Hispano Maghreb, the fully owned subsidiary of Hispano Carrocera, has bagged its largest-ever single contract to supply 800 urban buses to Casablanca’s urban transport operator, M’Dina Bus. Tata Motors Limited has a 21% stake in Hispano Carrocera.

A Hispano and Tata Motors Limited team comprising Gerardo Múgica, Chief Executive Officer of Hispano Carrocera,. Andrés Múgica, Chief Operating Officer, Hicham Benmira, Managing Director of Hispano Maghreb, and Ujjal Mukherjee, of Tata Motors Limited, met the Prime Minister of Morocco on July 15, 2005. The Prime Minister appreciated the presence of Tata Motors in the deal, and congratulated Hispano for bringing in superior European quality buses in Morocco which he hoped will enhance the image of public transportation in Casablanca.

The First batch of 200 urban buses will be delivered in 2006, and similar numbers for the next three years. These buses will be Hispano’s Habit buses, 12 metres in length, built on Iveco and Scania chassis, which Hispano has been using regularly.

The M’Dina Bus Consortium has been formed by RATP Development (the international business unit of the Public Transport Company of Paris), finance.com (a financial private company) and Al Bahja/Haddou Bus, a local Tourist Operator. It has the urban bus concession of the City of Casablanca since August 2004. This large fleet renewal is part of Morocco’s largest project to modernise public transportation. Selection of Hispano’s buses fulfills the aim of placing the urban transport in the country to its highest levels. The consortium selected Hispano based on the Pininfarina exterior design, product technology and the company’s track record.

Since its establishment in September 2000, Hispano Maghreb, has rapidly become the dominant bodybuilder of luxury buses and coaches in Morocco. The most important transport operators in the country today trust Hispano. Alsa Group in Marrakech and the Ruiz Group in Tangeirs are its best Citybus customers, while CTM Group, Atlas Rider, Satas and Supratours, are loyal customers for luxury tourist coaches.

Speaking at the occasion, Gerardo Múgica, CEO of Hispano Carrocera, said, “This major deal establishes a great starting-point for our ambitious growth plans, after tying-up with Tata Motors of India in March. Europe, North Africa and Middle East are key markets in our strategic plan, and creating a manufacturing facility in Morocco will help us meet these challenges.” Ravi Kant, Chairman of Hispano Carrocera and Executive Director- Commercial Vehicle Business Unit of Tata Motors said, “This development reinforces our confidence in Hispano’s competency and capability to supply world class buses in Europe and outside. We expect to open new markets in North Africa and Middle East.”

Hispano Carrocera is one of the largest bus and coach bodybuilders in Europe and North Africa. With manufacturing plants in both continents, it exports over 50% of its total production to close to 60 countries worldwide. On March 16, 2005, it signed a Strategic Alliance with Tata Motors, the world’s fifth largest medium and heavy commercial vehicle manufacturer, to strengthen its position in the global bus industry.