The N-class trams were intended as a temporary measure to improve the disastrous state of public transport in the aftermath of World War II, and were in fact based on a wartime German design, but all attempts at designing a better tram in Poland ended in failure.

The prototype was then modernized with a redesigned interior, Belgian ACEC electrical equipment, different wheels, and transmission.

The 13N remained in production for 10 years, and in that time, 842 units were built – 838 of those served in Warsaw, and the other four in the Upper Silesian network.

In the 21st century, with the need for more energy-efficient, easier-to-access low-floor trams, the 13N units were phased out and replaced by PESA 120Na.

No 13N trams remain in regular passenger service after 2012, but several serve as museum cars in Warsaw (#795 since 1996, #503, the first 13N ever built, since 2018 and modernised, called "Żaba" #821 in composition with #818 since 2013), and Silesia (ex #366, now #308 since 2013).