Examples of the Higer V-10, V-12 (pictured, above) and V-14 Cummins-engined coaches have arrived in the UK ahead of deliveries commencing, with work to further grow the product range and support network also progressing, supplier Harris Bus and Coach has said.
Each of those coaches, for which the respective model name represents nominal length in metres, will be available in Standard, Touring, and Touring Plus trim levels. Standard has no toilet and an emergency door, while Touring includes a continental door and a toilet. Touring Plus further introduces a servery.
Most of those combinations will be ordered as stock, although custom builds are available and will be subject to a six-month lead time. For coach orders placed until at least 28 February 2027, a five-year or 500,000km warranty will be provided.
The trio of V-Series coaches sit alongside established Azure battery-electric bus models at 10m and 12m. Beyond that, the dealer has confirmed plans to introduce diesel buses at 8.9m and 12m, while double-decks with diesel or battery-electric power are on the agenda.
Of the 8.9m diesel bus, 30 seats are expected. A Cummins engine will be used coupled to a Voith gearbox, with a width of around 2.45m planned.
For double-deck, Harris Bus and Coach UK Managing Director Bill Laidlaw says the dealer has already submitted a tender based on battery-electric power. Higer builds double-decks for other markets but those for the UK will be designed specifically to suit requirements here. Diesel will come after battery-electric in that segment.
How vehicles are sold by Harris and its dealer partners has been clarified. The Harris Bus and Coach UK head office in Worksop houses garage facilities, parts stores and a showroom, with the business working closely with site owner Johnson Bros Tours. That leverages further support facilities at Johnsons’ suite of premises.
In addition to that ‘mothership’, Harris Bus and Coach is in the process of implementing a 50-location Higer dealer network across the UK and Ireland, a task that will be complete within 12 months.
Some of those partnerships are “completely new commitments” and represent what Mr Laidlaw says is a significant exceedance of initial expectations for the support provision.
He adds that sales will broadly be handled via a partnership with members of the dealer network. Some of the latter will employ sales staff and sell direct to customers, but deals can also be undertaken directly between Harris Bus and Coach and the customer.
Pre-delivery inspection work will be undertaken either at Worksop or by the supplying dealer, while a facility to accept part-exchange vehicles has also been confirmed.
Thus far, firm commitments from UK buyers have been received by Harris on six Higer coaches, with further quotes currently being processed and additional enquiries in hand. The 12m, two-axle V-12 currently accounts for the greatest share of interest in the coach field.
