FAW is showcasing its new 33-seater bus at the Automechanika Expo 2017 taking place from the 27 September 2017 – 30 September 2017 in Johannesburg.

Built in collaboration with Busmark bodybuilders the new 33-seater bus is built on the same chassis and uses the same drivetrain as FAW’s proven 8.140FL range which has been their bestselling range of trucks, in both 2015 and 2016.

“In a bus environment where comfort and safety are top of mind, it is imperative that the most cost-effective combination of chassis and drivetrain be engineered to deliver the best levels of uptime efficiency and durability, while simultaneously providing convenient transportation,” the manufacturer says.

The parallel chassis frame and smooth top flange chassis construction have a distinct low-weight advantage, especially when mounting a steel sub-frame bus body.

The locally built chassis passes through a special paint station to enhance the chassis’ dust and dirt endurance and longevity – a unique South African addition.

Passenger convenience top of mind

The manufacturer has taken special care to place passenger convenience front and centre with standard fitment that includes a number of comfort features such as a handrail the length of the bus and LED strip lights and illuminated entrance steps.

There are also easily accessible parcel shelves in vinyl and the floor is covered with durable PVC-based flexible sheeting designed for critical high wear applications. This flooring is of a non-slip variety adding to commuter safety and all seams are ‘welded’ to stop ingress of water.

The individual seats are of steel tubular construction which is powder-coated, combined with split-back vinyl seats. A further addition is the lap-type safety belts on all seats encouraging safety on the FAW bus.

“This durable and economical, yet comfortable FAW Bus is sure to find favour among many commuter bus customers,” the manufacturer concludes.