Kravtex-Kühne Group
Hungary's leading bus manufacturer.
Credobus has created one of the largest bus factories in the East-Central European region. In Mosonmagyaróvár and Győr 500 employees manufacture Hungary's market-leading bus product portfolio. Almost half of the 6,000 piece intercity bus fleet in Hungary was manufactured by Credobus.
50 %
Share in the fleet of VOLÁNBUSZ.
The Kravtex-Kühne Group is a market leader in several segments, and its products are considered the most widespread domestically produced buses in Hungary. In 2023, nearly 2,800 Credobuses will be in operation, and their share in the fleet of VOLÁNBUSZ Zrt. will be close to 50 %.
167 years of history
Founded in 1856
Our subsidiary, the Kühne Agricultural Machinery cPlc. in Mosonmagyaróvár, founded in 1856 and named after Kühne Ede, is the oldest machinery factory in Hungary that has preserved its original profile. The frame structures of our buses are made here.
Not just a bus factory
Versatile production and services
In addition to the bus market, the Kravtex-Kühne Group is active in agriculture and custom machine manufacturing through Kühne Agricultural Machinery cPlc., and in the passenger transport market thanks to Panoráma Tourist Ltd..
We call it Credobus, because we believe in it
Our buses were initially called Kravola, then Credo, and today they are marketed under the Credobus brand name. Credobus expresses the faith with which we have been working for the success of the products we create since 1999.
Kravtex Ltd. is established, whose main activity initially is the export of Ikarus buses, Rába engines and chassis, as well as their parts.
Kravtex buys its factory in Győr and starts refurbishing Ikarus buses withdrawn from circulation. Between 1994 and 2002, it exported more than 700 completely refurbished Ikarus buses to Russia.
With the purchase of a majority share package, Kravtex becomes the owner of Kühne Agricultural Machinery cPlc. in Mosonmagyaróvár, creating the Kravtex-Kühne Group. Kravtex - unlike the privatization deals - buys the shares from the factory's "MRP" (Employee Part Ownership Program) organization and from the Mosonmagyaróvár Municipality.
Based on the production documentation purchased from the Czech SOR Libchavy, bus production begins under the brand name Kravola, then Credo. By revising the construction of the first 9.5-meter midi bus, it was possible to use as many Hungarian-made components as possible in series production.
The product range is expanded with the 11 meter long models, thus Kravtex enters the market of traditional size solo buses.
After intense competition, a total of 65 suburban buses can be delivered to 24 Volán companies, which represents a breakthrough in the spread of Kravtex products in Hungary. A new plant hall, service center and office building will be handed over in Győr.
After intensive product development, the product range is expanded with 12-meter solo and 18-meter articulated buses.
With the sale of 175 buses, the production volume increases a record level. Most of the vehicles handed over are the Credo EC 12 type, which, with its extremely favorable operating cost level, is becoming the dominant product in its segment.
The development of low-entry 12- and 18-meter city buses continues.
The 10,600-square-meter bus production hall built on the premises of Kühne Agricultural Machinery cPlc. will be handed over, including a new, 6-station painting plant. At that time, the 500th bus produced by the company group will be handed over. At the same time, the suburban EN 12 and LH 12 intercity buses go into production.
The development of the Citadell family begins, the 12-meter member of which will also be presented in Budapest.
Introducing the Citadell 19 and the low-entry EN 9.5 midi bus.
Solo and articulated versions of the Citadell family equipped with FPT engines and ZF gearboxes are presented, and the basic design of the lightweight product families is renewed in a comprehensive modernization program. Thanks to the development, the Econell 12 suburban bus will be completed.
Introducing the Credobus Inovell, replacing the EC 12 and IC 12 types that have become dominant in the regional segment.
Econell 12 CiTY appears as a product variant of Econell. As part of the "Bus Exchange Program" in Pécs, a total of 35 new Credos will be put into service, and the Optinell long-distance bus will be introduced, completing the product modernization program launched in 2011.
At the same time as the introduction of engines with Euro 6 emissions classification, an electronically controlled brake system and new robotic and automatic transmissions appear in the range.
The development of the 10-meter compact product line begins, thanks to which Credobus reappears with midi buses in the suburban and long-distance categories.
On the 160th anniversary of Kühne's existence, the hall extension investment of the bus factory in Mosonmagyaróvár will be handed over. As a result of the development, the 10,600 square meter hall inaugurated in 2008 was expanded by 5,600 square meters. Minister of National Economy Mihály VARGA announced the adoption of the National Bus Production Action Program at the factory inauguration.
Following an extremely complex, unique product development, 10 special screening buses suitable for health examinations and 30 Optinell 12 type deployment patrol buses will be handed over.
A group-level investment program with a total value of more than HUF 2 billion will be launched, in which construction and production technology developments will be implemented. The production base was expanded by 1,000 square meters in Győr and another 4,000 square meters in Mosonmagyaróvár. In the same place a complex reconstruction is beginning in the foundry founded in 1879.
The 13-meter member of the Credobus Inovell + model family was presented at the Busexpo 2019 exhibition, and the 2,000th Credobus model was produced by the group in June. Minister of Innovation and Technology Prof. Dr. László PALKOVICS presented the jubilee vehicle at the group's bus factory in Mosonmagyaróvár.
The contract package, which gave Credobus the opportunity to transport a record number of 352 buses, was completed. Following the purchase, modern Hungarian buses were put into service in 16 counties.
At the 51st Bus Expert Meeting, Minister of Innovation and Technology Prof. Dr. László Palkovics presented the Credobus Econell 18 Next. The completely newly developed model is the world's lightest articulated bus in the 18-meter category.
In the presence of the Minister of Finance Mihály VARGA, the Group will inaugurate the third phase of the bus factory in Mosonmagyaróvár. The production hall, which has been expanded to more than 20,000 square meters, will become one of the largest production sites in the East-Central European region. The Econell 12 Next model will be presented at the end of summer.
Instead of assembly:
We believe in manufacturing.
In accordance with Hungarian bus production traditions, we manufacture buses with self-supporting frame structures. We produce most of metal parts in the Kühne's factories. In addition to the self-supporting frame structure and metal parts, the axles, some gearboxes, windshields and side glasses, plastic covering elements, the flooring and many other parts are also Hungarian products. The proportional Hungarian value share of the purchase price of our buses therefore reaches 70-75 %, which is the highest value among domestic bus manufacturers.
How do we do it?
Credobus built the largest and most modern bus factory in Hungary in 20 years. The production bases in Mosonmagyaróvár and Győr provide a total of tens of thousands of square meters of manufacturing space and technologies that represent the top of the industry for bus production.
Bus frame and parts production
Mosonmagyaróvár
Assembling
Győr
Mosonmagyaróvár
Component production
Bus production in Kühne begins with the processing of various metal products (pipes, fiber materials, plates, etc.).
Mosonmagyaróvár
Frame production
The elements of the frame structure (floor frame, roof, side frames, front and rear walls) are made at different workstations and frame manufacturing tools.
Mosonmagyaróvár
Collocation
With the help of special frame adjusting devices, the frame elements are assembled with extreme dimensional accuracy.
Mosonmagyaróvár
Painting and chassis protection
After the dirt has been removed the frame structure is provided with a multi-layer coating system and a separate chassis protective layer is applied to the lower parts.
Mosonmagyaróvár
Polishing
After the preparation of the surfaces, the varnishing according to the customer's individual needs is completed.
Mosonmagyaróvár
Transportation
The polished frame structure and the sets of metal components produced by Kühne are transported to the bus assembling factory in Győr.
Győr
Mechanical installation
After installing the chassis, the frame structure becomes movable and begins its journey through the workstations.
Győr
Glazing
The windshield and other large glass panes are glued and grouted.
Győr
Assembling
In addition to numerous work processes, the installation of the interior covers, seats, handrails and the construction of the driver's cab takes place.
Győr
Delivery
After the installation of the control programs, the final acceptance and the technical inspection, the finished bus leaves the factory.
The oldest Hungarian machine factory
The Credobus bus factory in Mosonmagyaróvár, founded in 1856, is located in Kühne, which is the flagship of domestic agricultural machinery manufacturing. In the past century, Kühne has become the innovation center of Hungarian agricultural machinery production, and its products have appeared in almost every segment of the agricultural sector. In addition, it also produced everyday objects such as bicycles in large series. Unlike many patina Hungarian factories, Kühne is still operating today, and thanks to the developments of the past twenty years and the start of bus frame production, it has undergone a remarkable growth trajectory.
Producing buses: good for the economy
Bus production can only be automated to a limited extent, so the demand for live labor is high even in the most advanced production structures. The production of one Credobus today ensures the preservation of approximately 4 Hungarian jobs for a year, of which nearly 2 applies directly to the Group. Encouraging bus production is an excellent solution for increasing employment, as it creates new jobs with high added value and is therefore sustainable in the long term.
Our products have a self-supporting frame structure in accordance with the traditions of Hungarian bus production. This construction principle, among other things, makes it possible to manufacture the many thousands of metal parts integrated into the buses ourselves, instead of outsourcing the production. The added value is further enhanced by the fact that the metal industry competencies (casting, hot forming, heat treatment, electroplating, shot blasting, fastener production, etc.) are concentrated in the Kühne machine factory, which are not at all typical of other bus manufacturers.
In addition to our own production, we supply the widest range of components from Hungary. Axle hubs, some gearboxes, windshields and side windows, plastic covering elements, floorsing, and thousands of other parts are considered Hungarian products. Thus, the proportional Hungarian value share of the purchase price of our buses is as high as possible: up to 70-75 %. It is typical of the volume of the company group's purchases that in 2019 we ordered about HUF 1.5 billion worth of spare parts from Rába, ZF in Eger and Autofer (Ikarus's plant in Szeged) alone, and we spent another HUF 2 billion on various domestic plastic and rubber, glass products and other products.
Sales and references
Currently, Credobuses are mainly being prepared for the Hungarian market, their customers are regional transport centers (Volán) and their successor, VOLÁNBUSZ Zrt.. Besides that municipal transport providers, state organizations (Ministry of National Defense, Police) and privately owned transport providers also operates Credobuses. Of the more than 2,800 Credobuses handed over so far, since the start of the National Bus Production Action Program in 2016, nearly 1,500 buses, mainly belonging to the Econell and Inovell families, have been put into service. Regarding the reliability, economy, and level of comfort of the buses operating throughout the country, we received many positive feedbacks from operator and passengers as well.
Quality
For our operating partners, meeting the requirements of the MSZ EN ISO 9001:2015 management system is a guarantee of operational excellence and sustainable growth, which is the recognition of our brand. The system was audited by ÉMI-TÜV SÜD, one of Hungary's market-leading certification companies.
In addition, Kravtex Kft. is qualified for NATO supply, thanks to which its participation in national defense procurement is also ensured.
