Solaris to supply 10 more Trollino 18 trolleybuses to Saint-Étienne
Solaris has signed a contract through the CATP for 10 articulated Trollino 18 trolleybuses for Saint-Étienne Métropole, lifting the French city's Solaris trolleybus fleet to 41 after deliveries in late 2027.
- 10
- 41
- 250 kW
- 23
What Happened
Solaris has signed a contract through the Centrale d'Achat de Transport Public (CATP) for another order from Saint-Étienne Métropole. This time, 10 articulated Solaris Trollino 18 trolleybuses will be delivered to the French city, joining the existing Solaris fleet in the local public transport network. Deliveries are scheduled for late 2027. Following those deliveries, a total of 41 Solaris trolleybuses will be operating on the streets of Saint-Étienne.
Solaris receives its first order from Saint-Étienne Métropole.
A total of 23 twelve-metre Trollino trolleybuses are delivered to the operator.
8 articulated Trollino 18 trolleybuses are delivered as the next stage of fleet development.
Delivery of 10 new articulated Trollino 18 trolleybuses is scheduled, taking the total to 41.
The new Trollino trolleybuses are 18 metres long and are powered by a 250 kW traction motor. They are equipped with batteries, which enable them to operate on sections of route without overhead wires. On board, cameras replace traditional exterior rear-view mirrors. The vehicles also feature the eSConnect remote diagnostics system, which supports ongoing fleet monitoring and maintenance.
- Driver fatigue and distraction monitoring
- Intelligent speed assistance
- Lane change assistance
- Pedestrian and cyclist detection
41
The latest 10-vehicle order joins earlier deliveries of Trollino trolleybuses dating back to 2019.
Previously from Solaris Bus & Coach sp. z o.o.
Solaris has been building a pipeline of zero-emission vehicle orders from municipal transit authorities. In August 2026 the company finalized an agreement with the municipal transit agency of Olomouc in the Czech Republic to manufacture and deliver 20 battery-electric buses by 2028.
Background drawn from MotorClaw's earlier coverage of Solaris Bus & Coach sp. z o.o.'s official releases.
Why this matters
The order extends a partnership between Solaris and Saint-Étienne Métropole that began in 2019 and keeps expanding a zero-emission trolleybus network that riders in the French city use as public transport. It also shows how battery-equipped trolleybuses can cover route sections where there are no overhead wires, a detail relevant to transit agencies weighing electrification.
Terms in This Story
- Trolleybus
- A bus that draws electric power from overhead wires, often carrying batteries so it can also run where no wires are installed.
- Articulated bus
- A longer bus with a flexible joint in the middle that bends when turning, allowing more passenger capacity.
- eSConnect
- Solaris's remote diagnostics system, which monitors vehicles in service to support fleet monitoring and maintenance.
- Intelligent speed assistance
- An in-vehicle system that helps a driver stay within the permitted speed limit.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.