New partnership to sell Cento conversions
Romanian-built Cento is now to be sold in the UK through a partnership between John Hill Coach Sales and Williams Coaches of Brecon.
Although it has been in the UK for over a decade – imported as one-offs – Cento comes from former a operator turned manufacturer One of a number of accomplished Romanian converters, Cento operates from a 10,000sq.m. factory built in 2018 and specialises in conversions based on the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 517.
New is the relationship with Williams Coaches of Brecon and John Hill Coaches Sales of Asfordby in Leicestershire, with both offering the product UK-wide. John Hill first encountered Cento at the last Busworld show in Brussels and liked what he saw. He visited the plant along with John and Rose Williams and an agreement was reached for the two organisations to put their weight behind selling in the UK.
A variety of specifications for different applications are being offered at length and extended versions with 16 seats and in 7.3m and 7.8m, all certified under COC arrangements. Stock is being held, with three examples displayed on the stand, one of them in the colours of Johnsons Coach Travel.
Stock specification options include: 16 school seats; 16 seats with rear lift; 16 2+1 seats with extended rear and tables and, from December, 19- and extended 22-seaters. Lifts and boots can be specified as well as both 16- and 22-seaters with the last two rows of seating on tracking. All versions have Autoclima An accessible option is a 22-seat coach that can also offer 18 seats + one wheelchair, 15 seats + two wheelchairs or 11 seats + three wheelchairs.
John Williams commented, ‘It’s a good product. We wanted to bring air conditioning and dashboard air conditioning as standard. something to the market that is practical and support it with back up and service, with parts kept in stock.’ Initially parts will be held in Brecon but they are also to be made available from Leicestershire.’
Jonathan Vamplew, who has been associated with Cento from the outset and remains so, sees the new arrangements as ‘taking Cento to the next level.’