Volksbus is making a difference for future generations by offering more than 40 million students a ride to school
Beginning this week, the city of Canhotinho, which is located in the rural region of Pernambuco in Brazil, will receive the newest Volksbus unit delivered under VWTB’s Caminho da Escola (‘Road to Education’) program. With the delivery of eight units to the municipality, VWTB is celebrating the milestone of 30,000 buses having been provided as part of the Caminho da Escola initiative. Throughout the program’s implementation, VWTB has provided more than 40 million children and adolescents with vehicle transport and improved access to education in the most remote reaches of Brazil.
In circulation in more than five thousand Brazilian cities, Volksbus is a leader in sales in this market segment throughout the Southern Hemisphere and offers models that are tailored to guarantee complete mobility and a high level of quality, efficiency and safety. Throughout the program’s 18 years, VWTB has consistently developed and sought to customize the Volkbus -- efforts that have included proposing new solutions to the Brazilian government.
“The Caminho da Escola program allows Volkswagen Truck & Bus to truly live out our purpose of offering sustainable transportation solutions to everyone. For this reason, we work tirelessly to offer durable, high quality school bus models with rapid delivery and excellent services through a strategically positioned network to guarantee the most ideal conditions for members of our population", affirms Roberto Cortes, president and CEO of Volkswagen Truck & Bus.
VTWB’s tailormade concept is central to the success of the company’s Caminho da Escola partnership. In order to guarantee the highest level of agility and assertiveness during tenders, the brand delivers on its slogan “less you don't want, more you don’t need", offering specific products for each application, always in partnership with bodybuilders.
The complete redesign of the Volkbus’ chassis under the 2019 product portfolio and new product launches under the Euro 5 and Euro 6 line can be highlighted from among the key advances made with the product. Additionally, new features offering greater accessibility and comfort, such as the air conditioning system that comes with current models, are also now available. It is therefore no coincidence that the most successful model throughout Caminho da Escola’s history is the ORE1 rural minibus.
And it is precisely the Volksbus 8.180 E ORE1 that will be arriving in Canhotinho this week as VWTB seeks to make a positive impact on the day-to-day lives of students in the region. Launched in 2023, the model was exclusively designed for the Caminho da Escola program. Tailormade for school transport, the vehicle significantly reduce emissions levels and offer a high level of on-board comfort. In addition to the buses’ onboard air conditioning system, the Volksbus 8.180 E ORE1 is equipped with traction control, a hill start assist (HSA) system and specific operational configurations that will greatly improve access to education in Canhotinho.
Caminho da Escola and the fight against inequality
Operated under the Brazilian National Education Development Fund (FNDE), the Caminho da Escola program was created in 2007 and seeks to renew and expand available school transport, guarantee safe and high-quality student transportation and contribute to reducing dropout rates, expanding access and attendance among students enrolled in state and municipal basic education programs in rural areas. The program also standardizes vehicles used for student transportation, helps lower vehicle prices, and increases the level of transparency in procurement processes. Program leadership is a key strategic area at VWTB, which remains firm in its commitment to offering sustainable transport solutions to all.
About the Volksbus 8.180 E ORE 1
Volksbus 8.180 E ORE 1 is the best-selling school bus under the Caminho da Escola program, as well the vehicle most commonly requested by the government as part of efforts to make education more accessible in Brazil. Designed to meet mobility demands, this Volksbus is ideal for off-road applications. The bus’s new 3.8-liter engine delivers 180 hp of power and 600 Nm of torque to guarantee a high-level performance in any setting.
Additionally, the vehicle’s configuration includes a suspension system that is reinforced and elevated relative to the ground for improved performance in off-road applications. The Volksbus 8.180 E ORE 1’s rear axle is also fitted with an automatic locking differential, which allows the vehicle to break through rugged and slippery terrain with ease.