Bus and coach market rises by a third
The UK bus and coach market grew by more than a third between July and September, with sales increasing by 36.1% during the third quarter of the year.
According to new figures published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), 2,367 new registrations were made during quarter three, completing six consecutive quarters of market growth.
The steady growth reflects a gradual rise in passenger levels after the pandemic.
The third quarter growth was driven by all segments but the strongest demand was for new minibuses and single deckers, up 38.4% and 36.4% to 1,486 and 461 units respectively. Meanwhile, more operators are continuing the switch to zero emission buses (ZEBs), with new registrations rising by almost half (48%) to 484 units in the quarter.
In the first nine months of the year, ZEBs accounted for a fifth (20.9%) of all new bus, coach and minibus registrations.
Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said:
“A year and a half of growth in the number of new buses, coaches and minibuses joining UK roads is good news for a sector still recovering from the pandemic. The latest zero emission bus technologies provide many benefits, from innovative safety and passenger features to better local air quality and carbon savings, so the next step is long-term support – particularly for smaller and rural operators – to deliver such benefits to communities across all parts of the country.”
