Big bus and coach registrations dive but minibuses buck the trend
• Big buses fall 74% in July with worse to come.
• Big coaches down 13% with recent gains lost.
• Minibuses buck the trend through March to July 2010.
“2010’s falling big bus registration trend accelerated in July as recession bit the sector,” said Paul Everitt, the SMMT’s chief executive. “Public spending cuts may further weaken demand, leaving the outlook big buses depressed. The modest growth in coach registrations didn’t last, though the figures have stabilised at a very low level. But there is good news from the 3.5 to 8.5 tonne mini and midibus sector, with nearly 25% registration growth in the year to date.”
The very long lead times between sale and registration across the bus and coach sector mean that it hit the recession late and so will be slow to recover. Fragile consumer and business confidence make the outlook for the next 18 months or more very challenging.
