On 3 October 2025, at the opening of Busworld Europe in Brussels, MAN Truck & Bus celebrated a major safety milestone. The company was honored with the prestigious Busworld Digital Award 2025 for its MAN SafeStop Assist, an advanced driver assistance system designed to intervene in critical medical or emergency situations.

Presented in the “Digitally Enhanced Driving” category, the award recognizes digital innovations that improve safety, efficiency and comfort in public transport. An international jury comprising industry experts, entrepreneurs, journalists and UX designers selected the winners from a competitive shortlist across multiple categories.

The MAN SafeStop Assist stood out for its significant safety benefits. The system addresses one of the most serious risks in coach and intercity transport: situations in which a driver becomes suddenly unresponsive due to medical or other emergencies. If the system detects prolonged driver inactivity, it automatically initiates a controlled emergency procedure. By intelligently coordinating several advanced assistance technologies — including attention monitoring, lane return assist and emergency braking systems — the bus is safely guided to a stop.

This automatic emergency intervention can help prevent severe accidents, protecting passengers, drivers and other road users alike. With this innovation, MAN sets a new benchmark in active safety for long-distance and intercity transport.

Since the 2024 model year, SafeStop Assist has been available for a wide range of models, including the MAN Lion’s Coach, MAN Lion’s Intercity, NEOPLAN Tourliner and the NEOPLAN Skyliner — currently the only European double-decker coach equipped with such a system. At Busworld Europe, visitors were able to experience the NEOPLAN Skyliner “Auwärter Edition,” which features SafeStop Assist as standard equipment. The newly introduced MAN Lion’s Coach E, celebrating its world premiere in Brussels, is also equipped with the innovative system.

MAN had previously received a Busworld Digital Award in 2023 for its smart cockpit concept, and this latest recognition continues the company’s strong track record in digital innovation. With SafeStop Assist, MAN not only demonstrates technological leadership but also reinforces its commitment to maximizing safety in coach transport.

By combining intelligent software with proven assistance systems, MAN SafeStop Assist acts as a true guardian in emergency situations — offering peace of mind to operators, drivers and passengers alike.