Registrations grow 13.1%

Bus and coach registrations in October rose 13.1% compared to the same month in 2013, with 622 registered, according to SMMT figures. This led to a rolling year total of 7,516, a 2.9% rise. SMMT Chief Executive, Mike Hawes, said, ‘Continued rising demand for purpose built coaches, up 63.3% in October, drove a strong month for the overall bus and coach market. This follows the gradual stabilisation seen in the sector over recent months, and marks an end to the slower summer period for the market.’

There were 275 purpose built buses registered in October, 26.1% up from the same month last year. This led to a rolling year total of 2,682, down 3.7%. Purpose built coach registrations numbered 80, up 63.3%, making for a rolling year total of 912, a 13.7% rise. There were 267 converted buses registered, which is 5.7% down, leading to a rolling year figure of 3,922, an increase of 5.6%.

Registrations by marque (with 2013 figures in brackets) were: ADL 131 (98), Volvo Bus 14 (58), Wrightbus 39 (70), Optare 43 (15), Scania 17 (5), Mercedes-Benz (excluding Setra) 46 (2), Van Hool 37 (4), VDL 9 (7), Neoplan 4 (0), Setra 0 (3), Irizar 1 (0), King Long 9 (0), other imports 0 (2), MAN (excluding Neoplan) 0 (0), Iris Bus 2 (3), Yutong 3 (0) and Caetano 0 (0).