VISEON now completely independent

•    Reinmuth acquires MAN Nutzfahrzeuge´s stake earlier than expected
•    Growth make independence possible
•    MAN remains partner for development and contract manufacturing


Pilsting. VISEON Bus GmbH has changed its partnership structure. One year before the originally-planned handover date, the hitherto majority shareholder and managing director, Joachim Reinmuth, has acquired the ten per cent stake held by MAN Nutzfahrzeuge AG in the 2008-founded bus manufacturer. As a result, Reinmuth now holds 61 per cent of company shares while Ernö Bartha, likewise managing partner, maintains his 39 per cent share in the enterprise. "It was our aim right from the very beginning to establish ourselves as an independent producer of premium and special-purpose buses as quickly as possible. The positive business performance over the past 12 months has favourably influenced the development and has made it possible to take this important step earlier than originally considered", explained VISEON boss, Joachim Reinmuth.

In addition, the overwhelming positive reaction to the recently unveiled VISEON C10 coach - the first vehicle developed by VISEON and completely manufactured in Pilsting - has encouraged the partners to further expand the coach programme by the end of 2010 and thus much faster than originally planned.

Karl Gadesmann, MAN Nutzfahrzeuge AG management board member responsible for controlling, purchasing and legal issues, welcomed the mutually-reached agreement: "As a partner, we have been pleased to have had the opportunity to accompany VISEON Bus GmbH during the successful start of its business activities. We will continue with our partnership-based co-operation even if we are no longer a partner and support the company´s course of expansion". MAN is a partner of VISEON, both as a supplier of high-quality chassis and engines along with the development new coaches for niche markets as well as for contract manufacturing of small production runs and customised bodies.

In April 2009, VISEON Bus GmbH took over the former bus and coach production facility of MAN Nutzfahrzeuge AG in Pilsting with around a workforce of 200 employees. At the site today, VISEON develops, manufactures and sells complete airport buses, trolley-buses and coaches as well as special bodies for coaches. In 2009, the company recorded a turnover of 16 million euros. Based on the current planning forecast, VISEON will more than double its turnover this year to about 35 million euros.