MAN Truck & Bus has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Improtex Trucks & Buses and the Government of Azerbaijan which sets the framework for a long-term strategic partnership, focused on developing local xKD production of MAN electric buses.
The deal also establishes the supporting service and charging infrastructure within Azerbaijan to support the country’s transition towards sustainable, emission-free urban mobility, said the German firm.
The agreement was formalised in Baku by Alexander Vlaskamp, CEO of MAN Truck & Bus; Samad Bashirli, Deputy Minister of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan; and Fizuli Alakbarov, President of Improtex Trucks & Buses LLC.
“With this agreement, we are opening a new chapter in our international cooperation,” said Alexander Vlaskamp, CEO of MAN Truck & Bus. “Azerbaijan is investing in sustainable urban mobility – and we are contributing our expertise in the field of electromobility. Together, we are making an important contribution to clean and efficient transport solutions in the region.”
First e-buses to arrive in 2026
As part of the agreement, the partners will establish local xKD (semi-knocked-down) assembly operations for MAN’s Lion’s City E buses. Under this system, vehicles will be partially assembled in MAN facilities and exported to Azerbaijan along with key components, before being fully assembled and tested locally.
The first Lion’s City E units are scheduled for delivery in 2026, marking the start of a wider rollout of electric public transport vehicles across Azerbaijan.
To ensure MAN’s high standards of production and product quality, the company will support Improtex and government partners with technical training, workforce development, and knowledge transfer. Over time, the aim is to expand local production capacity and increase value creation through the integration of locally manufactured components.
The partnership with Azerbaijan represents a major milestone in MAN’s internationalisation strategy, as the company continues to expand its global bus business beyond Europe.
“International business is of great importance to us,” said Barbaros Oktay, Head of Bus at MAN Truck & Bus. “We see enormous growth potential in markets outside Europe and are consistently driving forward our internationalisation. The partnership with Azerbaijan shows how we want to leverage this potential together with strong local partners.”
MAN’s collaboration with Improtex builds on a long-standing local relationship and reflects a shared commitment to modernising the region’s public transport sector through sustainable technology and infrastructure development.
Azerbaijan’s government has been ramping up investment in sustainable and efficient urban transport, positioning this MoU as a key enabler for decarbonising mobility in its cities. With MAN’s support, the initiative will not only introduce European-standard electric buses but also create new local employment opportunities in assembly, maintenance, and parts manufacturing.
