Steyr know-how to Bulgaria
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STEYR-DAIMLER-PUCH, of Austria, is looking east for new activities in the passenger service vehicle sector. The company recently signed a licensing agreement with Balkancar, of Plovdiv, Bulgaria, which will enable this manufacturing group to add the Steyr Transit Bus family of three models (introduced in 1982 as the "Austria Bus") to its production programme.
The agreement anticipates the manufacture of up to 3,000 vehicles a year for use in Bulgaria as well as for export to other Comecon countries and certain overseas markets.
Balkancar, which employs about 45,000 workers, is also a major producer of diesel engines and motor vehicle components. It is the world's largest producer of forklift trucks.
In a separate contract with Steyr, Balkancar has acquired additional know-how to be used in the production of a new monobloc engine which is to be made in Bulgaria using components sourced from Austria.
Production of the new Transit Bus — which in the original Austrian version has a rearmounted underfloor diesel engine originally developed for military use — is to start in Bulgaria in about 18 months.
The influence of Steyr power unit engineering is also spreading to other European psv builders. Early last year an Austrian coach operator specified a Steyr engine in a Neoplan Jetliner. Performance of the 290kW (280bhp) engine in the 12m vehicle, with an average fuel consumption of 27,81/100km (10.1mpg), encouraged Neoplan to build another 10 vehicles powered by the Steyr WD -615.67 turbocharged and intercooled 9.7 litre engine and these are now in use in Germany and Austria.
Joint marketing plans by Neoplan and Steyr expect between 50 and '100 coaches to be delivered to European customers this year, fitted with the Austrian-made power unit.