Dublin-based Harris Group is to launch a network of 10 UK dealers and expects its first zero-emission vehicles to arrive in 2026
The Harris Group has launched Harris Bus & Coach, which it describes as a new, dedicated operation bringing major Chinese manufacturer Higer to the UK. Harris Bus & Coach will be based at Liverpool, led by Bill Laidlaw, and supported by a 10-regional-dealer network and factory-trained technicians.
Harris Group says it will maintain strategic oversight and resource support, while Harris Bus & Coach will operate as a clearly defined UK entity with direct market accountability. Full business operations are planned to commence with the arrival of the first vehicles in January 2026, with Harris Bus & Coach selling and supporting a full range of electric buses and diesel-powered coaches and buses, which it says have been developed specifically for the British and Irish markets. The company says the introduction of Harris Bus & Coach marks the start of a long-term plan to establish the company as a full-service manufacturer representative, and not solely a vehicle importer.
Harris Group says it plans a phased roll-out between 2026 and 2030, which will include full UK dealer coverage by 2026, strategic fleet adoption in the public and private sectors by 2027, the introduction of a compact electric coach model in 2028 and alignment with ESG and zero-emission fleet funding schemes from 2029 onwards.
The strategy includes a 10-location regional UK dealer and service network, round-the-clock mobile support fleet and comprehensive training for all front-line technical staff at the Higer factory in Suzhou, China. “Harris Bus & Coach is entering the UK market with a clear proposition and a structured business plan,” said Bill Laidlaw, Managing Director of Harris Truck & Bus. “We have UK-ready vehicles, and we have an experienced team in place to deliver and support them. We have clear objectives to establish the Higer brand in the market, and with great appeal for bus and coach operators.”
Higer already distributes its products to over 150 countries, including a long-standing production partnership with Scania for the
UK market. While the brand has supplied vehicles to Europe under various arrangements, the move is the first time Higer will operate under its own name in the UK.
Launch line-up
The launch line-up of Higer vehicles for the UK includes the Azure electric bus range and V-Series diesel-powered coaches, which Harris says are all fully homologated and engineered for UK and Irish roads and associated operational conditions. The Azure 9-metre and 12-metre electric buses promise capacities of 63 and 70 passengers and battery capacities of 263kWh and 481kWh. Both models are PSVAR-compliant and are designed for mixed-use deployment on urban and inter-urban routes.
The V-Series coach line-up includes three variants – the V10 37-seater, V12 49-seater and V13 57-seater – which Harris Group says are designed as low-emission solutions for operators with mid-to-long-distance service profiles. All three models are aligned with incoming GSR II safety and emissions standards.
Harris Group says a core component of the Harris Bus & Coach mandate will be its commitment to aftersales support. The company is appointing 10 UK dealerships, each offering regional sales, parts and service coverage, and each location will be supported by a Harris Non-Stop mobile service unit providing 24/7 breakdown coverage, and dedicated field technicians for northern and southern regions.
All Higer vehicles supplied to the UK market will be equipped with Geotab Drive telematics and real-time monitoring, enabling predictive maintenance and fleet oversight, and Harris Group says that larger operators will be able to integrate Higer-approved VMUs (vehicle maintenance units) into their own depots, minimising fleet downtime and enabling faster diagnostics and repairs.
“Dedicated aftersales support is not an add-on, it’s built into the business model,” said Bill. “Operators expect a fast response, local access to parts, and technicians who know the product. That’s what we’re putting in place from day one.
“The demand is real, and the requirements are evolving quickly,” he continued. “We’ve created Harris Bus & Coach to assist operators, and then to meet and exceed their expectations as a business partner. This isn’t about merely selling buses, it’s about giving operators the confidence to modernise, and to partner with us on the journey.”
In addition to Bill Laidlaw as Managing Director, the initial leadership includes Wayne Ulph (Aftersales), James Hooker (Bus Sales), Tony Close (Engineering), and Emma Moriarty (Finance). Appointments for Head of Coach Sales and the two Field Engineers are expected shortly, Harris says.
