Editing Solaris Bus & Coach (section)

== Models ==

=== City and intercity buses ===
The first buses of the Solaris Urbino family were designed by a group of Polish engineers in collaboration with Berlin-based designer office IFS Designatelier under the leadership of Krzysztof Olszewski. In May 1999, at the [[Poznań International Fair]] Motor Show, the company unveiled its low-floor city bus MAXI class [[Solaris Urbino 12]]. Two other models of the MEGA class premièred that same year – the [[Solaris Urbino 15]] and the [[Solaris Urbino 18]]. 2000 saw the market launch of the smallest member of the bus family – [[Solaris Urbino 9]]. A bodyframe made completely of stainless steel and the asymmetric front windscreen are turning into typical features of all buses of the Urbino family. The new series of city buses was characterised by the modern design and innovative technical solutions (e.g. the asymmetric line of the front windscreen improves the driver's field of vision). The first generation buses were made chiefly for the Polish market. In March 2000 the company sold the first vehicle to a non-Polish company; the Solaris Urbino 15 went to DPO from the Czech city of [[Ostrava]]. The first-generation Solaris Urbino buses have also made it to Slovakia, Latvia, and Germany.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />

The second generation Urbinos premièred in 2002. The manufacturer introduced small modifications compared to the predecessors, so the second generation was a transition between the first and the third edition of the Urbino. What is more, the new [[Solaris Urbino 10]] was introduced, replacing the Urbino 9. The year 2002 was also a historic moment for the company, as it marks the first time that export sales double and foreign orders exceed the volume of domestic commissions<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />

2002 saw also the unveiling of the first Solaris intercity bus, dubbed [[Solaris Valletta]] for commercial purposes. The vehicle was designed for a regional operator, based in [[Valletta]], [[Malta]]. It was the first [[Left- and right-hand traffic|right-hand drive]] Solaris bus model. 2004 saw also the début of the intercity low-entry bus model Solaris Urbino 12 LE.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />

In September 2004, the third generation of Solaris Urbino buses had its debut; serial production of those models kicked off in spring 2005. Many style and construction modifications were undertaken. It is this model that enabled the company's global success internationally. Moreover, in 2004, the company presented also the Solaris Urbino 15 CNG model – the first Solaris bus running on [[compressed natural gas]]. The Solaris Urbino participated in a contest titled [[Bus & Coach of the Year|Bus of the Year]] 2005, where it came second, losing by a whisker to [[MAN Lion's City]].  In 2006, Solaris became the first European manufacturer to present a serially produced [[Hybrid vehicle|hybrid drive bus]] – the [[Solaris Urbino 18 Hybrid|Solaris Urbino 18 hybrid]]. In 2011 the company also launched a hybrid model of 12 meters.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />

In 2006 the company launched production of a 15&nbsp;cm shorter model, 8.6 m long, i.e. the model [[Solaris Alpino]], designed specifically for narrow streets of city centres and also less frequented communication routes. In 2008, the company extended the production line by two low-entry models, the [[Solaris Alpino 8,9 LE]] and the [[Solaris Urbino 15 LE]]. Also low-floor CNG- or biogas-fuelled models, designed specifically for buyers in Scandinavian countries, were launched around that time.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />

In mid-2009 the company designed the first prototypes of the intercity bus [[Solaris InterUrbino 12]] which premiered in September 2009 at the Transexpo trade fair.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" />

In September 2011, Solaris presented the prototype of the fully electric MIDI class city bus: the [[Solaris Urbino 8,9 LE electric]]. The first buyer of that electric Solaris bus was an Austrian carrier from [[Klagenfurt]]. A year later, at the [[International Motor Show Germany|IAA]] trade fair in [[Hanover]], the producer unveiled the 12-metre version of its electric bus, the Solaris Urbino 12 electric. The first such model was sold in 2013, to an operator in [[Braunschweig]], Germany. That is also, where the first articulated electric buses - the Solaris Urbino 18 electric - went to. In 2014 the producer supplied its innovative city buses Solaris Urbino 18,75 electric to [[Hamburg]]; these vehicles were the first to use a [[hydrogen]] [[fuel cell]] as an additional power source.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" />

In September 2014, during the IAA trade fair in Hanover (world première), and in October that year, at the Transexpo trade fair in Kielce (Polish premiere), Solaris presented the new generation of Solaris Urbino buses – initially only with conventional drives and in the length versions 12 and 18 metres. This time, the producer introduced more modifications to the design compared to the predecessor buses. The design was profoundly amended and many technical innovations were applied. Over the next years, Solaris showed off a range of new generation models (the firm started using that name instead of the fourth generation, to distinguish it from the older model), though it continued to concurrently manufacture vehicles of the third generation.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" />

In 2016 Solaris announced that the new generation Solaris Urbino 12 electric would compete in the “Bus Euro Test 2016” for the title [[Bus & Coach of the Year|Bus and Coach of the Year]] 2017. In the contest, the Solaris bus faced off against four competitors – the buses also evaluated in the test were the [[Mercedes-Benz Citaro|Mercedes-Benz Citaro C2 NGT]], the [[Van Hool]] Exqui.City 18, the [[Irizar]] i2e and the Ebusco 2.01. Solaris turned out the final winner – thus becoming the first Polish bus to secure this title and the first electric bus ever to win this distinction.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" />

Solaris supplies complete buses, i.e. it does not use the chassis of other manufacturers. However, it does implement components made by other sub-suppliers. It installs diesel engines and CNG engines made by [[Paccar]]/[[DAF Trucks|DAF]], [[Cummins]], whereas the transmissions are supplied by [[Voith]] or [[ZF Friedrichshafen]]. In the case of hybrid drives, Solaris vehicles use [[BAE Systems]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" />

On 29 November 2016 Solaris became the leader of a technological cluster named “Polish Electric Bus - supply chain for electromobility”. The goal of the cluster is the design of electric buses, batteries and charging options. The cluster consists of: [[AGH University of Science and Technology|Akademia Górniczo-Hutnicza (University of Science and Technology)]], [[Poznań University of Technology|Politechnika Poznańska (Poznań University of Technology)]], [[Warsaw University of Technology|Politechnika Warszawska (Warsaw University of Technology)]], EC Grupa, Ekoenergetyka Polska, Impact Clean Power Technology, Medcom, Instytut Napędów i Maszyn Elektrycznych KOMEL and SKB Drive. Later on companies El-Cab and ENEA joined the cluster.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://infobus.pl/solaris-na-czele-klastra-polski-autobus-elektryczny-_more_89333.html|title=Solaris na czele klastra Polski Autobus Elektryczny|website=infobus.pl|date=25 November 2016 |language=pl|access-date=2018-11-25}}</ref>

In 2019, a hydrogen-powered Solaris Urbino 12 hydrogen bus premiered at the UITP exhibition in Stockholm. In the same year, the first order for buses of this type was secured for Bolzano, Italy. In 2020, the manufacturer offer included the Solaris Urbino 15 LE, the first model of an electrobus designed for suburban and intercity transport, and the Solaris Urbino 12 mild-hybrid.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2020-12-29|date=2020-10-20|language=pl|title=Solaris prezentuje autobus Urbino 15 LE electric. Światowa premiera|url=https://www.transport-publiczny.pl/wiadomosci/solaris-prezentuje-autobus-urbino-15le-electric-swiatowa-premiera-66284.html|website=transport-publiczny.pl}}<!-- auto-translated by Module:CS1 translator --></ref><ref>{{cite web|access-date=2020-12-29|date=2020-09-10|language=pl|title=Solaris z nowym autobusem – mild hybrid|url=https://www.transport-publiczny.pl/mobile/solaris-z--nowym-autobusem--mild-hybrid-65840.html|website=transport-publiczny.pl}}<!-- auto-translated by Module:CS1 translator --></ref> In 2021, the Urbino 8.9 LE electric model was replaced by the new fourth-generation Urbino 9 LE electric.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2022-02-13|date=2021-09-30|language=pl|title=Premiera Solarisa Urbino 9 LE electric. Będzie wodorowy przegubowiec!|url=https://www.transport-publiczny.pl/wiadomosci/solaris-prezentuje-urbino-9-le-electric-70656.html|website=transport-publiczny.pl}}<!-- auto-translated by Module:CS1 translator --></ref> In the same year, the Solaris Urbino 24 electric MetroStyle 24-meter model was announced, based on a new platform of 24-meter electric, hybrid or as a trolleybus. In September 2022, Solaris unveiled its Urbino 18 hydrogen bus – the company's second hydrogen bus.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2022-10-03|date=2022-09-14|title=Solaris ze światową premierą przegubowego autobusu wodorowego|url=https://www.transport-publiczny.pl/wiadomosci/solaris-ze-swiatowa-premiera-przegubowego-autobusu-wodorowego-75238.html|website=transport-publiczny.pl}}<!-- auto-translated by Module:CS1 translator --></ref><gallery class="center">
File:Solaris Urbino 12 in Kielce (327).jpg|Solaris Urbino 12 of I generation
File:Solaris Urbino15 8624 CH Marki.JPG|Solaris Urbino 15 of II generation
File:Urbino 18 Hybrid Ettenhuber.jpg|Solaris Urbino 18 hybrid of III generation
File:BVG-204-Solaris-Urbino-12-electric-Torgauer-Str-1.jpg|Solaris Urbino 12 III generation
File:Solaris urbino 18 superbus.jpg|Solaris Urbino 18 of IV generation
File:Solaris InterUrbino 12 - Link-BUS (3).jpg|Solaris InterUrbino 12 I generation
File:Sol060.jpg|Solaris InterUrbino 12,8 of II generation
</gallery>

=== Coaches ===
In the first years of operation, Neoplan Polska also handled the assembly of the [[Coach (bus)|coaches]] [[Neoplan Transliner]] and [[Neoplan Skyliner]]. Serial production of the tourist coach of the company's own design [[Solaris Vacanza 12]] began one year after the official unveiling in August 2001. The design of these coaches was drafted by the Berlin-based enterprise IFS Designatelier. A characteristic feature of these vehicles is the wedge-shaped bodywork line. Engines made by [[DAF Trucks|DAF]] were used for the driveline. In 2004, the company launched production of the longer model [[Solaris Vacanza 13]]. In 2003 the Solaris Vacanza was ranked second (''ex aequo'' with the [[Volvo 9700]]) in the contest [[Bus & Coach of the Year|Coach of the Year 2004]], right behind such brands as MAN Lion's Star and [[Scania AB|Scania]] Irizar PB, which took the first place ''ex aequo''. Due to limited sales, Solaris decided to eliminate them from its offer in 2011.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":3">Solaris Bus & Coach S.A., ''Solaris. Power of Enthusiasm'', 2013.</ref>

In 2002 Solaris assembled its first special purpose vehicle - a mobile [[blood donation]] station based on the Vacanza coach. Solaris bloodmobiles have been used in many Polish cities, but have also been sold to Riga. In 2018, Solaris presented the first fully electric special vehicle for blood donation, based on the Urbino 8.9 LE model.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":3" />
<gallery class="center">
File:Solaris Vacanza 12 Autobus LU 5152J, Kamel Travel, Lublin. - Flickr - sludgegulper.jpg|Solaris Vacanza 12
File:Solaris Vacanza 13 - Transpol.jpg|Solaris Vacanza 13
File:Wikivacanza.jpg|Solaris Vacanza 12 as a blood donation vehicle
File:Sol032.jpg|Solaris Vacanza 13 as a blood donation vehicle
File:Sol035.jpg|Blood donation vehicle inside
</gallery>

=== Trolleybuses ===
[[Solaris Trollino]] [[trolleybus]]es have been produced since 2001, based on low-floor buses of the [[Solaris Urbino]] series. The first Trollino 12 units were created in collaboration with [[Trolleybuses in Gdynia|PKT Gdynia]]. In 2002, the company launched serial production of longer trolleybuses, namely 15-metre and 18-metre versions. The Solaris Trollino 15 was the first trolleybus in the world of that length. Originally, the vehicles were made with drives manufactured by Hungarian company [[Ganz Works|Ganz Transelektro]] and Czech firm [[Cegelec]]. In spring 2007, Solaris and the firm Medcom from [[Warsaw]] decided to build a prototype of the trolleybus Solaris Trollino 12, fitted with an asynchronous drive made in Poland. It was created in August 2007 and was then submitted for tests in [[Lublin]]. Two more vehicles were made for public operator MPK Lublin. [[Trolleybuses in Tychy|Tychy-based TLT]], too, is authorised to assemble and obtain the type approval for the Trollino model.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" />

Trollino trolleybuses are available in various length versions: 12-, 15- and 18-metre models. In Poland, the Trollino can be encountered on the streets of [[Trolleybuses in Gdynia|Gdynia]], [[Trolleybuses in Tychy|Tychy]] and Lublin. They are also used by the [[Trolleybuses in Rome|Rome trolleybus system]] (the battery version which enables driving in the city centre while detached from the traction line) and for the trolleybus systems in [[Riga]], [[Vilnius]], [[Tallinn]], [[Landskrona]], [[Opava]] and [[Ostrava]]. In 2009, the first Solaris trolleybus made it to Portugal, with the purchase of a single Trollino by the [[Trolleybuses in Coimbra|Coimbra system]]. The Solaris Trollino is also available in a special version with a ''MetroStyle'' bodywork that has an affinity to the style of the Solaris Tramino tram. Trolleybuses of that type have been supplied to [[Trolleybuses in Salzburg|Salzburg]], [[Esslingen am Neckar|Esslingen]] and [[Castellón de la Plana]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":3" /><gallery class="center">
File:Trollino 12T 1.JPG|Solaris Trollino 12 of I generation
File:Trol Solaris Trollino 15 Ostrava.jpg|Solaris Trollino 15 of II generation
File:Dwa trolejbusy na Dworcu PKP.jpg|Solaris Trollino 12 of III generation
File:75-ös trolibusz (9007).jpg|Solaris Trollino 18 of III generation
File:Sol113.jpg|Solaris Trollino 18 MetroStyle
</gallery>

=== Trams ===
{{main|Solaris Tramino}}
In March 2006 Solaris Bus & Coach signed a contract with [[Bombardier Transportation]] and German firm [[Kiepe Electric|Vossloh Kiepe]] on the assembly of trams in Poland. In 2006 these companies won a tender for the supply of 24 trams of the [[Flexity Classic|Bombardier NGT6/2]] type for [[Trams in Kraków|Kraków]] and 3 for [[Trams in Gdańsk|Gdańsk]]. Under the cooperation agreement, Bombardier Transportation supplied  the bodyworks and carriages, Vossloh Kiepe provided the electric fittings and Solaris ensured the delivery of the remaining components and the assembly of the vehicles, in collaboration with MPK Kraków. The assembly of the trams for Cracow took place in the tram depot Zajezdnia Podgórze. 2007 saw the delivery of three ordered vehicles to Gdańsk and of eight vehicles for MPK Kraków.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" />

In mid-2009 Solaris presented the prototype of its own tram, named Solaris Tramino. Its debut took place on 14 October 2009 during the Trako trade fair in Gdańsk. Solaris scored its first commission for trams of its own design when it won a tender for the supply of 45 trams to the operator MPK in Poznań. The delivery of the vehicles started in July 2011 and ended in May 2012.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web| title=Niskopodłogowy tramwaj Solaris Tramino S105p | language=pl | trans-title=Low-floor tram Solaris Tramino S105p | url=http://yadda.icm.edu.pl/yadda/element/bwmeta1.element.baztech-article-BPK3-0008-0056/c/Lubka.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180517082253/http://yadda.icm.edu.pl/yadda/element/bwmeta1.element.baztech-article-BPK3-0008-0056/c/Lubka.pdf | archive-date=2018-05-17}}</ref>

The second tender for Solaris concerned an order for 5 bi-articulated fully low-floor trams adapted to a 1000&nbsp;mm track gauge, placed by Jenaer Nahverkehr – a public transport operator from the German city of [[Jena]]. The tram cars have been fitted with two driver cabins, three bogies, including four axles integrated with a 90&nbsp;kW motor, and an [[Air conditioning|air conditioning system]] for the passenger compartment. The trams were delivered in 2013. They were the first ones produced in Poland and sold to a customer in Germany. As part of the third tender in 2014, Solaris provided 18 tri-articulated trams riding on a 1100&nbsp;mm track gauge to [[Braunschweig]] in Germany. These were the longest trams made by Solaris.<ref name=":0" /><ref>Solaris Bus & Coach S.A., ''Kolejny przystanek Tramino: Brunszwik'', „Magazyn klientów Solaris”, 1/2010 (4)</ref>

In August 2012 Solaris won a tender for the supply of 15 double-ended trams for the newly built tram network in Olsztyn. This vehicle has features such as traction batteries allowing for a short-distance ride without a connection to the traction line. These are also the least noise-emitting trams in Poland. The 15 vehicles were supplied in 2015.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.transport-publiczny.pl/wiadomosci/najszerszy-tramwaj-w-polsce--tramino-olsztyn--zaprezentowany-49847.html|title=Najszerszy tramwaj w Polsce – Tramino Olsztyn – zaprezentowany|access-date=2018-11-25|language=pl-PL}}</ref>

At the beginning of February 2015 Solaris won a commission for the supply of 41 trams to the Leipzig-based public transport operator [[Leipziger Verkehrsbetriebe|Leipziger Verkehrsbetriebe GmbH]] in Germany. The new trams for the Saxon buyer have been given a completely new design, in compliance with the customer's wishes. However, references to the former Tramino construction have been maintained. The longest vehicle of the family (37 630&nbsp;mm) was named ''Tramino XL''. The official première of the Tramino for Leipzig took place in February 2017, marking also the beginning of the delivery.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://infotram.pl/premiera-tramino-lipsk_more_91902.html|title=Premiera Tramino Lipsk|website=infotram.pl|date=12 February 2017 |language=pl|access-date=2018-11-25}}</ref>

On 20 September 2016, at the [[InnoTrans]] trade fair in [[Berlin]], the company announced that it had started cooperation with [[Stadler Rail]] – a Swiss rolling stock producer. The consortium won a tender for the delivery of 50 trams for public transport operator MPK S.A. from [[Kraków]].<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.transport-publiczny.pl/wiadomosci/mpk-krakow-podpisalo-umowe-z-solarisem-i-stadlerem-na-tramino-57413.html|title=MPK Kraków podpisało umowę z Solarisem i Stadlerem na tramwaje|access-date=2018-11-25|language=pl-PL}}</ref>

On 9 December 2016, Solaris announced the establishment of the [[joint venture]] '''Solaris Tram'''. The company started operation on 1 January 2017, with Zbigniew Palenica assuming the post of CEO, whereas the shares are divided between Solaris and Stadler Rail at a 40:60. In July 2017 Solaris Tram secured its first order, for the supply, to Braunschweig,  of seven trams featuring a similar design as the vehicles from the previous contract.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.rynek-kolejowy.pl/wiadomosci/solaris-laczy-sily-ze-stadlerem-chca-podbic-rynek-tramwajow-78243.html|title=Solaris łączy siły ze Stadlerem. Chcą podbić rynek tramwajów|access-date=2018-11-25|language=pl-PL}}</ref><gallery class="center">
File:Gdansk tramwaj 1007.jpg|Bombardier NGT6/2 in Gdańsk
File:Solaris Tramino.JPG|Prototype of Solaris Tramino
File:Solaris Tramino 538.jpg|Solaris Tramino Poznań
File:Solaris Tramino Jena 2014.jpg|Solaris Tramino Jena

File:Leipzig NGT10 Linie4 06.jpg|Solaris Tramino XL in Leipzig
File:SOLARIS BUS & COACH Tramino Braunschweig (15359190390).jpg|Solaris Tramino Braunschweig
</gallery>