Busworld Europe 2025 on 2nd October proudly revealed the winners of its Digital Awards, celebrating the most outstanding innovations in digitalization across the global bus and coach industry. Four companies were honored for their pioneering solutions in the fields of on-board comfort, e-mobility management, digitally enhanced driving and operational excellence.
Category 1: On-Board Comfort
Winner: MOLEAD – Intelligent Cockpit System
Redefining the bus and coach cockpit
MOLEAD’s Intelligent Cockpit System is redefining the future of bus driver cabins in both technology and design. By integrating electronic mirrors, electric driver’s seats and MOLEAD’s latest intelligent platform, the system reduces driving steps and delivers safer, more comfortable and smarter operation.
Key features include advanced voice control (with 95% accuracy), driver assistance warnings, smartphone connectivity, media playback, multi-color ambient lighting and automatic brightness regulation. Already in use in Yutong eCoaches and intercity buses, it sets a new benchmark for the industry.
Jury statement: A holistic digital approach to the bus cockpit with seamless design, one-button linkage functions and cutting-edge voice interaction.
Category 2: E-Mobility Management
Winner: ZF Friedrichshafen – Braking and e-Drive Synergy Program (Germany)
German precision for the future of e-mobility
ZF has combined its new generation of e-Drives with the modular braking system platform mBSP XBS, creating a unique synergy to boost safety, efficiency and comfort. The integrated system maximizes energy recuperation, extends range, enables battery downsizing and delivers advanced traction and stability control.
Jury statement: A pioneering integration of braking and e-drive functions, reducing total cost of ownership for fleets and making top-tier technology available even to smaller OEMs.
Category 3: Digitally Enhanced Driving
Winner: MAN Truck & Bus – SafeStop Assist
Saving lives with smart technology
The SafeStop Assist ADAS system addresses a critical safety challenge: drivers losing control due to medical or other reasons. By actively intervening, the system automatically brings intercity buses and coaches to a safe stop. It combines new electric steering with the mandatory Attention Assist function, enhanced by several additional assistance systems that go beyond EU GSR2 requirements.
Jury statement: An innovative, life-saving ADAS solution that significantly exceeds regulatory standards and is available across MAN’s full intercity and coach range, including double-deckers.
Category 4: Operational Excellence
Winner: Yutong Bus Co., Ltd. – Link+ Fleet Management System
Artificial Intelligence powering global bus fleets
Link+ is Yutong’s next-generation AI-based fleet management platform, offering proactive intelligence, precision control and full lifecycle integration. It automatically detects over ten vehicle risks, provides role-specific alerts and delivers actionable insights on safety, efficiency, vehicle protection and passenger comfort.
With global deployment across six regions, Link+ enables batch and remote control of fleets, centralized temperature and charging management, and integrates both multi-brand fleets and offline vehicles through its Vela Smart Assistant.
Jury statement: A truly global AI-powered platform that brings end-to-end fleet management into one intelligent system
