The Bietigheim-based company Spillmann has long been a major player in the local bus and coach market with its emotively designed buses. What began in 2012 with six Citaro vehicles has now grown to a fleet of 26 themed vehicles and has developed into the approach for a bus-based local transport concept of the future. On 4 December the extraordinary Citaro fleet grew by a further eight themed buses. Bülent Menekse, Managing Director of Omnibusverkehr Spillmann GmbH, was present at the Mannheim bus plant to receive the buses from Rüdiger Kappel, Head of Fleet Sales at Daimler Buses Germany and Herrmann Fröhlich, Head of the South-West Sales Region at Daimler Buses.

For years, Bülent Menekse and his team have been creating the most diverse themed vehicles on the basis of Mercedes-Benz Citaro buses. And it's been a resounding success. Thanks to their individual and comfortable equipment, the unique vehicles have great recognition value and lead to high customer satisfaction. Damage caused by vandalism is almost non-existent.

Now the company has brought a further eight new themed buses into service. Under the names "American School Bus", "Ocean Floor", "A History of Daimler Buses", "Germany", "A History of Spillmann", "Countries and Cultures", "Movie" and "Rainforest", Spillmann has again staged different themes in an emotive and exciting way. It isn't just the side walls printed with pictures and motifs that grab the attention of passengers. The colour-coordinated grab rails and the large-dimensioned printed floors also captivate the passengers. Thus, as a passenger, on one bus you might be standing on an ocean floor, while on a different bus you might find yourself on a pop art pattern or a lawn.

Passengers who wish to share these images interactively can use the on-board Wi-Fi. Using one of the many USB charging sockets, passengers can also recharge their phone battery whilst enjoying the beautiful motifs.

To give the exterior design of the Citaro a futuristic component, the Spillmann company has opted for the optionally available tram design. The side line and front end thus resemble a modern rail vehicle. The "American School Bus" occupies a special position in terms of its exterior design. The yellow/black-painted Citaro was modelled on an American school bus. On the rear window it says "School Bus" in conspicuously large letters. Bold and concise – just like the American way of life.

Spillmann has ordered all of its Citaro hybrid models with the compact hybrid module. The economical diesel engine is assisted by the additional power of a highly efficient 14 kW electric motor. It generates energy during coasting and braking and thus supports the conventional drive system when pulling away. Depending on the specific operation and topography, this can reduce the fuel consumption by as much as 8.5 percent. What's more, the assistance system Sideguard Assist is also installed in all vehicles. Radar-based Sideguard Assist helps the bus driver when making critical right-hand turns.

For effective virus protection at the driver's workplace, all vehicles are already equipped with a large driver's partition screen and an air conditioning system which enables independent control of the driver's workplace and the passenger compartment. Before the bus is brought into regular service operations, all filters in the vehicle will be replaced by high-performance particle filters with an antiviral functional layer to ensure optimum protection against COVID-19.

In 1928 the Spillmann company was founded in Bietigheim-Bissingen, southern Germany. During its founding years, the first successful regular bus services were operated as bus lines for workers heading to work. Over the past decades, Spillmann has developed into a comprehensive tourism company with its own bus fleet and travel agencies. Today the company is one of the leading tour operators in the greater Stuttgart area. In the meantime, Spillmann has successfully transferred the premium concept from its coach business over to its regular service routes. The unique regular service buses are in no way reminiscent of a "standard grey public transport bus". Anyone who travels with Spillmann buses is also buying a ticket for an adventure.