In July 2004, IVECO Cityclass bendi buses started running for Seoul city bus. 20 buses were imported from Italy.

These bendi buses were expected to transport mass of citizens effectively, and could reduce personnel expenses.

However, IVECO Bendi buses became such a big trouble soon.

Air-conditioning and heating ability were terrible,
bus couldn't endure Seoul's harsh-cold winter.
(System was suited to Italian climate, not for Korea)

/ Fuel efficiency was too low
/ High expenses for Insurance pay, supporting, and repairing ㅡ> become tremendous deficit for bus company.

Also, output of power was too low ,
bus cannot climb up steep slope or hills,
although Seoul has a lot of mountains and hills.

Moreover, components (parts) of bus were so expensive and always in shortage.

Old components were used longer than their appropriate use-by date.

IVECO Bendibus became breakdown and damage more easily and oftenly..
so, many IVECO bendibuses stopped,
just parked in bus garage and not moving frequently.

In 2005 and 2007, big accident happened,
U-turning Bendibus blocked off the 6-lane main street [Проспект].
(photo link : http://news.donga.com/DKBNEWS/List/Total/3/01/20070424/34211188/1 )

Bendibus has made so many accidents and problems,
so Seoul Cityhall decided to stop running all of Bendi buses.

In 2011, 16 IVECO buses were sold and withdrawn.
/ Some of them were sold for commercial wraping buses, but all withdrawn in 2013.

In 11.2013, 3 IVECO buses (2617,6170,4343_Метро Автобус, route 260) stopped running.

and Finally, the rest of 3 IVECO buses (1113,1114,1115_ Дамоа, route 470) stopped operating on 02.2014.

The History of Korea's Bendi bus is end like this.

...Next time,
I'll tell you about SCANIA bendibus ran in Seoul for trial run, before IVECO bendi buses imported.

Process of scraping IVECO bendi bus : ( http://blog.naver.com/intobus_net/40207554524 )

Ps. Many Korean busfans think dubiously that why IVECO bus failed,
though IVECO trucks are working well in South Korea.
The problem was.. Seoul Cityhall's officials didn't consider
Italy's climate and Korea's climate are very different.. and officials exported
exactly same buses that sold in Italy.. this became DISASTER.