666 registrations for May

Bus and coach registrations in May fell 24.6% to 666 units, leading to a rolling year total of 7,339, which is down 1.8% from the same month in 2012. SMMT Bus and Coach Manager, Wendy Williamson, said, ‘The purpose-built bus and coach market had a strong month with a rise of 57.8% and purpose-built buses posting an increase of 70.5% in May. There was, however, a drop in the overall market of 24.6%. There was a welcome boost to the UK bus market from government which announced £12m funding for 213 new low carbon buses. This comes as part of the fourth round of the Green Bus Fund and has led to orders of new buses for UK manufacturers.’

During May, there were 312 purpose built buses registered, up 70.5%, leading to a rolling year total of 2,891, down 8.6%. Purpose built coach registrations rose 22.7% to a total of 81, making for a rolling year total of 732, down 7.7%. There were 273 converted buses registered in May, down 56.9%, leading to a rolling year total of 3,716, which is up 5.6%.

May registrations by marque (2012 figures in brackets) were: ADL 147 (73), Volvo Bus 72 (73), Scania 37 (15), Optare 13 (37), Wrightbus 47 (0), Iris Bus 17 (21), VDL (excluding Bova) 14 (1), Neoplan 12 (11), MAN (excluding Neoplan) 3 (0), Mercedes-Benz (excluding Setra) 4 (7), Van Hool 14 (2), Irizar 9 (0), King Long 0 (0), Setra 0 (1), other imports 4 (1) and Bova 0 (7).