Konsortium E-Mutiara Berhad (E-Mutiara), one of Malaysia’s leading express bus operators, is upgrading its fleet with brand-new, double-deck coaches built on premium Euro V MAN RR5 26.440 chassis.
E-Mutiara Embraces German Engineering with New-Gen MAN Coaches
The company has placed an order for 55 double-deck and 12 single-deck coaches from MAN, selecting the brand as a trusted partner to support its growing operational needs and ambitions for innovation, safety, and comfort for both passengers and drivers.
Recently, the first batch of 10 new 42-seater, 13.5-metre-long MAN double-deck coaches with lightweight aluminium bodies by Gemilang Coachwork Sdn Bhd was officially handed over by MAN Truck & Bus (M) Sdn Bhd at a ceremony in Johor Bahru. Representing MAN were Anvar Kasimov, Head of Bus, and Philip Walton, Finance Director.
Designed with technology and safety in mind, the new MAN coaches feature Telematics, a Fleet Management System, and a speed limiter set to 90 km/h. They are also equipped with advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), including Electronic Braking Assistance (EBA), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), and Cruise Control as standard.
In a move to improve operational efficiency, E-Mutiara has also added 10-inch dashboard-mounted tablets. These allow the company to digitalise, upload, and update the pre-departure checklist and passenger manifest, eliminating paper and the need for manual sign-off by supervisors at every designation.
Speaking at the handover, Managing Director Naemah Ya’acob emphasised the company’s commitment to quality and uptime.
“Our decision to go with MAN—our first brand switch in 15 years—reflects our confidence in the brand’s ability to grow with us to the next level. We have always believed in the quality and durability of German engineering, and the new generation of MAN vehicles is technologically advanced, with a high level of digitalisation in their back-end operations.”
She also highlighted the financial benefits of MAN’s Service and Repair contract, which offers predictable operating costs. “It lets us focus entirely on running our business without worrying about surprise repair bills. The fixed cost per kilometre helps us better manage our cash flow.”
With its newly acquired Euro V coaches, E-Mutiara is preparing to roll out a range of innovative express bus services aimed at transforming the passenger travel experience. The company currently operates routes including Kota Bharu–Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh–Singapore, and Kuala Perlis–Singapore, with plans to expand beyond Peninsular Malaysia by year-end.
Following the positive market reception to its premium Mutiara Luxe service, E-Mutiara aims to introduce further ground-breaking new features to capture a bigger slice of the premium executive coach segment.
“Even as we do so, we will continue to ensure that E-Mutiara plays its part in providing affordable, safe, comfortable, and timely economy express bus services to the public—like we have done for the past three decades. We believe travel should be something to look forward to, not endure,” said Naemah.
