The Dart SLF, a super low- floor bus designed for Malta has been launched by Gasan Transport Systems Ltd, a member of the Gasan Group of Companies at Gasan Automotive Centre in Mriehel.

Members of the Public Transport Association as well as bus owners and drivers attended the presentation.

The Dart SLF is a project put together by Transbus International Dennis and is built by coach builders Neobus.

Malta's roads and infrastructure were kept in mind in the the building of the bus. The builders also kept to the guidelines set by the Public Transport Authority, a spokesman for Gasan said.

Drivers were invited to board the bus and initial reactions were positive, the spokesman said.

Representatives from Dennis, Neobus, Cummins Engines and Voith Transmissions attended the presentation.

The Dart SLF is the best selling midibus in Europe. It captured 78 per cent of Britain's market in 2001 and is sold in 19 countries worldwide. Over 10,000 of the Dart SLF were built to date.

The bus conforms to the Euro III emissions set by the European Union.