Best year since 2008

Bus and coach registrations have had their best year since 2008, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Registrations rose 22.8% to 9,025 at the end of 2015. SMMT Chief Executive, Mike Hawes, said, ‘2015 has been a very positive year for the British bus and coach market, with registrations increasing by more than a fifth to surpass 9,000 units for the first time since 2008. We have also seen greater consistency in the market, an impressive 11 out of 12 months showed growth, with nine of these double digit rises. With significant growth enjoyed across all market segments in December, the outlook for bus and coach in 2016 remains positive.’

Purpose built bus registrations totalled 2,961 in 2015, up 16.2% from 2014’s figure. There were 1,048 purpose built coaches registered in the year, up 17.5%. Registrations for converted buses rose 28.2%, numbering 5,016. There was a positive end to the year, with December’s total bus and coach registrations amounting to 629, an increase of 31.6% compared to December 2014.
Registrations by marque for 2015 (with 2014’s figures in brackets) were: ADL 1,228 (1,096), Wrightbus 869 (420), Volvo Bus 623 (595), Mercedes-Benz (excluding Setra) 331 (168), Optare 286 (310), Scania 271 (301), VDL 100 (113), Irizar 78 (50), Yutong 64 (11), Van Hool 63 (143), Neoplan 39 (55), MAN (excluding Neoplan) 20 (26), other imports 12 (32), King Long 11 (39), Indcar 6 (0), TAM 4 (0), Setra 4 (47), Caetano 0 (15) and Irisbus 0 (19).