BharatBenz Launches 19.5-Tonne Intercity Bus Chassis

India’s intercity bus segment has been evolving at a quiet but determined pace, and BharatBenz seems to have timed its latest move rather well. The company has introduced the BB1924, a 19,500 kg GVW heavy-duty bus chassis built specifically for long-haul passenger routes.

While the Indian bus market is already sizable, estimated at USD 51.09 billion and growing at 5.36% CAGR through 2030, operators still battle rising operating costs and occasionally ageing fleet technology. BharatBenz is betting that the BB1924 can tilt the equation.

A Chassis Built for High Capacity and Lower Costs

The BB1924 is engineered around a simple premise: More seating capacity and lower maintenance. The chassis supports 51+1+1 seats, making it suitable for intercity coaches to premium sleeper configurations. What makes the launch particularly meaningful is the company’s emphasis on localization, 92% of the components are sourced within India, which often translates to easier maintenance and faster parts availability.

Field trials on real-world routes showed a noticeable dip in Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). Andamuthu Ponnusamy, Head of Bus Business at DICV, went as far as calling it a “paradigm shift,” highlighting that the combination of value, reliability and safety features sets a new benchmark in the segment.

Powertrain: Built for Highways

At the heart of the BB1924 is a BS-VI OBD-II OM926 six-cylinder diesel engine producing 241 hp and 850 Nm of torque, a six-speed synchromesh gearbox tuned for long-haul efficiency supports the powertrain and BharatBenz backs it all with a confident six-year / 600,000 km powertrain warranty.

A neat detail operators may appreciate: service intervals start at 60,000 km and the next ones come every 120,000 km.

Safety and Ride Comfort

One of the recurring complaints from operators is brake wear. BharatBenz addresses this with a five-stage electromagnetic retarder that reduces brake wear by roughly 40%.

Alongside that, the chassis includes:

• ABS with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution
• Electronic Vehicle Stability Control
• High-tensile steel frame (255 x 73.3 x 7 mm)
• Pneumatic suspension with anti-roll bars (front and rear)
• Factory-fitted Michelin 295/80 R22.5 tubeless radial tyres

The package leans heavily toward delivering consistent ride comfort, a non-negotiable for intercity passengers who may spend five to ten hours on board. The bus has a 380-liter fuel tank giving a range of over 1,300 km.

Financing and After-Sales Support

To make the BB1924 easier to adopt, the company has lined up financing partnerships with 15+ banks and NBFCs, including HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank and Bajaj Finserv. Interest rates start at 8.5% per annum, with EMIs up to five years.

On-ground support seems equally robust. Operators get:

• 398 authorized touchpoints across India
• 24×7 roadside assistance
• 95% parts availability within 24–48 hours
• IoT-based telematics for predictive maintenance
• Maintenance packages for up to six years or 600,000 km
• Training programs for drivers and technicians in regional languages

Given the industry’s dependence on uptime, the emphasis on digital maintenance and quick serviceability feels particularly relevant.

Conclusion

While India’s intercity travel landscape is already competitive, the BB1924 brings an interesting blend of high capacity, long service life (estimated 10–15 years), and a suite of safety and comfort features. If BharatBenz’s field trial results scale across real-world fleets, the BB1924 could quietly become a favorite on many of India’s busiest routes.