Ilesbus UK is seeing strong demand for its small bus and small coach products, with early orders now in hand for the e-City battery-electric midibus on an Iveco Daily base.
Three of those have been sold, and while Director Gary Johns notes that the market for such a vehicle is limited for now, he adds that there is scope to upscale production in Turkey if needed.
On the diesel front, an order from one customer for 20 of the I-City low-entry minibus on the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter base has been taken amid a generally busy outlook for that product, Mr Johns continues.
Displayed on the Ilesbus UK stand at the UK Coach Rally in Blackpool on 13-14 April was an I-City demonstrator alongside three small coaches. One of those was a Glance 33-seater on an Iveco Daily underframe for Henshaw’s Executive Travel.
Adjacent was a Vegas conversion of a Sprinter for Anthony’s Travel. That minicoach seats 16 with two tables and has a coach-style rear along with revised frontal lower styling. It represents repeat business from the Runcorn operator, which also has a smaller eight-seat Sprinter conversion on order from Ilesbus.
Completing the four-strong lineup in Blackpool was a Harmony conversion of a Sprinter. It is bound for County Down operator Classic Coaches.