20 Higer Azure electric minibuses delivered in Naples, through Italian dealer Sitcar

Naples municipal carrier ANM is taking delivery of 20 Higer Azure electric minibuses, through Italian dealer Sitcar, as reported on Italian trade media (and Sustainable Bus’ sister platform) Autobusweb.

Former traditional bodybuilder Sitcar is in the process of being relaunched, thanks to the entrepreneurial fervour of Valerio Gruppioni, president and CEO of Sira, that took over the company in May 2023. Plans of the company is as follows: in-house manufacturing of zero emission minibuses (with target of 200 units/year within 3 years) until the 8 ton, exclusive dealership of Higer buses for the segment +8 tons.

Higer electric minibuses for Naples

The contract was awarded at the beginning of 2024, when the tender launched by ANM Naples for the supply of 65 electric minibuses and midibuses found its winners. Higer, represented in Italy by Sitcar, was awarded the first lot – relating to mini plug-in buses from 5.8 to 7 metres in length, for a total amount of EUR 26,325,000.00. Zonson was awarded the electric midibus lot.

The duration of the contract is four years, and a second supply of a further 65 e-buses, 35 relating to the first lot and 30 to the second, is envisaged.

Moving to standard-size electric buses, BYD has been awarded over 140 units (with Iveco winning 46).

The buses supplied in Naples are Azure HE6.8 model, powered by CATL LFP batteries with a capacity of 168.3 kWh.