Neoplan

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Neoplan Bus GmbH is a German company that makes buses, trolleybuses, and coaches. It is part of MAN Truck & Bus SE.

History in simple steps
- Founded in 1935 by Gottlob Auwärter in Stuttgart to build bus and truck bodies.
- By 1953, Neoplan shifted from chassis-based bodies to a monocoque design with a steel tube skeleton. Engines moved to the rear, and air suspension became available in 1957.
- In 1961, Neoplan unveiled the Typ Hamburg, a bus with passenger-controlled fresh air and air suspension.
- In 1964, Konrad Auwärter developed a double-decker design for a service bus, leading to high-capacity touring coaches like the Skyliner.
- The Cityliner, introduced in 1971, featured a passenger platform above the cab and used fiberglass-reinforced plastic in parts of the body.
- Expansion followed: a second plant in Pilsting (1973) and a plant in Kumasi, Ghana (1974), with more plants in the 1980s, including two in the United States (later spun off as Neoplan USA). China began production in 1986, later forming a joint venture with Youngman.
- The Starliner (launched in 1996) won Bus of the Year in 1998 and 1999.
- In 1999, Neoplan showed a prototype fuel-cell bus.
- In 2001, Neoplan was acquired by MAN Nutzfahrzeuge AG to form Neoman Bus GmbH. The Starliner won Bus of the Year again in 2001 and 2002.
- The Gottlob Auwärter Museum opened in 2008 in Stuttgart.
- On February 1, 2008, Neoplan was fully integrated into MAN Nutzfahrzeuge, and Neoplan and MAN Bus began operating as integrated brands within the MAN group.

Products (highlights)
- Buses: Cityliner, Electroliner (electric trolleybus), Neoplan Airliner (airport bus), Skyliner, Tourliner.
- Notable discontinued models include Centroliner, Jumbocruiser, Megaliner, Megashuttle, Transliner, Skyliner variants, and several other famous Neoplan designs.

Current status
- Neoplan is a brand under MAN Truck & Bus SE, continuing to develop and supply buses and related transport solutions worldwide.