In October 2025, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) began granting lifespan extensions to Mercedes-Benz OC500LE buses, which were expected to be retired at the end of their 17-year lifespan.
As of early October 2025, 10 Mercedes-Benz OC500LE buses have had their statutory lifespan extended beyond 17 years.
Background
The Mercedes-Benz OC500LE buses were originally procured by SMRT Buses between 2008 and 2009. These buses are:
| Registration | Quantity | Registration Date | 17-year Lifespan Expiry |
| SMB1H | 1 | Jun 2008 | Jun 2015 (Retired) |
| SMB2E – SMB67T (Batch 1) | 66 | Sep – Dec 2008 | Sep – Dec 2025 |
| SMB68R – SMB134H (Batch 2) | 67 | Jun – Oct 2009 | Jun – Oct 2026 |
Batch 1 buses were due for retirement starting in September 2025. The demonstrator bus (SMB1H) was previously retired in June 2025.
Extension
The following buses have received an extension of their statutory lifespan beyond 17 years:
| Lifespan Expiry (17 years) | Buses receiving lifespan extension |
| Sep 2025 | — |
| Oct 2025 | SMB11D – SMB13Z, SMB15T – SMB19H, SMB21A & SMB22Y (10 units) |
| Nov 2025 | SMB24S, SMB26L – SMB42P (18 units) |
| Dec 2025 | SMB44J – SMB50R, SMB53H – SMB67T (22 units) |
More buses may be subjected to lifespan extension nearer to the end of their statutory lifespan in the later months.
Layup
In October 2025, SMB11D – SMB13Z & SMB15T – SMB19H were placed under layup, although their lifespan had been extended.
Basically, LTA was stupid enough not to procure enough buses to replace all of its fleet in time. The BYD & ZT buses were mostly for SBST to replace the Scania K230UB. Within GBDEP, there isn’t enough to replace all the OC500LE.
Thank you LTA for being consistently short-sighted!
Agree. They should have done a simultaneous order of 200 diesel buses as well, probably MAN Euro VI units that are a proven quantity to be thrown onto airport / tunnel routes as part of fleet renewal and to buy more time to properly build up depot infrastructure, ensure the safety of vehicles, etc, and so that aging units can be properly replaced. The rate that new EV buses are registered is nowhere close enough to replace the outgoing ones, and there’s not going to be any respite as well because after the KUBs and OCs, there’s going to be Wrights, Citaros, A22s etc hitting the 17 year mark soon as well.
Wonderful news. This are good powerhouse buses.
LTA should ban pirenza tires, affecting operational performance and BC excuses.
Extend for what? In months to come there will be excess of buses… What LTA need is to expedite the DD orders.
LTA should procure articulated EVs. There was one from Yutong that was exhibited in Brussels recently.
Great news for the fans of OC as these buses were in better condition and good as new even at 17 years old
I’m a fan of OC500LE but I find some of them in not so good condition.. Wonder why they give 2 years instead of 1 year