Registrations remain positive

A rise in coach registrations has made up for a drop in bus registrations in April 2015, according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). SMMT Chief Executive, Mike Hawes, said, ‘The purpose built coach market enjoyed its third month of consecutive growth in April as operators continued to invest in new models ahead of the busy summer season. This helped offset a dip in bus demand to maintain strong year-to-date-volumes for the sector as a whole, with overall registrations up 12.7%.’

There were 746 purpose built buses and coaches registered in April this year, down 11.5% on the same month in 2014. This has lead to a rolling year figure of 7,697, down 2.1% on the same period last year. However, in the year to date, bus and coach registrations grew 12.7% to 3,057. Purpose built bus registrations numbered 228, a 25.2% decrease, making for a rolling year figure of 2,823, up 3.4%. 169 purpose built coaches were registered, which was up 14.2%, leading to a rolling year total of 947, a 7.4% increase. Converted bus registrations totalled 349, down 10.5%, with the rolling year figure falling 7.6% to 3,927. Another interesting statistic was for double decker registrations, which saw demand rise 45.9% leading to 89 registrations, with a rolling year total of 1,196, up 3.4%.

April 2015’s registrations by marque (with April 2014’s figures in brackets) were: ADL 95 (85), Wrightbus 52 (114), Volvo Bus 49 (85), Mercedes-Benz (excluding Setra) 57 (6), Optare 46 (32), Scania 37 (28), VDL 17 (33), Van Hool 14 (23), Irizar 11 (15), Neoplan 11 (17), Yutong 2 (0), MAN (excluding Neoplan) 1 (3), other imports 4 (6), King Long 1 (3), Caetano 0 (0), Iris Bus 0 (1) and Setra 0 (2).