Irizar UK upbeat at Euro Bus Expo

Record UK sales and the prospect of the new HQ building at its base at Blyth made Euro Bus Expo a moment to celebrate for Irizar UK.

“This year we will have delivered over 100 vehicles – our best year end since the business began in 2011,” said Julie Hartley, Sales Director. “Partly because supply was steady, so deliveries have lacked the highs and lows of the past. I think that operators have had to plan well ahead and so this has meant deliveries have not been quite as seasonal, although June and July were typically busy.”

Julie – this year’s recipient of the Woman of the Year Award in the Women in Bus and Coach Awards – said the robust sales reflect the elegance of the Irizar family of vehicles and their performance and aftersales: “I also think that Irizar is a strong business.” Juan Irigoyen, UK Area Manager, agreed: “Our customers can see that we’re always investing, whether in the i6s Efficient, our hydrogen fuel cell coach or other vehicles; the investment is never ending.”

Launches at the FIA exhibition in Madrid, Irizar’s latest product is the battery-electric i3, which sits astride bus and coach. It shares the same underpinnings and high quality performance and ride as its sister i4, but is more bus-like despite being built as Class 2 for 62mph limiter speeds so suitable for intercity operation to full PSVAR as standard: “We’re very interested to hear from bus and coach operators whether this style of vehicle could have an application in UK work, perhaps to transition from bus operation,” she said. The i3 is fully seatbelted.

The new showroom is now well into the planning stage, and will feature a PDI centre and offices.

• Euro Bus Expo is staged at the NEC from Tuesday 12 November until Thursday 14 November, from 9am each day. Tickets can be obtained at the door.