The Lion’s Coach E, MAN’s first fully electric coach, debuts at Busworld Europe 2025 with NMC batteries, Smart Flow Design, and advanced safety tech.
Production Set to Begin in 2026
MAN Truck & Bus unveiled the Lion’s Coach E, the first fully electric coach produced by a major European manufacturer, at Busworld Europe 2025 in Brussels, Belgium, which runs from 4 to 9 October.
The debut marked an important step in MAN‘s strategy to electrify long-distance coach travel and built on the success of the Lion’s City E urban bus family, which has seen nearly 3,000 units produced since 2019. According to MAN’s official statement, production is set to begin in 2026 at the company’s Ankara plant.
“Our eCoach heralds a new era of emission-free and low-noise travel that many customers have been waiting for. We are delighted to be at the forefront of this development and to be putting such a dynamic and innovative bus on the road,” said Barbaros Oktay, Head of Bus at MAN Truck & Bus.
The Lion’s Coach E is designed for zero-emission operation on short and medium-distance routes. It is equipped with four to six NMC lithium battery packs produced at MAN‘s Nuremberg facility. With usable energy capacity ranging from 320 to 480 kWh, the coach offers a range of up to 650 kilometres under optimal conditions and can carry up to 63 passengers without compromising luggage space.
The launch of the Lion’s Coach E is part of MAN‘s broader electrification strategy, which began in 2019 and had previously been spearheaded by the Lion’s City E. In the first half of 2025, electric models accounted for more than half of the German company’s European city bus sales, underlining growing demand for battery-electric solutions in the public transport segment.
MAN Lion’s Coach E adopts the new “Smart Flow Design”, aimed at optimising aerodynamics through a reworked front end, sculpted rear section, and refined detailing. Power comes from MAN’s eCD330 synchronous motor, delivering 330 kWh and up to 20,000 Nm of torque through a four-speed TipMatic gearbox.
Meanwhile, the interior features a fully digitised “driver-oriented” cockpit, which provides clear information about range, energy consumption, recuperation and battery status at all times via MAN SmartSelect.
For safety measures, the coach is fully European GSR B Directive 2024 compliant and equipped with the latest EBA+ emergency brake assist with pedestrian detection, including AttentionGuard, active Lane Return Assist, and speed limit recognition. A new feature called MAN SafeStop Assist has also been introduced. This is based on the active intervention system recognising when the driver is no longer able to act.
To support the transition to eMobility, MAN is offering consulting services covering fleet planning, charging infrastructure, and digital fleet management tools. It is also part of the Milence joint venture with Daimler Truck and Volvo Group, which aims to install over 1,700 high-power charging stations across Europe.
