The Czech automotive industry has a rich history. Kopřivnická Tatra is the oldest car company in Central Europe, Škoda Auto from Mladá Boleslav is not much younger. In addition to them, however, there are also significantly younger brands, some of which were created only after the velvet revolution. Among them is SOR Libchavy, a specialist in affordable buses, which in a way took over the role of Karosa. What is his story?
Through maringotka to the buses
SOR Libchavy started producing buses in the early 1990s, after the company Sdružení opravárenství a rozvoje (hence the name of the company), which before the revolution was engaged in the production and repairs of agricultural machinery, was privatized. The new company first focused on construction equipment and maringotkas, before reorienting itself to the production of buses, in which it saw greater potential.
This was taken care of by Jaroslav Trnka, former director of Karosa Vysoké Mýto, who came to SOR with several other former employees of Karosa. In addition, SOR is located near Karosa (today Iveco Bus), from Libchav to Vysoké Mýt it is not even 25 kilometers by road.
A hole in the market
SOR Libchavy saw a free space on the market in the form of a small bus, which was missing on the Czech market at the time. The first product was the SOR C 7.5 Lili, a 7.5 meter long bus, the first prototype of which was created at the end of 1993. And the following year it was presented at the Autotec fair in Brno.
Lili was a self-built minibus for 26 seated and 10 standing passengers. It had to be completed in Litomyšl, at the company Teroz, because at that time they did not have the space for completion in SOR. This collaboration gave the new bus its name – Lili is an acronym for Libchavy-Litomyšl. The drive was provided by a Perkins engine from the English manufacturer, combined with a Voith Midimat automatic transmission.
Photo: SOR
This is how passengers of the Olomouc Transport Company remember the tiny SOR.
At the premiere in Brno, the novelty attracted attention when it acquired the first customer. Technical services of the city of Kadaň ordered four buses for public transport. The first two still used the Perkins engine, the later units relied on more reliable Iveco aggregates combined with a mechanical gearbox. Other specimens then went to the company ZDAR Žďár nad Sázavou, which used them for the lines between Žďár nad Sázavou and Nový Město na Moravá.
Gradual expansion
Thanks to this, SOR gradually established itself as a bus manufacturer, thanks to which the offer could grow. The Lili model was finally produced until 2001, the total production exceeded 140 examples. They were created in two variants – B 7.5 were city buses, LC 7.5 were buses for long-distance transport.
Over the years, however, it has become clear that a seven-meter minibus is too small after all, so a machine like the Lili can no longer be found in SOR’s offer. The smallest model today is the SOR EBN 8 with a length of eight meters.
Photo: SOR
The SOR LH 10.5 from the beginning of the millennium was the flagship, responding to customer requests for a long-distance bus.
Incidentally, this is proof that SOR follows modern trends. The EBN intended for urban and intercity traffic is an electric bus, powered by a 120 kW asynchronous electric motor, which draws its energy from lithium-ion batteries with a capacity of 172 kWh. In addition, SOR is also testing a hydrogen bus and offers trolleybuses in cooperation with Škoda from Pilsen. They use the SOR body and Škoda’s electric equipment. A CNG drive is also an option.
In any case, SOR Libchavy is still betting on the characteristics with which the company broke through. The manufacturer focuses mainly on affordable models, which is helped by a light, simple construction or the maximum possible unification of parts, across model lines. In addition, SOR also broke ground with a partially low-floor construction, which earned its machines the nickname “humpback bus” or “camel”.
Photo: SOR
SOR has also been offering CNG buses for many years.
Of course, the main market remains the domestic, Czech market. This position was consolidated years ago by the fact that SOR won the contract for the supply of buses for Prague. In the years 2009–2018, SOR was to deliver a total of 620 SOR NB buses to the metropolis worth approximately 3.5 billion crowns. In addition to the “standard” length buses of the NB 12 series, there were also NB 18 and NBH 18 articulated buses with a hybrid drive.
Photo: SOR
SOR NB 12 in the classic colors of the Prague transport company.
However, SOR buses have also made a breakthrough in Slovakia, where they are used by the Bratislava transport company, and they also travel in Germany, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Romania or the Faroe Islands.
Today’s portfolio
The current offer includes four model series available in different lengths. The mentioned EBN is an electric bus for urban and intercity traffic, which should also be suitable for tourist areas or national parks and mountain resorts.
The twelve-meter model NS12 electric, which is derived from the NS12 diesel series, is also exclusively intended for cities, available with a 210 kW diesel engine. There is also an articulated NS18 derivative 18 meters long with a power unit of 243 kW.
Photo: SOR
On the contrary, the ICN series is presented as intercity. It is offered in several lengths, with the smallest being 9.5 meters. In addition to the diesel unit, a CNG drive is also available.
SOR Libchavy has been part of EP Industries belonging to Daniel Křetínský’s portfolio since 2012.
2024-03-09 04:00:00
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