London operator Southgate and Finchley Coaches has taken delivery of a major order for new vehicles in the shape of seven Volvo B11Rs with the recently christened MCV Evotor bodywork – a model that has been “extremely well received” by the industry at large.
The new coaches take to 26 the number of Volvos in Southgate and Finchley’s 29-strong fleet. They were ordered in two batches – three first which were followed by a further four.
They will help the operator to satisfy the expansion of London’s Low Emission Zone (LEZ), which from 26 October 2020 will mandate Euro VI compliance for coaches and buses within the current LEZ area if charges are to be avoided.
Says Southgate and Finchley Coaches Joint MD Peter Rice: “We first saw the MCV Evotor at Euro Bus Expo in late 2018 and placed an order there and then.
“As much of our work takes place within the M25, it was important to have coaches with a Euro VI engine so that we wouldn’t have any issues with the London LEZ.
“We believe that it is a great coach that is very competitively priced, and which will meet the needs of our passengers and our business.”
Jo Baker, Retail Bus and Coach Sales Manager for Volvo, adds that sales of the B11R MCV have “far exceeded” the dealership’s original target for the first year. “It has been extremely well-received by the market,” she adds.
