Neobus
Encyclopedia
Neobus ad, Novi Sad Bus Factory is a Serbia
n bus manufacturer. The major shareholder
is a Saudi
businessman Alaa Maghrabi Mohammedali A. Neobus produces buses on its original chassis
and on the chassis of world's major manufacturers such as Volvo
, DAF
, Mercedes-Benz
, FAP
etc.
, second largest city in Serbia
, as Autokaroserija. Neobus was built on the foundations of Stražilovo repair workshop, which was first founded in 1947 in Novi Sad
. In the time of its foundation Neobus only had 15 workers. Today, there are 183 employees with this firm. During the first years of its existence Autokaroserija's key business activity was repairing and rebuilding car chassis
. In 1956 Autokaroserija started producing new chassis.
From that time, Autokaroserija started closely cooperating with TAM
(Automobile and Engine Factory) Maribor
, a Slovenia
n truck
s, bus
es and chassis manufacturer. The cooperation led to full integration of Autokaroserija with TAM in 1973.
The following year, 1974 is one of the most significant years in the history of Neobus. This was the period when Autokaroserija produced its very first urban bus
on Volvo
chassis for the needs of Novi Sad City Public Transport Company
(JGSP). The business relations started between Autokaroserija and JGSP in 1974 made JGSP Autokaroserija's most important buyer.
In 1986 started the golden era for Neobus. The factory had moved to a new location in Novi Sad
Industrial Zone South where a large facility was built measuring more than 20.000 square meters in surface placed on a plot of 110.000 square meters. 700 workers produced as many as 650 bus
es a year during this period.
With the dissolution
of Yugoslavia there is an interruption of business
relations between Autokaroserija and Slovenia
n TAM
. Autokaroserija became an independent bus manufacturer but had many difficulties mostly due to the economic sanctions the UN imposed on Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
. There was a loss of market share and business connections which put Autokaroserija in a very hard situation.
In 1992 the name Autokaroserija was changed to Neobus. The company was limited to Serbia
n market which was insufficient concerning the installed capacities and the nature of the branch. Business activity started to slow down until it finally collapsed, Neobus went into bankruptcy in 1999, the year of NATO action against Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
. By 2001, the firm managed to get out of the bankruptcy and started producing bus
es again. In 2004 The Serbian Privatization Agency held an auction in which Neobus was sold to Alaa Maghrabi Mohammedali A, from Saudi Arabia
. The new owner has his own transport enterprise in Saudi Arabia called Maghrabi Hajj Transport Company. The company purchased hundreds of buses from former SFRY manufacturers in 1980s
which led to the acquisition of Neobus.
In 2006 Neobus signed a Strategic Cooperation Agreement with Volvo Bus Corporation
, Sweden
, making Neobus Volvo's official bodybuilder for South Eastern Europe.
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
n bus manufacturer. The major shareholder
Shareholder
A shareholder or stockholder is an individual or institution that legally owns one or more shares of stock in a public or private corporation. Shareholders own the stock, but not the corporation itself ....
is a Saudi
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
businessman Alaa Maghrabi Mohammedali A. Neobus produces buses on its original chassis
Chassis
A chassis consists of an internal framework that supports a man-made object. It is analogous to an animal's skeleton. An example of a chassis is the underpart of a motor vehicle, consisting of the frame with the wheels and machinery.- Vehicles :In the case of vehicles, the term chassis means the...
and on the chassis of world's major manufacturers such as Volvo
Volvo
AB Volvo is a Swedish builder of commercial vehicles, including trucks, buses and construction equipment. Volvo also supplies marine and industrial drive systems, aerospace components and financial services...
, DAF
DAF
-Science, nature and technology:* Decay accelerating factor, a protein involved in the complement system* Delayed auditory feedback, a device used to delay a person's voice to their own ear, which reduces stuttering and cluttering...
, Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. Mercedes-Benz is a division of its parent company, Daimler AG...
, FAP
Fabrika automobila Priboj
Fabrika automobila Priboj is a Serbian manufacturer of trucks and buses. Founded in 1953, the company enjoys a long-standing relationship with Mercedes-Benz, which provides engines and licenses for many of FAP's vehicles....
etc.
History
It was established on 1 June 1952 in Novi SadNovi Sad
Novi Sad is the capital of the northern Serbian province of Vojvodina, and the administrative centre of the South Bačka District. The city is located in the southern part of Pannonian Plain on the Danube river....
, second largest city in Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
, as Autokaroserija. Neobus was built on the foundations of Stražilovo repair workshop, which was first founded in 1947 in Novi Sad
Novi Sad
Novi Sad is the capital of the northern Serbian province of Vojvodina, and the administrative centre of the South Bačka District. The city is located in the southern part of Pannonian Plain on the Danube river....
. In the time of its foundation Neobus only had 15 workers. Today, there are 183 employees with this firm. During the first years of its existence Autokaroserija's key business activity was repairing and rebuilding car chassis
Chassis
A chassis consists of an internal framework that supports a man-made object. It is analogous to an animal's skeleton. An example of a chassis is the underpart of a motor vehicle, consisting of the frame with the wheels and machinery.- Vehicles :In the case of vehicles, the term chassis means the...
. In 1956 Autokaroserija started producing new chassis.
From that time, Autokaroserija started closely cooperating with TAM
Tovarna avtomobilov Maribor
Tovarna avtomobilov Maribor was a Yugoslav and Slovenian commercial vehicle manufacturer based in the city of Maribor.-History:TAM began as an aircraft-parts factory founded by the occupying Germans in 1941...
(Automobile and Engine Factory) Maribor
Maribor
Maribor is the second largest city in Slovenia with 157,947 inhabitants . Maribor is also the largest and the capital city of Slovenian region Lower Styria and the seat of the Municipality of Maribor....
, a Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
n truck
Truck
A truck or lorry is a motor vehicle designed to transport cargo. Trucks vary greatly in size, power, and configuration, with the smallest being mechanically similar to an automobile...
s, bus
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
es and chassis manufacturer. The cooperation led to full integration of Autokaroserija with TAM in 1973.
The following year, 1974 is one of the most significant years in the history of Neobus. This was the period when Autokaroserija produced its very first urban bus
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
on Volvo
Volvo
AB Volvo is a Swedish builder of commercial vehicles, including trucks, buses and construction equipment. Volvo also supplies marine and industrial drive systems, aerospace components and financial services...
chassis for the needs of Novi Sad City Public Transport Company
JGSP Novi Sad
Javno Gradsko Saobraćajno Preduzeće Novi Sad or JGSP NS is Novi Sad's municipal bus operator...
(JGSP). The business relations started between Autokaroserija and JGSP in 1974 made JGSP Autokaroserija's most important buyer.
In 1986 started the golden era for Neobus. The factory had moved to a new location in Novi Sad
Novi Sad
Novi Sad is the capital of the northern Serbian province of Vojvodina, and the administrative centre of the South Bačka District. The city is located in the southern part of Pannonian Plain on the Danube river....
Industrial Zone South where a large facility was built measuring more than 20.000 square meters in surface placed on a plot of 110.000 square meters. 700 workers produced as many as 650 bus
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
es a year during this period.
With the dissolution
Dissolution (law)
In law, dissolution has multiple meanings.Dissolution is the last stage of liquidation, the process by which a company is brought to an end, and the assets and property of the company redistributed....
of Yugoslavia there is an interruption of business
Business
A business is an organization engaged in the trade of goods, services, or both to consumers. Businesses are predominant in capitalist economies, where most of them are privately owned and administered to earn profit to increase the wealth of their owners. Businesses may also be not-for-profit...
relations between Autokaroserija and Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
n TAM
Tovarna avtomobilov Maribor
Tovarna avtomobilov Maribor was a Yugoslav and Slovenian commercial vehicle manufacturer based in the city of Maribor.-History:TAM began as an aircraft-parts factory founded by the occupying Germans in 1941...
. Autokaroserija became an independent bus manufacturer but had many difficulties mostly due to the economic sanctions the UN imposed on Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Fry
-Food and cooking:* Frying, the act of cooking food in oil or fat** Pan frying, frying food in a flat pan** Stir frying, frying food in a wok and stirring it while it cooks* Full breakfast, a traditional cooked meal, also called a fry-up or Ulster fry...
. There was a loss of market share and business connections which put Autokaroserija in a very hard situation.
In 1992 the name Autokaroserija was changed to Neobus. The company was limited to Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
n market which was insufficient concerning the installed capacities and the nature of the branch. Business activity started to slow down until it finally collapsed, Neobus went into bankruptcy in 1999, the year of NATO action against Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Fry
-Food and cooking:* Frying, the act of cooking food in oil or fat** Pan frying, frying food in a flat pan** Stir frying, frying food in a wok and stirring it while it cooks* Full breakfast, a traditional cooked meal, also called a fry-up or Ulster fry...
. By 2001, the firm managed to get out of the bankruptcy and started producing bus
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
es again. In 2004 The Serbian Privatization Agency held an auction in which Neobus was sold to Alaa Maghrabi Mohammedali A, from Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
. The new owner has his own transport enterprise in Saudi Arabia called Maghrabi Hajj Transport Company. The company purchased hundreds of buses from former SFRY manufacturers in 1980s
1980s
File:1980s decade montage.png|thumb|400px|From left, clockwise: The first Space Shuttle, Columbia, lifted off in 1981; American President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev eased tensions between the two superpowers, leading to the end of the Cold War; The Fall of the Berlin Wall in...
which led to the acquisition of Neobus.
In 2006 Neobus signed a Strategic Cooperation Agreement with Volvo Bus Corporation
Volvo Buses
Volvo Buses is a subsidiary and a business area of the Swedish vehicle maker Volvo, which became an independent division in 1968. It is based in Göteborg....
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, making Neobus Volvo's official bodybuilder for South Eastern Europe.
Current products
- Coaches
- Universo
- Universo Eternal
- Intercity Buses
- Terra
- Terra Eternal
- Adéquat
- Urban Buses
- Citta LF
- Citta LE
- Citta SLF
- Citta LEA
- Suburban Bus
- Luna
- Midi Buses
- Mercury
- Stella