On 20th March, UNVI had the pleasure of welcoming vocational training students from the Dr. Júlio Martins School in Chaves to its facilities in Ourense. During the visit, the students were able to get to know our company up close, explore our production process and discover how we have developed our innovative electric chassis. This training experience reflects our commitment to education and the exchange of knowledge among future generations of professionals, as well as the social responsibility inherent in our corporate culture.

Volvo Bus UK & Ireland has opened the order books for a new full-size luxury coach to be built exclusively for the UK and Irish markets, following the signing of a new bodybuilder agreement with Spanish manufacturer, UNVI.

The new model was announced last Monday jointly by Domenico Bondi, Managing Director of Volvo Bus UK & Ireland, and Eloy Pérez, CEO of UNVI. They were speaking at the UK Coach Operators Association (UKCOA) Members Annual General Meeting and Conference, hosted at Volvo Group UK’s head office in Warwick.

Deliveries of the new Volvo B13R UNVI XL are anticipated to commence from Summer 2026. The new model will initially be offered as a 12.8m-long, 4×2 single-deck coach with a choice between 53 passenger seats, or 49 passenger seats plus one wheelchair space.

Bondi says: “This marks one of the most important new product announcements since I joined Volvo Bus UK & Ireland three years ago. A massive amount of work has gone into developing this new coach, from both Volvo and UNVI – it’s a hugely exciting moment.”

Commenting on the specification of the new model, he adds: “An exceptional coach requires first class build quality, excellent chassis geometry, a smooth-riding suspension and a driveline offering industry-leading performance and efficiency. That’s precisely what we bring with the B13R chassis – and when paired with this new UNVI body, we’re confident we’ve got a fantastic product which will set the benchmark for coach travel.”

Pérez explains: “The scale of this opportunity with Volvo Buses is huge. From the first exploratory conversations with Domenico and his team last year, we knew we wanted to be a part of this project.

“It comes at an incredibly exciting time for UNVI. Whilst this year we celebrate 30 years in bus and coach bodybuilding, our eyes are always on the future. We have developed a hard-earned reputation for product quality, style and comfort – match it with the Volvo B13R chassis, and we have a truly winning formula.”

On-board passenger experience

For maximum comfort and safety, passengers aboard the new Volvo B13R UNVI XL will benefit from Brusa Create 120 ‘top flair’ seating as standard. The reclinable seats each come with three-point seat belts, armrests for aisle seats, two-position footrests, a magazine net, tray back table, seat flaps and enhanced upholstery in automotive fabric and contrasting faux leather.

Passengers are able to keep personal devices charged on the move with individual seatback USB-A and USB-C charging sockets. The cabin will feature fabric curtains, generous overhead luggage stowage, plus interior & gangway LED lighting.

A powerful ThermoKing climate control system ensures optimal temperature, with individual air vents, personal reading lamps, and speakers connected to the on-board Bosch AV system, which features twin AEC TFT 22” screens for customer entertainment. A courier microphone is located by the crew seat, and a driver’s microphone integrated into the driver’s seat. A diesel pre-heater is also included as standard.

For passenger convenience there will also be a Shades Technics centre sunken freshwater toilet, plus an estimated 9.5m³ of capacity in the main luggage compartment.

Driveline performance

The new Volvo B13R UNVI XL is powered by the latest generation 13-litre Euro-6 diesel engine, and a 12-speed Volvo I-Shift transmission, providing overdrive top gear, fast gear shifting, low internal friction and software optimised to help coach operators save fuel.

The engine can deliver up to 500 hp and 2,500 Nm or torque, whilst guaranteeing impressive power in all driving conditions and low engine revs when highway cruising, helping drivers to stay within the engine’s most economic operating range. With the option to run on either hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) or biofuel, operators can choose to improve their environmental performance even further.

Fuel savings of up to 9 per cent and exhaust aftertreatment that reduces local pollutants to below Euro-6 requirements are also achieved from the new Volvo B13R, compared with the driveline in the previous B11R chassis.

This latest model also comes with the Volvo Active Safety Platform, compliant with EU GSR2 regulations. This is in addition to standard features including Lane Keeping Support, Collision Warning & Emergency Brake, and Adaptive Cruise Control, which helps to save fuel by optimising coach speed, gear changes and coasting to the topography, whilst maintaining a safe distance with vehicles ahead. It means drivers can use cruise control in more driving situations than ever before, to save fuel and reduce the vehicle’s CO₂ footprint.

The Volvo Active Safety Platform also comprises safety systems including Driver Alert Support, Intelligent Speed Assist, Side Collision Avoidance Support, Front Short Range Assist, Lane Change Support, and Tyre Pressure Monitoring System.

Behind the wheel, drivers can access a fully dynamic, full colour, integrated instrument cluster which allows them to select between different views – providing a superior overview of important vehicle information, whilst enhancing driver focus and control.

Warranty

Volvo is offering the new Volvo B13R UNVI XL with a three year / 300,000km warranty (whichever comes first) covering the body & chassis, plus a structural warranty of 12 years.

Manufacturing

Volvo Buses will assemble the B13R chassis at its factory in Boras, Sweden, one of the company’s most modern manufacturing facilities and accredited for relying solely on renewable energy for its operation. The chassis will be bodied at UNVI’s efficient 28,000sq m production site in Ourense, Spain, before delivery to the UK for pre-delivery inspection.

UNVI is part of the Pérez Rumbao group, which employs 1,800 people and turned over more than €700 million in 2024. The group operates across passenger car and commercial vehicle dealerships, fuel retail sales, and bus and coach bodybuilding. UNVI runs from two manufacturing facilities, located in Spain and Portugal.

The XL represents a significant addition to UNVI’s existing presence in the UK and Ireland since 2002, via smaller front-engined minicoaches, midicoaches and van-conversions,  that are sold by Coachtraders (UK) and Paramount Conversions (Ireland).

Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB) has carried out a test of our i23 model. This double-decker vehicle with 100% electric propulsion represents a significant advance in sustainable transport in the city. For a week, the bus has been running without passengers, allowing us to assess its suitability and performance for the Barcelona Bus Turistic service run by TMB.

The tested bus shares key features with the 18 double-decker buses, all of them electric, which are part of the tender launched in July 2024. This approach not only aims to modernise the public transport fleet, but also to contribute to reducing emissions and promoting more sustainable tourism in the city.

New multi-year contract for tourist double-decker buses for HINOMARU, UNVI customer since 2017.

The company has launched a fleet renewal with 17 new UNVI electric buses, marking a milestone in the total renewal of its fleet and its transition to more sustainable propulsion. This change is part of the Vienna Chamber of Commerce’s “Zero Emission Transport” project, an initiative to promote emission-free transport in the city.

Vienna Sightseeing
Leader in the Vienna sightseeing tour market since 1972, Vienna Sightseeing offers guided tours of the city and its surroundings, with the aim of showing visitors the beauty and richness of the Austrian capital. Renowned for its excellent organisation, personalised service and a wide range of exciting itineraries, the company has established itself as the preferred choice of tourists.

UNVI i23
The model chosen for this renewal is the UNVI i23, a double-decker bus offered with electric or diesel chassis options, available in two- and three-axle configurations, adapting to the needs of the service and the commitment to sustainability.

More information at: https://unvibus.com/autobus/i23/

On the 14th of November we received in our facilities the first year students of the Degree in Business Administration and Management (ADE) in English language of the University of Vigo.

In 2025, UNVI will reach an important milestone as it celebrates 30 years in the bus and coach body sector. Since its foundation in 1995, UNVI has been supplying solutions on the move both nationally and internationally.

In 2005, the incorporation of CAMO’s facilities in Porto doubled production capacity.

Over the last decade, UNVI has made a great effort in innovation. In 2010, it was the first coachbuilder to market a hybrid convertible double-decker bus, and in 2018, it introduced the first 100% electric convertible double-decker. Today, more than 20% of its bodies are built on electric chassis.

UNVI has a team of more than 300 employees and a production capacity of up to 400 units per year.

Product Range

UNVI structures its offer in six bodywork families:

1. S-range: Minibuses on vans from brands such as Iveco, MAN, Mercedes and VW.
2. M range: Minibuses on IVECO chassis, with the M20 model as the benchmark.
3. L-range: 10-metre midibuses with a capacity of up to 45 passengers.
4. C range: Urban and suburban bodies, from 7 to 15 metres, adaptable to different types of motorisation, including electric versions.
5. SIL range: Double-decker bodies for suburban and interurban transport, available in diesel, CNG and 100% electric propulsion.
6. i23 range: Double tourist flat.

In the domestic market, UNVI focuses on the minibus segments, with expectations to exceed 140 units by 2024. This growth has prompted the opening in 2023 of a new manufacturing centre for van conversion.

UNVI continues to work closely with chassis manufacturers.

Launch of the New Urban Body C26

In October 2025, UNVI will present its new C26 urban and suburban bodywork at Busworld, a modern, functional and sustainable model with maximum weight optimisation, designed with passenger and driver comfort in mind and made of environmentally friendly materials.

Values and Future

UNVI’s commitment to quality, safety and training is key. Through dual vocational training programmes since 2013 and a strong investment in technology and digitalisation (more than 4 million euros between 2021 and 2024), UNVI continues to evolve to maintain the trust of its customers.

Our agent Coachtraders Ltd has recently delivered 4 UNVI S20 minibuses on Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 517 CDI. for Radical Travel Group Ltd.
Two units for Haggis Adventures and two for Highland Explorer Tours.
The new UNVI S20’s joined Radical Travel’s predominantly UNVI fleet of vehicles used for travel and tours to some of Scotland’s most iconic and stunning destinations.