Hexagon Agility to supply CNG systems for 350 Scania and MAN intercity buses in France

Hexagon Agility will supply CNG fuel systems for 350 intercity buses ordered to TRATON Group brands Scania and MAN for deployment in France.

The agreement covers the delivery of compressed natural gas fuel systems for buses intended to operate on biomethane across intercity and regional transport networks, adding to ongoing fleet renewal programs in the country. The contracts involve 200 Scania vehicles and 150 MAN units, all configured for long-range operations and scheduled for deployment between 2026 and 2027.

Haxagon points out that France currently operates more than 7,700 biomethane buses and around 3,500 electric buses. Market data indicate that France, together with Italy, accounts for the majority of CNG bus demand in Europe, with both countries covering approximately 80 percent of the segment .

Deployment across Île-de-France and national networks

A comparison of intercity bus registrations in Europe indicates that around 600 electric intercity buses were recorded in 2025, with approximately 60% of these units registered in Norway and the Benelux region. Over the same period, compressed natural gas intercity buses reached about 1,200 units, with close to 90% of registrations concentrated in Italy and France, confirming the geographic distribution of CNG adoption across key markets.

Back to the French deal, the larger share of the order consists of 200 Scania intercity buses equipped with CNG fuel systems designed for extended range. These vehicles are allocated to services within the Paris region, supporting the transition of the Île-de-France Mobilités network away from diesel-powered buses. The regional authority manages a fleet of approximately 10,500 buses and has established a transition framework targeting 70% biomethane and 30% electric vehicles by 2029.

A second contract includes 150 MAN intercity buses, also equipped with CNG systems, which will operate on regional and national routes across France. The deployment expands the presence of biomethane-powered vehicles beyond metropolitan areas into broader intercity corridors.

Hexagon Agility production and European footprint

The CNG fuel systems for the 350 buses will be manufactured at Hexagon Agility’s facility in Kassel, Germany. The company supplies composite natural gas cylinders and integrated fuel systems for commercial vehicles, including transit buses operating on compressed and renewable natural gas.

The latest contracts add to Hexagon Agility’s installed base of CNG systems supporting transit fleets across Europe and North America. The company reports that its systems are currently in use in tens of thousands of buses.

The deployment aligns with ongoing adoption of natural gas and biomethane technologies in several European markets, including France, Italy, Spain, and Nordic countries, where public transport operators are incorporating gaseous fuels alongside battery-electric and other low-emission solutions.

Biomethane integration in public transport fleets

The buses supplied under the agreement are designed to operate on compressed natural gas, including biomethane derived from organic waste streams such as agricultural residues, wastewater, and landfill gas. The fuel can be sourced through local production or supply contracts within national markets.

The Île-de-France fleet transition programme, initiated in 2018 and subsequently updated, integrates biomethane as a primary energy vector for bus operations. The programme is part of a broader European context in which multiple propulsion technologies are being deployed in parallel across public transport systems.

Deliveries of the 350 buses are scheduled over 2026 and 2027, with vehicles entering service progressively across the French network.

“CNG buses are quieter, more sustainable and cost efficient than their diesel equivalents, and deliver the range, performance and refuelling speed that electric intercity buses struggle with,” said Milosz Szymaniak, Sales Director Eastern Hemisphere, Hexagon Agility. “As Europe enters a new phase in sustainable mobility that prioritises emission reductions alongside energy independence and operational reliability, we are honoured to support another 350 CNG buses entering service in France.”

 “CNG transit is no longer emerging,” said Eric Bippus, Chief Commercial Officer, Hexagon Agility. “For three decades, we’ve had the privilege of seeing firsthand how CNG vehicles have transitioned from an alternative into a proven part of modern transit fleets, with our fuel systems now enabling tens of thousands of CNG buses across Europe and North America.”