Large stock holding and demo fleet linked to ability to deliver new coaches quickly, says dealership
EvoBus (UK) continues to leverage its position as market leader in the coach sector with plans for a design centre at its Coventry sales office “like you would find in Mannheim” and a target of supplying 290 new Mercedes-Benz Tourismos to the UK and Irish markets in 2018.
Additionally, an increased stockholding of new Tourismos in various lengths and configurations has proved popular, allowing it to satisfy buyers quickly. In some cases and subject to registration, coaches can be driven away within 24 hours.
“With the support of Daimler Buses we have been able to increase our holding of stock Tourismos,” says EvoBus (UK) CEO Michael Thielmann.
“We find that UK buyers are more willing to accept stock models than in other countries, so we can have a large number available without worrying about them sitting for a long period of time.”
He adds that the stock also allows EvoBus (UK) to meet multi-vehicle requirements quickly.
Around 250 new Tourismos are expected to go to UK operators in 2018. EvoBus (UK) has 17 demonstrators in service, and its sales managers have a ‘virtual stock sheet’ of all those available for purchase, complete with pictures.
The design centre, part of the currently being worked on new vehicle delivery area, will include samples of seats and fabric materials for those customers whose coaches are built to order.
Most popular among the four-strong new model Tourismo line-up has proved to be the M/2 13m, two-axle model. The dealership reports that those fitted with the 7.7-litre OM 936 engine are particularly economical and that fuel returns of below 12mpg are unusual.
