The number of registrations of coaches, buses and minibuses in the UK rose in 2023 compared to the previous year, led by a sharp increase in sales of double-deckers, according to new figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
Across all three types of vehicles, the number of registrations was 4,932 – up 45% versus 2022.
Double-decker sales tallied 944, which was an increase of 174% on the previous year. The single-decker total was 1610, which was 53% up, while minibus saw an 18% rise to 2,378. However, the figures do not differentiate between coach and bus.
Despite the encouraging set of figures, the overall total was 16% down on those for 2019. Registrations were well below those for the bumper year of 2016 when new vehicles totalled 4,1418 minibuses, 2,4334 single-deckers and 1,927 double-deckers.
Leading coach and bus manufacturer Alexander Dennis enjoyed a 106% surge in sales in 2023 with 517 registrations. Zero-emissions specialist Wrightbus was another registering strong sales, with 482, which was up 43%.
Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, says: “Britain’s bus sector is recovering strongly, powered by rising passenger numbers and government funding that is finally delivering new vehicles to routes up and down the country. Zero-emission buses are on the verge of becoming the mainstay of what is now Europe’s biggest ZEV market, but we need the next round of funding – fast – to put even more on the road.”
Investment in zero-emissions technology has been a strong influencer of the uplift, with UK last week confirmed as topping new registrations of such vehicles across the EU27, Iceland, Switzerland and Norway.
The 1,206 UK registrations of battery-electric coaches and buses represented 19% of the overall total for all 31 nations, whose figures were analysed by Dutch consultancy Chatrou CME Solutions.
