FIAA to host next Sustainable Bus Tour debate on partnership, investments and zero-emission buses

The growing role of industrial partnerships and integrated mobility strategies in the zero-emission bus sector, and associated impacts in investments strategies and relationships with operators, will be explored during the next Sustainable Bus Tour 2026 conference, scheduled at FIAA in Madrid on 23 September.

The Sustainable Bus Tour 2026 will make its next stop at FIAA in Madrid with the conference session “Building zero emission buses through partnerships. Platforms, investments, industrial strategies“, scheduled for Wednesday 23 September from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The conference is part of the Sustainable Bus Tour 2026, supported by Iveco Bus, ZF, BYD and Otokar as tour partners. Bringing together manufacturers, suppliers, operators and industry stakeholders, the session will focus on how cooperation across the value chain is becoming an increasingly important element in the development and deployment of zero-emission buses.

**DRAFT AGENDA**

INTRO / KEYNOTE

Tobias Schneiderbauer, Partner, McKinsey & Company, and Lena Bell, Associate Partner at McKinsey & Company: “The future of European buses: competing in a new era“

ROUNDTABLE

• Ian Livesey, Director of B2B & B2C, Moventis
• Francesco Romagnoli, Head of Technical Affairs, ANAV (Associazione Nazionale Autotrasporto Viaggiatori)
• Speaker TBD, Arriva Spain
• Umberto Mauri, Managing Director, Otokar Italy
• Fabian Schumacher, Key Account Manager Bus, ZF
• Speaker TBD, Iveco Bus
• Speaker TBD, BYD

Industrial cooperation in the European bus industry

The European bus manufacturing ecosystem is undergoing a phase of profound transformation, driven by international consolidation, evolving industrial models and the accelerating transition towards zero-emission propulsion.

As battery-electric and hydrogen technologies become increasingly central to product development, vehicle architecture is evolving together with industrial relationships throughout the value chain. Higher development costs, stronger competitive pressure and growing reliance on specialised suppliers for batteries, software, charging technologies and vehicle systems are making partnerships between OEMs, bodybuilders and technology providers an increasingly important component of industrial strategies.

The conference will explore how collaborative development models can support industrial competitiveness while balancing platform standardisation with the flexibility required by different operators and markets. Particular attention will be devoted to countries with strong coachbuilding traditions, including Spain, where cooperation between manufacturers and bodybuilders remains a defining feature of the sector.

From vehicles to integrated mobility solutions

The discussion will also examine how relationships between manufacturers and operators are evolving as procurement increasingly considers total cost of ownership, vehicle reliability, energy efficiency and lifecycle performance.

Alongside vehicle development, OEMs are expanding their activities into charging infrastructure, maintenance, digital services, consulting and energy management, progressively positioning themselves as providers of integrated mobility solutions rather than vehicle manufacturers alone.

In brief

• When will the Sustainable Bus Tour conference take place? Wednesday 23 September, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., during FIAA Madrid.
• Who supports the Sustainable Bus Tour 2026? The tour is supported by Iveco Bus, ZF, BYD and Otokar.
• Who will speak at the conference? McKinsey & Company will deliver the keynote, followed by a roundtable with representatives from operators, manufacturers and suppliers.
• What is the focus of the session? Industrial partnerships, platform strategies, investments and business models supporting the deployment of zero-emission buses.

The session continues the Sustainable Bus Tour’s programme dedicated to the industrial transformation of the bus sector, following previous conferences focused on the transition towards zero-emission mobility, including the Bus2Bus event held earlier this year.

The conference will open with a keynote presentation by Tobias Schneiderbauer and Lena Bell from McKinsey & Company, providing an overview of the industrial transformation affecting the European bus manufacturing sector.

The keynote will be followed by a roundtable discussion featuring Ian Livesey, Director of B2B & B2C at Moventis; Francesco Romagnoli, Head of Technical Affairs at ANAV (Associazione Nazionale Autotrasporto Viaggiatori), bringing the perspective of Italian bus operators from one of Europe’s fastest-growing electric bus markets; a representative from Arriva Spain alongside representatives from BYD, Iveco Bus, Otokar and Fabian Schumacher, Key Account Manager Bus at ZF.