SOLARIS BUS & COACH: WELCOME TO BERLIN!

On Friday, June 17, 2005, on the Olympic Square in Berlin, the ignition keys for the new Solaris Urbino 18 buses were handed over, adjoined by a ceremony, to the Berlin Municipal Transportation Company (BVG). This symbolic

act accompanied the official introduction of the first of a total of 130 articulated buses of the Polish manufacturer into the BVG fleet. The new owner gave the buses a warm welcome and introduced them to the public.

Until the end of the year, Solaris Bus & Coach will have delivered 130 of the 18 meter long single-deck buses of the Urbino type to the Berlin Municipal Transportation Company (BVG). This has so far been the largest lot of buses ever produced by the Polish manufacturer for the German market. Solaris Bus & Coach has meanwhile become the prevailing foreign supplier of buses in Germany.

The BVG's submission for 130 articulated buses, won in fall 2004, had been the most spectacular success of the previous year for the family-operated company from Bolechowo near Poznań. BVG's submission had been the largest throughout Europe in 2004, being conducted anonymously for the first time. Speaking in favor of Solaris were the high quality of the buses, their readiness for action (between 99 and 100 percent), their economy of operation, and the competitive price.

The Solaris buses to be manufactured within the scope of the BVG order will be equipped with the "Berlin package". This standard equipment includes, among other items, air conditioning, a CTR particle filter, two manually operated ramps on the first and second entrance, a refrigerator for the driver, an electronic video surveillance system for the passenger compartment and a passenger information system. Also, among other technical innovation, in these vehicles, the EU 2001/85/EG guideline was converted. In addition, two buses are equipped with partially glas-screened partitions of the driver's compartment for the safety of the bus drivers. This technical innovation will now be tested by the BVG coworkers.

"We're taking on new means with the production of those articulated buses for BVG. This has been a big step in the development of our enterprise" - says Krzysztof Olszewski, president of Solaris Bus & Coach. -"Another challenge of this order have also been certain innovative construction features in the Urbino which we simply wanted to offer the Berliners. With the BVG, we have always had a good partner at our side. It seems to me that the result of our efforts has turned out quite well" - comments Krzysztof Olszewski.

Solaris Bus & Coach in Berlin and throughout Germany

The cooperation between Solaris Bus & Coach and the BVG has been in effect since the year 2000. The BVG had been the first purchaser of Solaris-made buses within the former European Union. So far, 25 buses of the Polish manufacturer had been in operation with the BVG. The Solaris buses have successfully passed their test on the streets of Berlin and have convinced the BVG personnell of their high quality.

German transportation companies are now making up the largest part of the list of customers of Solaris Bus & Coach abroad. According to the bus manufacturer's current orders, by the end of this year, a total of 290 Solaris-made buses will carry passengers of the 35 customers from all over Germany.

And new customers are constantly being added to the list. Over the recent weeks, three new customers joined the ranks. Before this year is over, Solaris Bus & Coach will have shipped 21 buses Solaris Urbino 12 to "Rheinbahn" in Düsseldorf, 10 buses Solaris Urbino 18 to "Bremer Straßenbahn AG", and another two Solaris Urbino 12 to "Faszinatour" in Wies.

"Every new customer is very important for us, and we're aiming at satisfying each and every customer on an equally high level. We hope that ever more transportation companies in Germnay will become convinced of our products, resulting in a chance for cooperation.

In Poland, Solaris Bus & Coach has long become the undisputed market leader among the manufacturers of city buses. In the low-floor and low-entry segment, the company has succeeded in reaching a 50 percent market share in the year 2004. Last year, Solaris Bus & Coach has been able to record a tripling in profits and a doubling of the exports quota, ranking this company among the largest Polish exporters. The most important purchasers of Solaris products were Germany (110 buses), Latvia (81 buses), Switzerland (42 buses), the Czech Republic (30 buses), Lithuania (30 buses), and Italy (26 buses).