Urban public transport is changing, with sustainability increasingly going hand in hand with passenger comfort. CAV Scipioni has supplied the customised Aunde velvet upholstery selected for the seats of Autoguidovie’s new IVECO electric buses, now in service in Monza. This is a significant choice, as the buses belong to Class I, designed for urban services, where upholstery quality contributes to passengers’ perceived comfort and the overall care of interior spaces.
INDIAN Aunde: durability, design and passenger comfort
The selected upholstery is INDIAN Aunde, featuring a pile composition of 20% wool and 80% polyester, 45% of which is made from recycled material. This is a highly durable cut-resistant velvet, with cut resistance values of 80–90 Newtons, developed with a customised design for Autoguidovie.
The upholstery is also treated with IS VIRO ACTIVE which, according to the product’s technical documentation, provides self-sanitising and water-repellent properties, as well as resistance to germs and bacteria and dirt-repellent performance. The documentation also reports effectiveness of up to 99.99% against SARS-CoV-2 and up to 99.999% against bacteria, under the specified test conditions.
Electrification and interior quality for urban mobility
The new vehicles are part of Autoguidovie’s fleet renewal programme for urban and suburban services in Monza. The supply comprises 11 IVECO electric buses, included in a wider renewal plan funded through Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) and National Strategic Plan for Sustainable Mobility (PNSMS).
The vehicles are Class I, fully low-floor buses measuring 12.06 metres in length, with 419 kWh batteries, a stated range of over 350 kilometres and a passenger capacity of 79.
The sustainability of the vehicles is matched by greater attention to the quality of their interiors: these are not only zero tailpipe-emission buses, but also vehicles designed to provide a comfortable travel experience for everyday urban journeys.
“The introduction of the new electric buses in Monza marks another step forward in the renewal of Autoguidovie’s fleet and services,” says Lelia Sale, Head of Communications at Autoguidovie. “This investment aims to combine innovation, service quality and attention to people’s needs. Our goal is to provide passengers with an increasingly comfortable travel experience that meets the demands of everyday mobility.”
A partnership dating back to 2014
The collaboration between CAV Scipioni, Aunde and Autoguidovie has developed over the years through solutions that have progressively improved the technical features and performance of upholstery materials.
In 2014, TEXPURE AM wool velvet was used, featuring an anti-vandal backing, a customised design and an antibacterial treatment. In 2015–2016, OCEAN was introduced, a cut-resistant upholstery with resistance values of 50–60 Newtons. In 2017, INDIAN IS ACTIVE increased cut resistance to 80–90 Newtons. Since 2023, INDIAN IS VIROACTIVE has been adopted, combining high cut resistance with features designed to help reduce the need for upholstery replacement and the associated maintenance costs.
This ongoing development demonstrates the continuity of the partnership and its commitment to meeting the evolving needs of public transport, where durability, customisation and comfort are increasingly important factors in material selection.