Auto-Technology company in partnership with Porsche Ukraine starts producing buses on basis of Volkswagen Crafter

Rivne-based Auto-Technology, the core business of which is re-equipping Mercedes and Volkswagen all-metal vans into passenger buses, has started producing 22-seat SIRIUS buses and 19-seat ALTAIR buses in cooperation with the official importer of Volkswagen in Ukraine - Porsche Ukraine.

Porsche Ukraine Director Eduard Diachenko said at a press conference on Tuesday that the company has been working for two years to design the buses and select partners to produce them as a part of plans to expand its commercial vehicle production range.

Commenting on the goals of supplying the buses to the market, Diachenko said that the main reason was the ban from January 1, 2012 on exploiting buses that were re-equipped from vans.

"Now there are many vehicles on the market that were re-equipped 10-15 years ago, including those imported from Germany, and they are not in line with modern requirements. Many companies are thinking of re-equipping of their fleet, and I'm sure that there will be buyers for the buses," he said.

Auto-Technology Director Anatoliy Yaskovets said that the company has carried out all of the required arrangements, taking into account the planned amendments to Ukrainian law, and has certified its products.

"We can say that this is bus production similar to that at LAZ of Bogdan [plants]," Yaskovets said.