Registrations of new coaches, buses and minibuses rose by 5.9% year-on-year in Q2 of 2023, representing the best growth for that quarter since 2019, according to new figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
Deliveries of coach, bus and minibus totalled 1,129 for April to June, bringing the sum for 2023 to 2,097. Growth was particularly strong in the double-decker market with 193 new vehicles sold – a rise of 211.2% compared to the same quarter of last year. Single-deckers came to 478, which was an increase of 32%. Minibus registrations fell 28.7% year on year to 458.
However, overall sales remained below those of Q2 2019 when 1,443 vehicles were registered. The 21.2% overall drop is mainly accounted for by deliveries of single-deckers, with a decrease from 757 to 478. Double-decker registrations for Q2 were 4.67% higher than in 2023, when 185 were registered.
Growth in Scotland was significant with 164 registrations across coach and bus for the quarter – up from 53 12 months earlier. England registrations increased by 7.4% to 918, but Wales and Northern Ireland suffered drops of 56.8% and 73.7% respectively.
Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, says: “A rise in bus and coach fleet renewal driven by demand for single and double-deckers indicates that the sector is stabilising – but operators continue to face highly challenging conditions, hampering sustained growth.
“The industry needs a long-term government strategy to deliver growth and decarbonisation, boosting uptake and underpinned by a more streamlined ZEBRA (Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas) funding process. With the right support, this critical sector can continue to deliver affordable, accessible and sustainable mass mobility across the UK, while driving improvements to air quality in our towns and cities.”
