MAN Truck & Bus marked its debut at Busworld Southeast Asia 2026 in Jakarta, showcasing its premium bus chassis solutions as part of its strategy to expand its presence in international markets. Held from May 20 to 22, the exhibition featured the MAN Lion’s Chassis CO (RR4) alongside a double-decker bus built on the platform for the Indonesian market.
“The vehicle is an excellent example of the successful synergy between MAN technology and local bodybuilding expertise,” said Robert Katzer, Head of Sales & Product Bus at MAN Truck & Bus. Through its first appearance at one of Southeast Asia’s leading bus industry exhibitions, MAN aims to strengthen its position in Indonesia and the broader ASEAN region.
International Growth Through a Chassis-Body Strategy
Unlike its European operations, where it manufactures and sells complete buses, MAN focuses on supplying chassis for international markets. These chassis are then converted into market-specific bus solutions by certified local bodybuilders.
“This allows us to respond flexibly to varying regional requirements and customer needs while simultaneously expanding our presence in emerging markets worldwide,” Katzer explained.
This chassis-body approach enables MAN to leverage local expertise while offering globally proven engineering tailored to the unique requirements of each market.
Indonesia: A Key Growth Market
Indonesia represents one of Southeast Asia’s most significant growth markets for buses and passenger transport. Ongoing investments in transport infrastructure, rising mobility needs, and a growing tourism sector are driving demand for modern, reliable, and durable bus solutions. At the same time, operators are placing greater emphasis on safety, efficiency, and passenger comfort.
“Our debut at Busworld Southeast Asia is an important step towards sustainably strengthening our bus business in the region. With our proven range of chassis and strong local partners, we are ideally positioned to meet the growing demand for high-quality bus solutions in Indonesia,” Katzer added.
MAN also intends to further strengthen its presence in the local bus segment through its partnership with Inframach. While Inframach has been a long-standing partner for MAN’s truck business, the exhibition marked a significant milestone in expanding the collaboration into the bus segment.
Versatile Chassis for Diverse Applications
The highlight of MAN’s display was the three-axle Lion’s Chassis CO (RR4), a versatile platform designed to support a wide variety of bus body configurations. Suitable for applications ranging from long-distance and tourism coaches to premium passenger transport, the chassis offers flexibility to meet diverse operational requirements.
“The Lion’s Chassis CO is designed to support a wide range of bus body types. It offers a flexible foundation for configurations tailored to local operating conditions and specific customer requirements, with a particular focus on advanced safety features for passengers and drivers,” said Roland Kopp, Program Lead Bus Chassis at MAN Truck & Bus.
The exhibition also showcased a market-ready double-decker bus built on the MAN RR4 chassis by New Armada, one of Indonesia’s leading bus body manufacturers. With double-decker buses becoming increasingly common on the country’s long-distance routes, the vehicle demonstrated how MAN’s engineering capabilities can be successfully combined with local manufacturing expertise.
“The collaboration with Inframach and New Armada demonstrates how our engineering expertise and local body-building capabilities can work together. This is exactly the kind of partnership that will help us grow internationally,” Kopp concluded