Roadshow finale in Berlin: Kick-off for BUS2BUS 2026

The finale of the international and digital BUS2BUS roadshow series in Berlin focused on key developments in the bus industry. At the same time, trade visitors were given their first concrete insights into the main topics of BUS2BUS 2026, which will take place in Berlin on April 15 and 16.

The digital event “Roadshow Berlin” marked the end of the roadshow series after stops in Southeast Asia, Hungary, Czechia, and the DACH region – and at the same time kicked off the content for the anniversary edition of BUS2BUS. Leading industry representatives discussed current developments, classified trends, and provided an outlook on the topics and content of the upcoming trade show.

Industry in transition: Transformation shapes the discussion

The discussion made it clear how much the bus and mobility industry is currently undergoing change. Topics such as the drive system transition, digitalization, infrastructure, regulatory requirements, and economic conditions are determining the strategic direction of many companies.

Kerstin Kube-Erkens, Director of BUS2BUS at Messe Berlin, emphasized the role of the event as a platform for classification and exchange: “The industry is in the midst of transformation.” At the same time, she underscored the practical focus of the trade show: “We are not only talking about distant visions and ideas, but also about what can be implemented today.”

The scale of the anniversary edition was also clear: with two exhibition halls and over 17,000 square meters of exhibition space—double the previous size—BUS2BUS 2026 is growing significantly. In addition, there will be a 16,000 square meter outdoor area for test drives and demonstrations, over 50 buses, around 130 exhibitors from 18 countries, four stages, and more than 100 sessions and program items with over 120 international speakers.

Political framework conditions and opportunities for buses as a mode of transport

Christiane Leonard, Managing Director of the Federal Association of German Bus Companies (bdo), assessed the current framework conditions and pointed to the high level of dynamism in the industry: “We are living in very, very turbulent times – politically, both nationally and internationally.” At the same time, she made it clear: “The transport industry is once again much more affected by this dynamic and this transformation process than other industries.”

Despite the challenges, she emphasized the strengths of buses: “Buses simply have strategic advantages because they can react incredibly quickly and are very effective and very cost-efficient.”

Future Forum: Future topics in focus at the anniversary edition

Dr. Stefan Carsten, futurist, head of the BUS2BUS Advisory Board, and curator of the Future Forum Stage, provided an outlook on the main topics of BUS2BUS 2026. The focus will clearly be on future topics that will shape the industry in the long term.

“Companies that engage with the future are more successful. We know this from empirical analysis,” said Carsten. Accordingly, topics such as artificial intelligence, autonomous mobility, mobility-as-a-service, next-generation mobility, sustainable tourism, transformation, and new drive and energy landscapes will take center stage at the Future Forum.

At the same time, he emphasized the strategic importance of new mobility concepts: “We must prepare ourselves for how mobility—and bus mobility in particular—will develop in the future.”

Looking ahead: Bus mobility until 2040

Maximilian Rohs, Director of Infrastructure & Mobility at PwC Germany, provided the long-term outlook. He classified the current trends in the industry and outlined prospects for the development of bus mobility in Germany and Europe until 2040.

His key assessment: “The role of the bus will be a very central one” – especially in conjunction with integrated mobility systems, digital platforms, and new mobility services.

Roadshow kicks off BUS2BUS 2026

The finale of the international digital roadshow highlighted how closely technological innovations, political conditions, and economic developments are linked in the bus industry. At the same time, the bus was clearly positioned as a flexible, efficient, and sustainable mode of transport in future mobility systems.

With the roadshow finale, attention now turns to BUS2BUS 2026 on April 15 and 16 in Berlin, which will once again bring the industry together as an international platform for exchange, innovation, and future topics.