‘Significant growth’ in August

There were 488 buses and coaches registered in August, which is up 56.9% on the same month last year, according to Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) results. The rolling year total for bus and coach registrations was 2,650, down 18.7%. SMMT Bus and Coach Manager, Wendy Williamson, said, ‘The bus and coach sector has recorded significant growth this month, compared to August 2012, following many months of negative growth in the wake of last year’s Olympics-boosted sector. However, what is even more encouraging to see is that this month also marks a return to growth over August 2011, which was not affected by the Olympics boom. This is a positive sign that the market will return to a trend of sustainable growth and that it will level off by the end of the year.’

There was a 27.8% rise in purpose built buses with 184 registered in August, leading to a rolling year total of 2,650, which is down 18.7% from the figure from the same month in 2012. Purpose built coach registrations numbered 47, which is up 487.5%, making for a rolling year total of 786, up 3.3%. There were 257 converted buses registered, which is up 61.6%, with a rolling year total of 3,680, down 9.7%.

Registrations by marque for August (with August 2012’s figures in brackets) were: Alexander Dennis 79 (61), Volvo Bus 40 (25), Scania 17 (13), Optare 25 (29), Wrightbus 33 (4), VDL (excluding Bova) 4 (3), Iris Bus 8 (2), Van Hool 18 (0), Mercedes-Benz (excluding Setra) 3 (10), Neoplan 0 (0), MAN (excluding Neoplan) 0 (1), Setra 0 (0), Irizar 1 (0), King Long 1 (1), other imports 2 (3), Bova 0 (0). 

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