· Big buses – growth trend holds and for big coaches, a revival of sorts.
· However, in 2008 big coach demand fell steeply from a high and very robust level.
· Cyclical and structural shifts continue for mini buses up to 5t gvw.
“January’s registrations gave some surprising solace to the deep drop in demand elsewhere in UK vehicle markets,” said Paul Everitt, SMMT chief executive. “The strong growth trend in double-deck buses continued from 2008. January also saw some relief to the sustained drop in big coach registrations of 2008. Mini buses and those in the 3.5 to 5t gvw range continued to see effects of a cyclical drop in spending and structural changes across bus types and end-user markets. Big bus demand, uniquely, has held-up well and may continue to do so the in UK recession in 2009. But the UK economy and overall bus and coach markets will remain uncertain this year”.
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