Merkavim Transportation Technologies Ltd., shortened to Merkavim (Hebrew: מרכבים), is the largest bus manufacturing company in Israel.[2][3][4] They produce many different types of buses, including tourism coaches, urban buses, long-distance buses and minibuses. In addition to this, they also provide specialist buses, such as bullet-proof buses, prisoner-transport vehicles and VIP transport vehicles.[5] The company was founded in 1946 and is jointly owned by Israeli vehicle-importer Mayer Cars and Trucks and by AB Volvo.[3]

Merkavim Transportation Technologies Ltd
Native name
מרכבים
Company typeBus manufacturer
IndustryTransport
Founded1949; 75 years ago (1949)
Headquarters,
Israel Edit this on Wikidata
Production output
760 (2013)
Number of employees
700
WebsiteMerkavim
Footnotes / references
[1]

Bus models

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Long distance buses

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Merkavim Mars bus
  • Mars - Intercity bus

City buses

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  • Low Entrance Pioneer - Low entry/floor bus on VDL SB230 Chassis and Volvo B7RLE Chassis Gearbox Is ZF Ecolife and Man A69 18.290 HOCL NL Gearbox is Voith D854.5 and Mercedes Benz OC500LE Gearbox ZF Ecolife and MAN RC2 19.290 HOCL and Volvo B8RLE ZF Ecolife Transmission
  • Low Floor NL
  • Articulated BRT
  • Low Floor Mercury- On Volvo B7L Chassis With Voith D864.3E

Coaches

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  • Apollo - Coach for tourism and special rides
  • Apollo Premium - A new version of the Apollo

Minibuses

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Armored buses

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  • Mars Defender - Double rear axle

Special Models

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  • Apollo Premium VIP to business rides
  • Mobile Library
  • Prisoner Bus

Criticism

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Involvement in Israeli settlements

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On 12 February 2020, the United Nations published a database of companies doing business related in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, as well as in the Golan Heights.[6] Merkavim was listed on the database on account of its activities in Israeli settlements in these territories,[7].

See also

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  • Ha'argaz, another Israeli bus manufacturer

References

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  1. ^ "Merkavim - Financial Strength".
  2. ^ "Merkavim transportation Ltd". Merkavim. Retrieved 2016-03-05.
  3. ^ a b "Mayer Group Merkavim Transportation Technologies Ltd". Mayer Group. Retrieved 2018-06-30.
  4. ^ "Merkavim Transportation Technologies LTD | Israel Defense". www.israeldefense.co.il. 6 September 2014. Retrieved 2016-03-05.
  5. ^ "Merkavim - Company Profile". Merkavim. Retrieved 2016-03-05.
  6. ^ "Database of all business enterprises involved in certain activities relating to Israeli settlements in East Jerusalem and the West Bank (A/HRC/43/71)". UN OCHA. 12 Feb 2020. Retrieved 2021-09-12.
  7. ^ "UN rights office issues report on business activities related to settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory". Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. 12 February 2020. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
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