Keith Bauer S215HD: The story behind the legendary bus of the nineties.
Introduction. In the nineties, the Keith Bauer S215HD was undoubtedly the dominant model on all major highways. Behind this legendary bus is the long history and unique development trajectory of the German company Kesbauer. This article will delve into the origin and development history of Keysbauer, focusing on the characteristics and influence of the S215HD model, as well as its cooperation with the Hefei Automobile Factory in China, which triggered the road and rail passenger war.
1. The history and development of Casbauer.
Carl Kessbauer founded the Carriage Manufacturing Company in 1893 and then turned to automobile development. In 1907, Kesbauer built the brand's first diesel locomotive, laying the foundation for the company's entry into the automotive sector. And in 1951, they introduced the world's first fully load-bearing bus, the Setras8, which officially established Kesbauer as a company specializing in luxury coaches.
2. SETRA's development and strategic alliances.
The fully load-bearing body has revolutionized the bus industry because it has three major advantages: safety, weight reduction and increased passenger space. In 1995, Kesbauer entered into a strategic alliance with Daimler-Benz to form Evobus, and Setra became a brand of Evobus, continuing to manufacture luxury buses.
3. Hefei Xianghe Automobile Manufacturing Co., Ltd. cooperates with Keith Bauer of Germany.
The history of Hefei Xianghe Automobile Factory can be traced back to 1966, when the production conditions were difficult. However, the factory successfully trial-produced the HF150 truck, and in 1975 it was renamed "Anhui Xianghe Automobile Factory". In 1987, the factory developed the HFF683 chassis of Steyr 91 series technology, and became a professional manufacturer of special chassis for buses in China. In 1993, Hefei Xianghe Automobile Factory signed a technical cooperation agreement with Kesbauer of Germany to introduce and produce S215HD luxury buses. In 1994, the first batch of Anhui Case Shbauer HFF6120GD assembled and produced by CKD was rolled off the assembly line at the first car of Xianghe Automobile Factory, and the factory was officially renamed Anhui Ankai Automobile Group
Fourth, the characteristics and influence of Anhui Kesbauer S215HD.
The S215HD luxury coach has sparked a disruptive perception of luxury buses, with amenities such as airline seats, refrigerators, VCDs and toilets. It is equipped with Mercedes-Benz 14The 6-litre V8 diesel engine is mated to a 6-speed manual transmission of the ZFS6-90 type, which can reach a maximum speed of 125 km/h. In 1995, the Chengdu-Chongqing Expressway, known as the "first road in the southwest", was opened to traffic, and the appearance of S215HD in the domestic passenger car market set off a highway and railway passenger war. Although the S215HD is more expensive than other models, its comfortable amenities and eye-catching operating model are still widely welcome.
5. The impact of S215HD and the market war.
The introduction of the S215HD has not only made a huge breakthrough in technology, but also had a profound impact on the market. The revolutionary change of its luxury facilities has led to a new expectation of luxury buses. The opening of the Chengdu-Chongqing Expressway has provided a broad stage for the operation of S215HD, and its high ticket price has not stopped the enthusiasm of passengers. Despite the fierce competition, the S215HD has successfully sparked fierce competition in road and rail passenger transportation with its unique advantages.
6. Cab and vehicle performance.
The S215HD's cab is not only impressive, it's also luxurious. At that time, its price was as high as more than 2.4 million yuan, becoming a luxury item in the car market at that time. However, this did not prevent it from becoming synonymous with "mobile money printing machines". The cab is designed not only for comfort, but also for ease of operation for the driver. The Mercedes-Benz V8 engine and ZFS6-90 gearbox provide a solid foundation for the excellent performance of the S215HD.
7. Market demand and operation mode.
At that time, the market had a strong demand for passenger cars, and buses were generally parked non-stop. In addition, there are few investigations and punishments for speed limit overloading, oil prices are relatively low, and operating costs are relatively low.