Neoplan
1936 Neoplan-den Oudsten KLM Rondleiding in de 30-er jaren NL
http://myntransportblog.com/2013/10/29/buses-auwarter-germany/
VIP Class
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| Type | Private company with limited liability – GmbH, subsidiary of MAN Nutzfahrzeuge AG |
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| Industry | Automotive |
| Founded | 1 July 1935 |
| Founder(s) | Gottlob Auwärter |
| Headquarters | Stuttgart, Germany |
| Number of locations | Plauen, Saxony, Germany |
| Key people | Joachim Reinmuth, Chairman of the Board of Management former designers: Albrecht Auwärter, Bob Lee, Konrad Auwärter |
| Products | Buses Coaches Trolleybuses |
| Employees | 1,300 |
| Parent | MAN SE |
| Website | neoplan-bus.com |
NEOPLAN Bus GmbH is a German automotive company that manufactures buses, trolleybuses and coaches. NEOPLAN is now a subsidiary of MAN SE.
History
Foundations
A current NEOPLAN Skyliner model
NEOPLAN Megaliner (Japan version)The company was founded by Gottlob Auwärter in Stuttgart in 1935, and manufactured bodywork for bus and truck chassis. From the very beginning, the designs of the buses produced were considered stylish. After World War II, an all-steel body design was developed, a rarity at that time. By 1953, the company had moved away from manufacturing buses on truck chassis, to a partial monocoque design with a steel tube skeleton, providing the structural support, enhanced by welded side panels. The engine was moved to the rear, and the running gear and body functioned as one. In 1957, air suspension was made available, improving the ride of the bus for passengers.
Neoplan-Stammwerk
1960s
In 1961, a new bus design, the Hamburg, was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show. At a time when most coaches were rounded, bulbous or streamlined, the new design had clear-cut lines with edges and large windows. Developed by the founder’s eldest son, Albrecht Auwärter, and another student, Swiss national Bob Lee, as part of their dissertation at Hamburg University. The design also allowed every passenger to regulate their fresh air supply through a nozzle from two air ducts, commonly seen today.
NeoPlanOosakaniponnkannkou MAN22.280HOCR
Both Albrecht and Lee joined NEOPLAN after graduating from the university. Albrecht took over management of the company in 1965, and Bob Lee later became head of Engineering and Design.
1947 Auwärter Mercedes Benz OP3750 v
In 1964, the founder’s second son, Konrad Auwärter, developed a double-deck bus design for a service bus as part of his dissertation. The ‘Do-Bus’ design had low weight, and could carry over 100 passengers. It also featured a low-frame front axle with forward-mounted steering gear that permitted a low flat floor. The double-deck principle was applied to the coach design, creating a high-capacity comfortable touring vehicle. This vehicle was known as the Skyliner.
1958 Auwärter Neoplan NH6-7
1970s
In 1971, the Cityliner was introduced to the public. This design had a passenger platform above the driver’s cab, and included an onboard toilet.The vehicle also made use, of glass-fibre reinforced plastic for certain areas of the body, this was the first instance when this technique was used. In 1973, the Jetliner was introduced, featuring a large one-piece windshield, with the driver and door windows sloping from the passenger window line down to the bottom of the windshield level.
1960 Neoplan typ hamburg
A second manufacturing facility opened in Pilsting in 1973, and a third opened in Kumasi, Ghana in December 1974 to support increasing orders.
1973 NeoPlan Jumbocruiser
In 1975, the Jumbocruiser was launched, a double-deck articulated coach 18 metres (59 ft 1 in) long and 4 metres (13 ft 1 in) high. The Spaceliner, introduced in 1979 took the Cityliner concept of passenger floor level above the driver, and extended the actual floor above the cab. This kept the height of the vehicle lower than a double-decker, at 3.65 metres (12 ft), but still allowed installation of toilets, kitchens or sleep cabins below the passenger compartment.
1973 Neoplan Cityliner N116
1980s
Airfield Shuttle, Domodedovo Airport
A new fourth plant was added in 1981 in Berlin, and Bob Lee led the establishment of a fifth plant in Lamar, Colorado. In 1984, a further plant was added in Honey Brook, Pennsylvania. The United States plants were later spun off into a separate, and now defunct, independent company (Neoplan USA) that used the NEOPLAN name under licence.
Neoplan erster niederflurbus (low floor bus)
In 1980, the United Kingdom deregulated services over 35 miles (56 km) in length. This led to intense competition on a variety of long-distance services, with operators looking to differentiate their service. NEOPLAN vehicles, with their futuristic design and high quality construction, began to be imported in greater numbers.
Neoplan metroliner carbon
The Metroliner was introduced in 1988. This vehicle was the first full monocoque bus in the world, requiring no separate chassis or skeleton.
K-VB 546+ Leuchterstraße
1990s
Basel Neoplan N 6021 Trolleybus
A manufacturing facility was opened in Ehrenhain in 1990.
1993 JR-Bus-Megaliner-Tsukuba
In 1992, the 15 metres (49 ft 3 in) four-axle Megaliner was introduced, prompting a change in European Union regulations to allow non-articulated vehicles greater than 12 metres (39 ft 4 in) in length. The Starliner was introduced in 1996, and would go on to win the Bus of the Year award for two consecutive years – in 1998 and 1999.
Neoplan Centroliner-Linienbus
2000s
FC KÖLN
In 2001, NEOPLAN, or correctly, “Gottlob Auwärter GmbH & Co KG” was acquired by MAN AG subsidy MAN Nutzfahrzeuge AG to form NEOMAN Bus GmbH. The Starliner won the Bus of the Year award for two more consecutive years in 2001 and 2002.
Neoplan-de dietrich eurailbus modell
A new coach designed for touring was introduced in 2003 under the name Tourliner, and the Starliner was redesigned in 2004 and included the Electronic Stability Programme (ESP). The Trendliner was released in 2004, as a ‘dual purpose’ intercity and combination bus – which is designed to be used seven days a week.
Neoplan starliner und euroliner und centroliner modelle
In 2005, two new shorter 13 metres (42 ft 8 in) versions of the Tourliner and Trendliner were released. From 2006, Euro4 compliant engines from MAN began being fitted in the new generation Cityliner.
Neoplan N 4516 Zurich
In 2007, a new Auwärter Museum was opened in Landau/Isar.
On 1 February 2008, NEOMAN Bus GmbH was fully integrated into the Bus Division of the larger MAN Nutzfahrzeuge Group, and ceased to exist in its own right. NEOPLAN and MAN AG Buses now operate as two separate but integrated marques of MAN Nutzfahrzeuge Group. As a result of the reorganisation and restructuring of the Bus Division, NEOPLAN will concentrate on production at its Plauen and Pilsting sites, with Plauen being used for luxury coaches, whilst Pilsting will concentrate on customisations.
2011 Neoplan Skyliner
Myn Transport Blog 
have you any brochures/construction info for ex English western national stuttgart built auwarter e213 bod(A19 BLB) which ive saved for preservation. needs bodywork done. signed off production line October 1987.have got some info from MAN but very limited was kept. many thanks
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Hartelijk bedankt voor al deze prachtige bus beelden! De Neoplan “Hamburg” was een van de bussen van mij jeugd, toen ik in Zwitzerland in de jaaren 60 woonde. (De andere bus van mijn jeugd is de zeer leuke DAF Sandaardsbus van 1966, wijnrood en grijs, toen ik later in Amsterdam woonde, waar ik in de jaaren 70 nederlands heb geleerd.) Ik ben terug in de Vereinigde Staaten, maar ik heb nog veel goede herinneringen – en enkele speelgoed en model bussen in mijn verzemeling.
Thank you very much for all these great bus pictures. The Neoplan “Hamburg” was one of the buses of my childhood, when I lived in Switzerland in the 1960s. (The other bus of my youth is the DAF city bus introduced in 1966, wine-red and gray, when I lived in Amsterdam in the 1970s, where I learned my Dutch – it’s a little rusty.) I am back in the USA but I still have many fond memories – and some model and toy buses in my collection.
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