• Big buses fall 26% in August and 52% over three months to August.
• Big coaches up 100% in August and down just 0.8% over three months to August.
• Since March minibuses (3.5 to 5t gvw) buck the general downward trend.
“Economic conditions remain challenging and are impacting particularly heavily on demand for big buses,” said Paul Everitt, the SMMT’s chief executive. “While the scale, scope and timing of cuts in public investment is not yet clear, it is expected to depress demand significantly. Growth in coach registrations is erratic, but volumes have stabilised albeit at a very low level. The 3.5 to 5 tonne minibus sector has given an oasis of growth, rising 22% over the year to date.”
Longer lead times between orders, sales and registrations in the bus and coach sector meant that the tough economic climate gripped it later and recovery is likely to be slow. With caution on spending by consumers and business expected in 2011, the outlook for home demand will be weak.
