Wrightbus has announced the acquisition of Midlands firm RGI in what it calls a ‘pivotal’ deal to continue the firm’s push into bus refurbishment and repair. The company says its buy-out of RGI Bus & Coach Refurbishment Limited underlines its commitment to growth and expansion, and enable Wrightbus and its subsidiary NewPower to offer a complete suite of refurbishment options, from upholstery to metalwork, alongside its existing powertrain conversion operation.
Wrightbus CEO Jean-Marc Gales said the company was entering a bold new phase in a bid to underline its global credentials. “The growth of this company is entirely dependent on our incredible staff delivering world-leading products and services,” he explained. “We want to ensure the Wrightbus name is known not just in the UK and Ireland but all across the globe.
“We are already selling buses across the UK and into Germany and Asia, and we want to ensure that we have services to maintain the entire life-cycle of the bus.”
The deal, signed at the end of last month, secures RGI’s facilities in Southam along with 13 members of staff. It also sees RGI owner Ross Cleaver join Wrightbus as Head of Repair and Refurbishment UK.
A former West Midlands police officer, Ross set up the business in 2016, and says he is excited at the new challenge.
“I have been following the incredible trajectory of Wrightbus since it was taken out of administration in 2019 and it’s clear that this is only just the beginning. I wanted to be a part of that continued success and so this deal was a no-brainer,” said Ross. “Ever since I started RGI, our customers have been paramount. These same ethics and approach are shared by Wrightbus and I’m delighted to be involved in taking it to the next level.”
