MAN Nutzfahrzeuge has secured a supply contract valued at up to ?50m (US$204m) from DB Stadtverkehr. Under the agreement, the OEM will provide up to 600 city and intercity buses - 150 for delivery this year, with an option on an additional 350 vehicles in 2011 and 2012. The agreement covers buses in the MAN Lion's City and MAN Lion's City G (articulated) ranges, as well as versions of the MAN Lion's Regio for intercity transport.

"To justify the confidence our customers and carriers have in us and to acquire new customers, we are making a point in these times of crisis and investing in safe, modern, eco-friendly vehicles," says Ruediger Grube, chairman of the board of Deutsche Bahn.

DB Stadtverkehr is responsible for the regional bus and urban transport operations of Deutsche Bahn. It is Germany's biggest bus operator, transporting more than 2 million passengers every day.