Bern and Solothurn Region in Switzerland to introduce 39 electric buses from Daimler

Swiss operators Regionalverkehr Bern-Solothurn (RBS) and Busbetrieb Solothurn Grenchen und Umgebung (BSGU) have awarded a joint contract to Daimler Buses Switzerland for the delivery of 39 Mercedes eCitaro, including both standard and articulated models, as reported on RBS’s website. The new vehicles are scheduled to enter service between 2027 and 2028, representing a significant step toward zero-emission operations in the Bern and Solothurn regions.

Under the current framework, the operators may order up to 46 more vehicles by the end of 2032.

Mercedes eCitaro buses headed to Switzerland

The buses are designed to operate reliably under demanding conditions, offering minimum ranges of 250 km for standard models and 210 km for articulated vehicles, even in extreme temperatures, RBS says. Charging is planned primarily overnight at the depots, with opportunities for off-peak daytime charging.

The procurement followed an open public tender. The evaluation process combined technical assessments, real-world test runs on RBS and BSGU lines, and independent expert reviews. Criteria included vehicle quality, passenger comfort, safety, sustainability, and cost, with price accounting for 45% of the final evaluation.

The electrification of RBS and BSGU’s bus fleets will be rolled out progressively. At RBS, operations from the Worblaufen and Zuchwil depots will see 17 standard electric buses introduced from mid-2027, with the aim of fully electrifying the Worblaufen network by 2032 and extending electric operations to the Lyss-Messen area by 2040.

BSGU will phase in 18 new electric buses—13 standard and five articulated—at its Zuchwil site between 2027 and 2028, supported by planned expansions of the depot to accommodate the new vehicles, targeting complete fleet electrification by 2035.

At the Grenchen site, four additional standard electric buses will enter service in 2028, alongside plans to expand garage capacity.