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Demand for big buses holds firm in 2006

09 January 2007 #HGVs #Registrations #SMMT News

Demand for big buses holds firm in 2006

2006’s big bus registrations on par with 2001 to 2006 annual average of 2,899 units. Single-deckers lead the big bus sector, taking 70.3% of the year’s 2,906 registrations Autumn registrations drop below the strong showing in the spring.

‘Bus and coach registrations did very well in the first half of 2006,’ said Christopher Macgowan, SMMT Chief Executive. ‘This was mainly as bus and coach makers delivered fleets ordered the previous year. More recently the pace slowed and we expect a similar picture for most of 2007. Regulatory changes in April and September may have had some effect on registration patterns, but probably less than the normal seasonal variations in this market.

‘Despite that variable performance, the 2,906 total for big buses in 2006 is in line with the five year annual average. In all other sectors too, except mini buses, annual registration trends are in line with that five year annual average, though the month by month performance is often more variable.’

The final quarter of 2006 saw a total of 2,296 bus and coach registrations. This was 21.2 per cent down on the fourth quarter of 2005, underlining the uncertain outlook for the total sector over the second half of 2006. For the buses over 8.5t and coaches over 16t registration totals were down respectively 34.6 and 27.5 per cent on the fourth quarter of 2005. For the three months to May 2006 the respective changes were up by 28.7 and 22.4 per cent on the same three months in 2005.

After a strong start to the year in most sectors, registration trends diverged after May. The growth revival for mini buses evaporated and the further growth push in the 3.5 to 8.5t GVW sectors petered-out. The 8.5 to 16t weight segments had the best growth trend through the year, ending 9.8 per cent up on 2005 and well above the 2001 to 2006 average. More recently the pace slowed and the picture for most of 2007 should be similar, with seasonal patterns possibly affected by the regulatory distortions in 2006.

The following table and charts give more details of annual trends by gross vehicle weight.  

December 2006 bus and coach registration data

New bus and coach registrations in the United Kingdom – 2006

December

% change*

YTD 2006

% change*

Annual Average 2001 to 2006

Total buses and coaches

676

– 25.5%

11,737

– 6.1%

12,034

Buses above 8.5t

164

– 36.9%

2,906

0.6%

2,899

Single-deck buses:

minibuses to 3.5t

282

– 32.2%

4,813

– 10.7%

6,104

3.5 – 8.5t

184

17.2%

2,934

– 5.5%

2,015

8.5 – 16t

62

21.6%

1,246

9.8%

1,134

16t +

43

– 59.0%

796

– 1.8%

567

Single-deck buses total

571

– 21.7%

9,789

– 6.2%

9,850

16t + double-deck buses

59

– 43.3%

864

– 8.3%

1,168

All buses

630

– 24.4%

10,653

– 6.4%

11,018

All coaches

46

– 27.8%

1,084

– 3.0%

1,016

Coaches 3.5 – 16t

8

– 52.9%

151

– 38.6%

185

Coaches 16t+

38

– 33.3%

933

7.1%

831

The statistics in the above table are based on all vehicles registered in the UK with a bus and coach body. The data covers all vehicles, from minibuses to double-deck buses and coaches.

Notes

Source: SMMT MVRIS Reports (NR3-BC)

*NB: Percentage changes are on the same period a year before

YTD: Year-to-date

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