‘Highest October in seven years’

It has been the best October since 2008 for bus and coach registrations, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Registrations rose 26.2% in October, with 785 in total, making for a rolling year figure of 8,821, a 17.4% increase.

SMMT Chief Executive, Mike Hawes, said, ‘Strong demand for converted buses up to 8.5tonnes helped fuel new bus and coach registrations last month, resulting in the highest October in seven years, while in the purpose-built bus sector, bigger 16t-plus vehicles were in demand. This is the market’s sixth consecutive month of growth, and it puts year-to-date performance ahead of 2014’s full year of trading two months early.’

There were 255 purpose built buses registered in October, down 7.3% from the same month in 2014. This produced a rolling year total of 2,757, which is up 2.8% from the same figure last year. Purpose built coach registrations were down 5% to 76, with a rolling year figure of 975, up 6.9%. There were 454 converted buses registered, up 70%, leading to a rolling year total of 5,089, up 29.8%.

Registrations by marque (with October 2014’s figures in brackets) were: ADL 83 (131), Wrightbus 80 (39), Volvo Bus 58 (14), Mercedes-Benz (excluding Setra) 22 (46), Optare 17 (43), Scania 51 (17), VDL 3 (1), Irizar 2 (1), Van Hool 0 (37), Yutong 4 (3), Neoplan 3 (4), MAN (excluding Neoplan) 1 (0), other imports 0 (0), King Long 1 (9), Indcar 4 (0), Setra 2 (0), TAM 0 (0), Iris Bus 0 (2) and Caetano 0 (0).