Setra Turns 60, Sells 100,000th Bus

In a strange coincidence, 2011 is for German auto group Daimler a year of great importance. Some of its most important brands (Mercedes-Benz, Unimog and Setra) are celebrating their milestone anniversaries, sending the group into celebratory mood from January to December.

Whereas both Mercedes-Benz and Unimog have announced their plans for the year and made public the parties they are planning to throw in 2011, Setra is just beginning to do the same. And what better way for an iconic bus brand to start the party than by achieving an important milestone?

As it was getting ready to blow the candles on the 60th anniversary cake, Setra sold its 100,000th vehicle. The model in question, a three-axle TopClass 400 S 416 HDH, has been handed to bus operator Baumeister-Knese last weekend, on the eve of the parties that lasted throughout Saturday and Sunday.

“Setra’s success is demonstrated by the fact that the brand has been best in class for the past 60 years,” said Hartmut Schick, head of Daimler Buses. “We’re very proud of this achievement. The anniversary will be made all the more satisfying by the handover of the 100,000th Setra bus to a customer.”

Setra came into being with the S8 model presented at the Frankfurt Auto Show in April 1951. Since then, the brand has launched a total of five bus series on the market. In 2003, Setra became part of the Daimler Buses company, one that sells about 40,000 complete buses and chassis every year, being one of the largest players on the market.