BUS2BUS 2024 is more than just a trade show – it is the meeting place for innovation and the future of the German and European bus and supply industry. The combination of a trade show, onstage programme, workshops and networking events makes BUS2BUS the industry’s leading platform for innovation. In 2024, BUS2BUS maintains its impressive growth and is taking place on a much larger area in hub27, the exhibition grounds’ most state-of-the-art hall. The event is organised by Messe Berlin, with support from its partner the Federal Association of German Bus Operators (bdo).
Trade visitors attending hub27 and the adjacent outdoor display area can look forward to a wide-ranging programme: the trade show with exhibitors from Germany and around the world displaying their products, services and technological solutions, the Future Forum hosting a fascinating programme of lectures and discussions, the Future Night, and the presentation of two awards – the Fresh Travel and Startup Award. Tickets are available online from the ticket shop.

Trade show: market overview, Startup Area and test drives

The trade show places the spotlight on modern buses and provides a comprehensive overview for trade visitors. Exhibitors from Germany and abroad are presenting their innovations and latest products. This year’s exhibitors include IVECO Bus, MAN, Daimler Buses, DB Regio, MCV Deutschland, Ebusco, Anadolu Isuzu, OTOKAR, ARTHUR BUS, Lanzhou Guangtong, NOW, KEMPOWER, ioki, Jebsen & Jessen, Mobileye, and many others. On the outdoor display area, demonstrations will take place of coaches, public transport buses and minibuses, which will also be available for test drives. Trade visitors can look forward to test-riding a driverless People Mover. The Startup Area, featuring new companies from the mobility sector with their solutions, will provide inspiration for new business ideas.

Future Forum: the future of mobility

At the Future Forum, speakers representing business, politics and research will examine the latest developments and the challenges for tomorrow’s bus industry. The programme features several panel discussions on a wide range of topics including buses with alternative drives, self-driving buses and new concepts for mobility hubs. The ways in which today’s public transport systems can adapt to modern lifestyles and working habits will also be examined. Under the heading ’Fresh Travel’, discussions will take place on the opportunities for the coach tour industry in the context of personalising travel, sustainability and green marketing, with a special focus on the expectations of younger generations regarding sustainable travel. Trade visitors can look forward to fresh ideas from well-known industry representatives such as Fabian Stenger from Flixbus, Till Oberwörder from Daimler Buses, Zeina Naser from Cities Forum, Romain Erny from Choose Paris Region, and many others.

Every two years BUS2BUS attracts bus industry experts with its wide-ranging programme (Image: Messe Berlin).

The daily bdo Politics Talk on the Future Forum stage also promises fascinating debates and insights. Discussion will focus on ’AI vs. humans: can self-driving vehicles solve the skills shortage?’, ’The Deutschland-Ticket: a data mine’, where digitalisation is ushering in a new era, and the ’bdo Politics Talk with the parliamentary Bus Group of the German Bundestag’ on the subject of the Deutschland Ticket and the future of public transport. Highlights will include daily keynote speeches by recognised experts in the mobility sector. Startups will also have their say: at the BUS2Pitch they will have an opportunity to present themselves to a wide audience of experts and impress the jury with their innovations. Exclusive prizes lie in store.

A political representative is due to attend the opening of BUS2BUS, with Federal Minister of Transport Volker Wissing having announced a visit on 24 April 2024. Additional information and full details of the Future Forum programme can be found online.

Future Night: networking event and industry meeting at the Marshall Haus

In addition to specialist expertise, BUS2BUS also stands for valuable networking opportunities, which the Future Night will be offering on 24 April from 6 p.m. at the Marshall Haus. The event provides a professional platform for face-to-face meetings and an interdisciplinary exchange of views. Tickets to the Future Night cost 80 euros. Trade visitors already in possession of a BUS2BUS trade visitor pass can purchase a reduced-rate ticket for 50 euros from the ticket shop.

Another highlight this year will be the live presentation of the Fresh Travel Award.

BUS2BUS aims to kick off a discussion about how design, styling and digital solutions can help buses become more attractive and create a greater everyday awareness of them. Under the heading ’Fresh Travel’, the search is on for innovative concepts for the coach tour industry and long-distance travel that take both passenger needs and the environment into account. Candidates have until 29 February to submit their concepts. A panel of experts will honour the best ideas at a live event at BUS2BUS.

BUS2BUS also features a digital addition to the live event. By accessing the online platform of BUS2BUS plus visitors can find out about exhibitors in the run-up to the event, and afterwards recap the entire onstage programme and any sessions they have missed.

Impressions of the last BUS2BUS in 2022 (video: Messe Berlin)

About BUS2BUS
BUS2BUS, an innovative business platform for the bus and supplier industry in Germany and Europe that focuses exclusively on the bus industry, has been held since 2017. BUS2BUS 2022 was attended by around 2,000 trade visitors from 25 countries and 100 exhibiting companies from 16 countries. Preparations for BUS2BUS 2024 show that the trade show will be even bigger, with more buses and test drive opportunities than ever before. Combining a trade show, an informative Future Forum, and presentations & workshops, it covers the entire spectrum of future technologies and showcases the latest trends and innovations in the bus industry.The next BUS2BUS will take place from April 24 to 25, 2024 in the modern top location hub27 on the Berlin exhibition grounds.

About Messe Berlin
Berlin has been a trade fair destination for 200 years, and has been one of the most important such hubs for many decades. Messe Berlin – the state’s own trade fair company – conceives, markets and organizes hundreds of live events every year. It strives to be an outstanding host for visitors at all events, generate optimal business stimuli, and provide fair conditions for everyone. This concept is reflected in the company slogan: Messe Berlin – Hosting the World.