At an exclusive and intimate ceremony in Sandton – Johannesburg on 27 August 2021, Mercedes-Benz Buses and Putco Limited took another giant step to their extremely successful partnership as they cut the ribbon in celebration of the official handover of the 100th bus. This milestone handover is subsequent to a significant order of 100 Mercedes-Benz buses made by Putco Limited in 2020. The delivery of this impressive fleet was staggered into batches from December 2020, culminating in the last 12 buses being delivered end of August 2021.
The special occasion was graced by the presence of amongst others; Larimar/Putco Managing Director, Franco Pisapia; Head of Mercedes-Benz Buses, Jason Brunninger; General Manager Marcopolo South Africa, Lucus Garbardo.
Mercedes-Benz Buses, a brand of Daimler Trucks & Buses Southern Africa (DTBSA) set the standard when it comes to safety, reliability, and future-proof technologies. This important handover is a strong reaffirmation of the brand’s ongoing commitment to redefining and shaping the future of the transport industry in Southern Africa. The new buses comprise of OF1726, front-engine bus chassis equipped with the Marcopolo Torino G7 bus bodywork, adding to Putco’s remarkable fleet of over 1 850 vehicles. Putco Limited is the biggest commuter bus operator in South Africa and proudly transports more than 230 000 commuters daily in and around Mpumalanga, Gauteng, and Limpopo providing safe and convenient commuting services.
Franco Pisapia, Managing Director, Larimar/Putco comments on the official handover: “The handover of the 100th Mercedes-Benz bus today, is a culmination of hard work, dedication, and collaboration from both the Larimar/Putco and the Mercedes-Benz Bus teams. The first 23 buses were delivered in December and we have already seen a shift in perception from the general public and happier passengers. The company is deriving value for money due to reduced total cost of ownership, comprehensive maintenance package, outstanding fuel efficiency, and reliability. There is a reduction in on-route breakdowns, providing convenience and consistency in our operations. In addition, the new delivery has set the new fleet apart and created excitement amongst drivers who have taken ownership and pride in driving these buses. This is a huge investment towards a sustainable transport system in our country. We are already discussing our future bus replacement programme, as we continue to strengthen our position in the market”.
Jason Brunninger, Head of Mercedes-Benz Buses had this to say about the strong partnership: “We are humbled by the faith and confidence that Putco Limited has placed in our brand. Being able to fulfil the specific requirements on these new buses and delivering timeously is an accomplishment for us as a team. Together with our body builder partner Marcopolo South Africa, we have been working tirelessly to ensure premium quality in every detail. We are proud that our vehicles are contributing to the economic success of Putco Limited and to the overall transport industry across the region to ensure our people are safe at all times. This is a crucial step forward on our ongoing commitment to providing revolutionary mobility solutions to meet business demands of our customers and keep the wheels turning for all who keep Africa moving”.
The After-Sales service of Putco Limited will be supported by Sandown Commercial Vehicles dealership. Sandown Commercial Vehicles is renowned for offering economical transport solutions, best-in-class service, value-added services, and its ability to put their customers first in everything that they do. Putco Limited is certainly in good hands.