|Jumbocruiser]]
* Cityliner (1971)
* Jetliner (1973)
* Spaceliner
* Skyliner 67 (1965)
* Metroliner
* Starliner C/L
*[[Neoplan Transliner|Transliner]]
* Trendliner
* Tropicliner
* Euroliner
* Megashuttle
{{div col end}}

==See also==
{{Portal|Buses|Germany}}
*[[Neoplan USA]], defunct US subsidiary
*[[2013 Podgorica bus crash]]
*[[Langenbruck bus crash]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{commons-inline}}

{{MAN Truck & Bus|state=autocollapse}}
{{Neoplan}}
{{Automotive industry in Germany}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Neoplan| ]]
[[Category:Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1935]]
[[Category:Bus manufacturers of Germany]]
[[Category:Trolleybus manufacturers]]
[[Category:German brands]]
[[Category:MAN SE]]
[[Category:1935 establishments in Germany]]

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