Growth of the Cento brand in the UK is expected with the addition of John Hill Coach Sales and Williams Coaches of Brecon to sales outlets.
A variety of Mercedes-Benz Sprinter-based products are available, from an entry-level 16-seater with wheelchair user access to extended models at a high specification. Higher-specified standard-length minicoaches are also part of the range.
22 seats is the maximum available in minicoach form, and a standard-length school minibus to that capacity is expected to follow.
The first Cento to be sold by John Hill Coach Sales is an extended example that has gone to Johnsons Coaches of Henley-in-Arden, which is owned by The Coach Travel Group. The lengthened product range also includes a 16-seater with two tables.
Jonathan Vamplew first brought Romania-built Cento products to the UK. 26 were sold here in 2023. He will remain involved alongside the new partners and hopes that volumes ultimately will grow to 40 units per year.
Stock examples will be held in the UK. John Hill Coach Sales Director John Hill notes that he first saw the Cento product at Busworld Brussels in 2023 and believes that it is a quality contender.
Among vehicles shown then at Busworld was a 31-seat Sprinter-based model that had been significantly reworked to lift its GVW and rear axle tolerance. While Mr Hill says that product is impressive, it is not expected in the UK anytime soon.
As with other convertors, Cento has good availability of base Sprinter vehicles, Mr Vamplew says. All of its offerings in the current range for the UK are conversions.
