After the first Busworld exhibition was organized in Kortrijk, Belgium in 1971, it achieved an international recognition by the bus and coach industry. Today it is the oldest, the biggest and most respected trade show in the industry. The first Turkish edition took place in 2007 and stayed for a total six editions in Istanbul. After having organised the seventh edition in Izmir in 2018, the Busworld team decided to go back to its roots in Istanbul in 2020.
 

Exhibitors
 

During the last edition in 2018, the exhibition hosted 112 companies of which 83 were local and 29 were from abroad, coming from 16 different countries. The show was visited by 10,040 professional visitors from 107 countries in total, along with 39 media partners.
 

Today, the exhibition counts 114 companies. Bus, coach and mini bus builders Anadolu Isuzu, Karsan, Otokar, Bur-Can, Can Can, Erduman and Karadağ will showcase their latest creations on a surface of 6868 sqm.
 

Isuzu will bring the Citiport 18, the Citiport 12 CNG, the Novociti Volt, Novo Lux and Turquoise. The Citiport 18 is the big brother of Citiport family, it offers a highly functional public transportation tool with a capacity of up to 155 passengers. Citiport 12 CNG is available with a Cummins engine and a ZF Ecolife full automatic transmission is offered as standard. Novociti Volt is an all-electric midibus based on the diesel Novociti Life. Anadolu Isuzu’s trusted medium-size coach Turquoise combining the advantages of a minibus and a full-size coach in a smart “midi” concept. Novo Lux offers a seat and luggage capacity for up to 29 passengers.
 

Karsan is clearly focusing on zero emission vehicles nowadays. Therefore at Busworld they will present two zero emission buses: its six meter bus Jest Electric and its eight meter bus Atak Electric. Since the Jest Electric was launched in November 2018, 68 units were sold in eight countries. The Atak Electric was launched in June last year and already 18 units have been sold. Karsan confirmed they will keep working on its zero emission vehicles and they are very proud of the results.
 

The exhibitor list contains nothing less than 40 new exhibitors coming from Turkey, China, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Taiwan. One of them is Makersan, a Turkish company that will present a single key solution at Busworld: one key will open doors, luggage flaps, engine compartments, toilet doors, small containers, glove compartment, etc. They are the global supplier of large OEM’s like Daimler, Mercedes, MAN, Irizar, Iveco, Volvo and other brands.

All the different products they offer must have the same standard quality to keep up with the demands of their OEM customers. After a first time participation to Busworld Turkey in 2008, they continued exhibiting at Busworld exhibitions around the world. 12 years later they decided to come back to Busworld Turkey 2020.
 

Busworld Academy congress
 

For the fourth time a Busworld Academy Congress is being organised concurrent with Busworld Turkey. On Thursday 5 and Friday 6 March visitors can attend a range of different seminars. The overall theme will be: ‘Sustainable Bus Systems for Smart Cities’. The population that lives in cities is increasing on a daily basis. Projections estimate that by 2050 seventy percent of the world population will live in cities. This forecast reveals the need for better mobility within those cities: reducing traffic-related air and noise pollution, congestion and accidents by implementing digital tools and alternative fuels. The best way to realize such a project is to combine great technological ideas with political support. A challenge for many mayors today, a good reason to invite them.
 

Let’s take a quick peak at the programme. From local topics for operators, presented by TOHOB, to general information about electric buses by WRI, over an in-depth market analysis by Frost and Sullivan and an impressive mayor’s meeting with the mayors of six important Turkish cities: Istanbul, Izmir, Konya, Şanlıurfa, Kocaeli, and Eskişehir by UCLG-MEWA. Visitors can choose the topics they are interested in from this wide variety of seminars on offer. For any member of the bus and coach industry, whether they are an operator, an academic or working for the authorities, the combination of a visit of the exhibition while attending a personal selection of seminars is the perfect way to get a good update about today’s and tomorrow’s realities in the industry.
 

The entrance to the Busworld Academy Congress in Istanbul is free of charge. However, registration is obligated and seats are limited. The detailed programme is available on the Busworld Academy website www.busworldacademy.org under ‘seminars’.
 

The exhibition and conference are supported by several partners: TOHOB, ISTAB, WRI, UCLG and the Turkish Ministry of Commerce.
 

Vincent Dewaele (Busworld International) confirms: “We are proud to be back in Istanbul to hold the first Busworld exhibition of 2020, the second biggest exhibition in our portfolio. On top of this, we can present a qualitative and very relevant Busworld Academy Conference programme in collaboration with top notch partners and speakers. So in short, we count on welcoming the whole bus and coach industry of Turkey and its neighbouring countries in Istanbul from 5 to 7 March. Be there!”