Volumes, or returns? It is a question that has long challenged parts of the industry, and arguably spawned the cliché that involves turnover, vanity, profit and sanity
Clear is how the dynamic around that consideration has evolved since 2019. Vehicle builder VDL notes that in its sphere, any pursuit of numbers at the expense of margin is now over, with changes to regulations and expensive model overhauls a contributor. Another OEM previously said similar, stressing that margins are in focus.
So too could that be the case in coach hire and tours. One family operator only partially rejected a joking suggestion that becoming an owner-driver could be the way forward. In tours, an established niche focus on lower-volume, higher-margin work is gaining traction.
Such a position trickles through to other parts of the industry. Including trade shows. The NEC Birmingham has played host to many coach and bus showcases. Business has been done, friends have been made, and more than a few revolutionary vehicles and products have debuted.
The future of those trade shows is rosy, but their calendar will take a different format from 2024. A move to biennial comes after considerable engagement with the industry. The supply side is supportive of the shift; it will allow Euro Bus Expo as a platform to come back bigger and better next year, and to continue in the same vein beyond then.
This change has come quickly, but it reflects the new reality of coach and bus. The sector is evolving, and the trade show landscape is with it on that journey.
