- New bus and coach market rises 8.0% in 2016, with 8,779 vehicles registered.
- Sector ends 2016 on a high with 4.6% increase in Q4.
- Double-decks record strongest performance, with 27.9% growth in 2016.
The UK’s new bus and coach market saw a second consecutive year of growth in 2016, as demand rose 8.0%, according to figures published by SMMT. 8,779 new buses and coaches were registered in total last year, with more than 2,000 registrations made in the last quarter – a 4.6% uplift on Q4 2015.
Double-decks continued to drive growth in 2016, with full year demand rising by more than a quarter (27.9%) to 1,927 units. Minibuses, which account for more than half of the market, also made strong gains, with registrations increasing 9.7% to 4,418, counteracting a -6.2% decline in single-deck vehicles.
Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said,
2016 proved to be another strong year for the British bus and coach market, with many operators investing in their fleets over the past 12 months. Getting the latest technology and low emission vehicles on to British roads is essential to help improve air quality in our cities, and 2016’s strong record of fleet renewal will aide that process.