In Rottenburg am Neckar on 28 November 2008, Omnibus Groß GmbH became the first private company in Germany to put the Mercedes-Benz large-capacity CapaCity bus into service. "This symbolic decision from a private company“, stated ministerial director Klaus Tappeser at the festive presentation, "has finally begun a period of innovative local public transport in the city of Tübingen and its neighbouring communities.“ A scant two weeks later on 11 December 2008, four additional Mercedes-Benz CapaCity buses were handed over to the company Jakob Kocher GmbH in Tübingen. These five vehicles, which will all be operated in Tübingen’s local transport, could have a sustainable impact on the urban transport concept of the future. "The climate protection offensive initiated by Tübingen’s local transport means that innovative vehicles of today such as the CapaCity will meet the transport requirements of tomorrow“, according to Holger Suffel, Head of Sales for EvoBus GmbH.

With a population of over 86,000 and around 25,00 students, the university town of Tübingen has an exceptional position in Germany with regard to mobility and traffic infrastructure. The extremely dense network of Tübingen’s public transport system, with its need for environmentally friendly city centre transport, serves as an example for other cities. A total of 37 lines in Tübingen cover a route network with a length of around 330 km. In 2007 the system transported over 17 million passengers. 225 bus stops extend over the entire urban area. With the exception of a few parts of the city Tübingen lies in a 300 m intake area for the bus lines and to a large extent also in a 150 m intake area.

As can be seen in Tübingen the CapaCity can provide the answer to many local public transport issues, also in other regions. Its operative performance concentrates on the main lines while reducing fuel, driver, workshop and capital costs. It satisfies the increasing requirements of passengers for attractive local public transport concepts as well as municipalities’ needs for environmentally friendly drive systems. Its engine already meets future emission limits by having values below those prescribed by the EEV emissions standard.

The 19.54 m long CapaCity has a transport capacity of up to 193 passengers. Its continuous low floor, the stepless entries and exits and the wide doors allow for a rapid flow of passengers into and out of the vehicle. Despite its length the Mercedes-Benz CapaCity can manoeuvre as well as a conventional articulated bus with a length of around 18 m, thanks to its four axles (two of which are articulated) and articulated joint. The CapaCity’s turning circle of 22.85 m corresponds exactly to that of a 17.94 m long three-axle articulated bus, the Citaro G. That means the CapaCity is more manoeuvrable than other large-capacity bus concepts which are double-articulated or even have a trailer.

The excellent manoeuvrability of the CapaCity derives from an electrohydraulic trailing axle. When driving forwards the four axles provide even greater driving stability. The independent suspension on the front axle and the pitch and roll control with variable detection and control of the shock absorbers is both safe and comfortable. The Mercedes-Benz CapaCity is braked via the tried-and-tested Electronic Braking System (EBS) in conjunction with ABS and ASR. Disc brakes all round and independent suspension in the front come as standard.