Tbilisi City Hall has presented the latest batch of 18-meter MAN buses, marking another milestone in the capital’s transport renewal program. The new vehicles were officially unveiled by Mayor Kakha Kaladze, joined by Vice Mayor Giorgi Tkemaladze, Head of Tbilisi Transport Company Giorgi Sharkov, and Head of the Transport and Urban Development Agency Nino Bagashvili.
Mayor Kaladze says the buses will gradually enter service on city routes starting September 27.
“Today is a very positive day for our city, as we take another significant step forward in our transport policy. The 200 units of 18-meter buses, which we purchased last year, are now in Tbilisi and ready to serve our residents,” Kaladze said. “From September 27, these new buses will begin operating on various routes, while the 10- and 12-meter buses they replace will be redistributed across the network. Our goal is to ensure that every district has access to modern, comfortable public transport.”
The mayor emphasized that traffic congestion remains a challenge, but stressed that efforts are underway to expand bus lanes and make public transport more attractive for daily commuters.
The purchase of 200 CNG-powered MAN buses was carried out under an agreement between the Tbilisi Transport Company and Tegeta Holding. Each bus is designed to carry up to 162 passengers, with 43 seats, and is fully accessible for people with disabilities. Features include a retractable ramp, climate control systems adapted to Tbilisi’s weather, wheelchair space, voice information systems, anti-vandal video monitoring, USB charging ports, WIFI connectivity, and digital information displays.
Currently, 76 of the buses are already in service, with the remainder set to gradually replace older vehicles. The total investment in the project amounts to €111.1 million.
