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The title Bus of the Year and Coach of the Year, also known as International Bus of the Year and International Coach of the Year, is on alternate years awarded to bus and coach models on the European market. The competition has been organized by several European bus-related publications since 1989. [1]
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In early summer, three to six bus or coach models that have been submitted by their manufacturers undergo the Bus Euro Test or the Coach Euro Test. The jury consists of around 20 (currently 24) journalists from bus and coach related publications from all over Europe. In odd years the coaches are tested and in even years the buses are tested, and the winner receives the award entitled for the following year. So at Coach Euro Test 2015, the Coach of the Year 2016 is chosen, and at Bus Euro Test 2016, the Bus of the Year 2017 is chosen. Only the winner is presented, no runners-up.
The award ceremonies take place at exhibitions in the autumn, with Bus of the Year at the IAA Nutzfahrzeuge in Hanover and Coach of the Year at Busworld Europe in Brussels.
The following 22 European publications each appoint a journalist to the jury in Bus & Coach of the Year. (List as of November 2023.) [2]
| Country | Publication |
|---|---|
 Austria | Österreichischer Personenverkehr |
 Belgium | Transporama |
 Bulgaria | Kamioni, Avtobusi spl. |
 Croatia | Kamion & Bus |
 Czech Republic | Transport a logistika |
 Denmark | Busmagasinet |
 Finland | Charter Club |
 France | Autocar & Bus Infos |
 Germany | Omnibusrevue |
 Greece | Car & Truck |
 Hungary | Rolling Tons Magazin |
 Ireland | Fleet Bus and Coach |
 Italy | Pullman |
 Netherlands | Touringcar & Bus |
 Norway | Buss Magasinet |
 Poland | Autobusy TEST |
 Romania | Tranzit / Persons Transportation |
 Spain | Autobuses & Autocares |
 Sweden | Bussmagasinet.se |
 Slovenia | Transport & Logistika |
 Switzerland | Bus transNews |
 United Kingdom | Bus & Coach Buyer |
| Title | Award ceremony | Winner(s) | Picture | Test location | Other contestants |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bus of the Year 2025 | IAA Transportion Hanover 16 september 2024 | Solaris Urbino 18 hydrogen [3] |  | Kladno, Czech Republic 7-10 May 2024 | Ebusco 3.0 - 18M MAN Lion's City LE 12 E Mercedes-Benz eCitaro fuel cell VDL Citea LE122 Electric |
| Bus of the Year 2023 | IAA Transportation, Hanover 20 September 2022 | MAN Lion's City 12 E |  | Limerick, Ireland 9-12 May 2022 | Higer Azure Karsan e-ATA 12 |
| Coach of the Year 2022 | MAN Bus Forum 14 October 2021 | Neoplan Cityliner |  | Bled, Slovenia 6-9 September 2021 | Setra S 511 HD VDL Futura FDD2 Volvo 9700 DD |
| Coach of the Year 2020 | Busworld Brussels 19 October 2019 | MAN Lion's Coach C [4] |  | Sibiu, Romania | Setra S 531 DT Iveco Crossway CNG Volvo 9900 VDL Futura FHD2 |
| Bus of the Year 2019 | IAA Nutzfahrzeuge 22 September 2018 | Mercedes-Benz Citaro hybrid [5] |  | Zagreb, Croatia | Irizar ieTram Heuliez GX337 Linium Elec |
| Coach of the Year 2018 | Busworld Kortrijk 19 October 2017 | Irizar i8 [6] |  | Mantorp, Sweden 4-7 September 2017 | Iveco Evadys Mercedes-Benz Tourismo Neoplan Tourliner Scania Interlink VDL Futura FDD2 |
| Bus of the Year 2017 | IAA Nutzfahrzeuge 21 September 2016 | Solaris Urbino 12 electric |  | Brussels, Belgium | Mercedes-Benz Citaro NGT Van Hool Exqui.City Irizar i2e Ebusco 2.1 |
| Coach of the Year 2016 | Busworld Kortrijk 2015 | Iveco Magelys [7] |  | Plovdiv, Bulgaria 16-19 June 2015 | Neoplan Skyliner Setra S 516 HDH Sunsundegui SC7 Temsa HD12 VDL Futura MD |
| Bus of the Year 2015 | IAA Nutzfahrzeuge 2014 | MAN NG313-18,75 Lion's City GL CNG |  | Lucerne, Switzerland [8] | Iveco Urbanway 18M Full Hybrid Mercedes-Benz Citaro G Scania CN340UB Citywide LF CNG VDL Citea SLFA-180/360 |
| Coach of the Year 2014 | Busworld Kortrijk 18 October 2013 | Setra S 515 HD |  | Ybbs, Austria July 2013 [9] | Mercedes-Benz Travego M Van Hool TDX27 Astromega |
| Bus of the Year 2013 | IAA Nutzfahrzeuge 20 September 2012 | Mercedes-Benz Citaro C2 |  | Versailles, France | Irisbus Citelis 12M Hybrid MAN NL253 Lion's City Hybrid VDL Citea LLE-120/225 Volvo 7900 Hybrid |
| Coach of the Year 2012 [10] | Busworld Kortrijk October 2011 | VDL Futura FHD2 |  | Arendal, Norway 1–3 June 2011 [11] | Irizar i6 Integral Setra S416GT-HD/2 Scania TK400EB Touring HD 6x2 Viseon C13 Volvo 9500 |
| Bus of the Year 2011 [12] | IAA Nutzfahrzeuge 21 September 2010 | VDL Citea |  | Bucharest, Romania | Mercededes-Benz Citaro Otokar Kent 290LF Temsa Avenue LF Volvo 7700 Hybrid |
| Coach of the Year 2010 | Busworld Kortrijk 15 October 2009 | Mercedes-Benz Travego M |  | Senlis, France | Barbi Maestro Neoplan Cityliner C Plaxton Elite Van Hool TD920 Altano |
| Bus of the Year 2009 [13] | IAA Nutzfahrzeuge 23 September 2008 | Setra S 415 NF |  | Berlin, Germany 7–9 May 2008 [14] | MAN NL 273 Lion's City H2 Optare Versa |
| Coach of the Year 2008 [15] | Busworld Kortrijk 19 October 2007 | Volvo 9700 NG |  | Zürich, Switzerland June 2007 | Irisbus Magelys Mercedes-Benz Tourismo M Neoplan Cityliner Noge Titanium VDL Jonckheere |
| Bus of the Year 2007 | IAA Nutzfahrzeuge 19 September 2006 | Mercedes-Benz Citaro LE Ü |  | ||
| Coach of the Year 2006 | Busworld Kortrijk 20 October 2005 | Neoplan N5218SHDL Starliner L |  | ||
| Bus of the Year 2005 | IAA Nutzfahrzeuge 21 September 2004 | MAN NLxx3 Lion's City |  | ||
| Coach of the Year 2004 [16] | Busworld Kortrijk 18 October 2003 | MAN RHSxx4 Lion’s Star |  | ||
| Scania K124EB / Irizar PB |  | ||||
| Bus of the Year 2003 [17] | FIAA Madrid 23 October 2002 | Van Hool newA330 |  | ||
| Coach of the Year 2002 [18] | Busworld Kortrijk 2001 | Setra S 415 HDH |  | ||
| Bus of the Year 2001 [19] | FIAA Madrid 22 November 2000 | Mercedes-Benz Cito |  | ||
| Coach of the Year 2000 [20] | Busworld Kortrijk 1999 | Neoplan N 516/3 SHDL Starliner |  | ||
| Bus of the Year 1999 | FIAA Madrid 18 November 1998 | MAN NL 263 (A21) |  | ||
| Coach of the Year 1998 | Busworld Kortrijk 16 October 1997 | Van Hool T9 Acron |  | ||
| Bus of the Year 1997 [18] [21] | Setra S 315 NF |  | |||
| Coach of the Year 1996 [22] | Car & Bus Kortrijk 19 October 1995 | Volvo B12-600 (Drögmöller E330H EuroComet) |  | ||
| Bus of the Year 1995 | Neoplan Metroshuttle N 4114 | ||||
| Coach of the Year 1995 [23] | Autobus RAI Maastricht October 1994 | Iveco EuroClass HD | |||
| Coach of the Year 1994 | Car & Bus Kortrijk October 1993 | MAN RH403 Lion's Star |  | ||
| Coach of the Year 1993 [18] | Setra S 315 HDH |  | |||
| Coach of the Year 1992 [24] | Mercedes-Benz O404 |  | |||
| Coach of the Year 1991 [24] | Renault FR1 GTX |  | |||
| Bus of the Year 1990 [24] | Neoplan Metroliner |  | |||
| Bus & Coach of the Year 1989 [24] | Van Hool Acron |  | |||
| Bus & Coach of the Year 1988 [24] | Berkhof Excellence 2000 |  | |||
| Bus & Coach of the Year 1987 [24] | Bova Futura |  | |||
| Bus & Coach of the Year 1986 [24] | Volvo C10M |  | |||
| Bus & Coach of the Year 1984 [24] | LAG Galaxy |  |
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Media related to Bus & Coach of the Year at Wikimedia Commons