Month: February 2026

The fourth stop of the BUS2BUS Roadshow in Berlin set the strategic tone for BUS2BUS 2026, positioning bus mobility at the center of Europe’s transport transformation. At the first Roadshow stop in Hungary and the Czech Republic, Tamás Móricz, Commercial Director of HC Linear, represented the company in a professional dialogue with an international audience. The Berlin roundtable discussion, moderated by Sustainability Evangelist and Podcast Host Zackes Brustik, brought together Kerstin Kube-Erkens, Director of BUS2BUS at Messe Berlin; Christiane Leonard, Managing Director of the Bundesverband Deutscher Omnibusunternehmen; Dr. Stefan Carsten, Futurist and Curator of the BUS2BUS Future Forum; and Maximilian Rohs, Director Infrastructure & Mobility at PwC Deutschland.

The message emerging from the discussion was clear. Buses are no longer simply a component of public transport. They are a strategic enabler of sustainable, scalable, and digitally integrated mobility systems.

The bus sector is undergoing structural change driven by three interconnected forces: decarbonization, digitalization and automation.

Fleet electrification is accelerating across European markets. Battery electric buses and alternative powertrains are reshaping procurement strategies and operational models. However, large scale deployment depends on parallel investment in charging infrastructure, grid capacity and reliable funding mechanisms. Without scalable depot and opportunity charging solutions, electrification cannot reach full operational maturity.

At the same time, autonomous driving technology is progressing from pilot projects toward scalable deployment. Highly automated buses are increasingly viewed as a long term response to one of the sector’s most pressing structural challenges: driver shortages. In rural and low demand areas especially, automation could expand service coverage while improving operational efficiency.

A key takeaway from the panel was the shift from product centric thinking to system oriented mobility ecosystems. Future operators will not simply procure vehicles. They will integrate energy management, AI based fleet optimization, digital ticketing and real time passenger information into cohesive mobility platforms.

Technological readiness alone is insufficient. Stable regulatory frameworks and long term funding instruments are essential to ensure investment security. The discussion highlighted the need for coordinated public support schemes to accelerate fleet electrification, infrastructure rollout and digital transformation.
Reducing administrative burden and ensuring alignment between European and national regulation were identified as critical enablers of innovation. Overregulation risks slowing deployment at a time when implementation speed is decisive.

Beyond technology, the bus was positioned as a strategic instrument for territorial cohesion. Compared to rail infrastructure, buses offer flexibility, lower capital expenditure and faster deployment cycles. This makes them central to strengthening rural mobility and ensuring affordable access to transport services.
Younger generations increasingly prioritize accessibility and sustainability over private vehicle ownership, reinforcing the long term relevance of bus based mobility solutions.

BUS2BUS 2026 will take place on 15 and 16 April 2026 at Messe Berlin. The event will occupy two exhibition halls and an outdoor area offering test drive opportunities, with more than 50 vehicles on display. Dedicated formats such as the Future Forum, Partner Stage and the Young Professionals program will complement the exhibition, alongside additional networking opportunities. Designed as a platform for exchange across the entire value chain of the bus and coach industry, BUS2BUS 2026 aims to connect manufacturers, operators, policymakers and technology providers in a focused professional setting.

The Roadshow underscored that the future of mobility will depend on integrated systems, coordinated investment and technological maturity. In this transformation, buses will play a defining role. For technology providers such as HC Linear, this evolving landscape represents both responsibility and opportunity: delivering reliable, high-performance solutions that contribute to the operational resilience and long-term sustainability of next-generation mobility systems.