Gareth Evans reports on last week’s Alexander Dennis Limited / Plaxton sales event at its Anston dealership
More than 60 visitors attended Alexander Dennis Limited (ADL) / Plaxton’s Spring Open Days event last Wednesday and Thursday (April 4 and 5) at its Anston dealership in South Yorkshire.
The firm said the event generated sales in the region of £400,000 and multiple new leads. Fresh cuisine was served by a friendly local butcher – bacon rolls in the morning, followed by pie and peas for dinner. £1,120 was raised in aid of the nearby Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice from visitor donations as well as a charity raffle.
Alongside a healthy selection of new and used coaches and buses, among other highlights the event provided the opportunity to look at what is believed to be the inaugural 93-seater 15m Plaxton Panther, recently upseated by Ashall’s Coaches of Greater Manchester.
Plaxton roundup
“From an owner operator to a fleet, everyone’s had some experience of a Plaxton,” enthused Richard Matthews, Retail Sales Director.
“We’re trying to tap into that. That’s part of the role of my team – not to re-invent, but to refresh. This event is part of that – not just a used vehicle focus, but an event about Anston. We’ve got new stock across the range, including buses and coaches.
“The Enviro400 high spec 10,000th two-axle, low-floor double deck bus is present at this event. Demand from coach operators for high-spec buses has continued on from last year. It’s about moving people in a bit of style.”
Asked whether it’s fair to say Anston is being re-energised, Richard replied: “Yes. We want the focus of Anston to be a sales centre – not just ‘you can come and buy a used Plaxton.’
“We’ll carry stock or you can get access to new bus products, new coaches, Cheetah and of course, a full range of used, which is predominantly Plaxton. Anyone can come here, look at our product portfolio and take the vehicles for test drive.” [wlm_nonmember][…]
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Martin Dunleavy, General Manager Used Sales agreed: “At Anston we also offer accident repairs, a paintshop, upseating and refurbishment. We’re taking in buses as part-exchanges now too. I would say we’ve had brilliant success on new coach and new bus as a team, but there are fresh challenges out there as regards used vehicles. We have to put up a compelling sales proposition.”
Richard continued: “We believe Plaxton has the best residual value in the marketplace and is more adaptable and flexible. Part of our new marketing strategy is linking in with the cat with nine lives – we’re unleashing the big cats, which are biting back.
“We are seeing growth in the Panther variant. We sold a lot into retail last year – probably double what we’ve done previously. We sold just shy of 200 coaches last year, which included some fleet.”
According to Martin: “Adaptability is what it’s about. The versatility of the stock that is available is key. We offer two different gearbox options across the Panther range – a ZF auto or the I-Shift, comprising: 57 + WC; 53 + WC; and 49 + WC, depending on what wheelbase size you want.
“If you buy a Plaxton, it’s then adaptable in your fleet for whatever your needs are for the next 15 years. That’s traditionally been one of the hallmarks of Plaxton – the ability to cascade a vehicle down a fleet by upseating and so on.
That’s why a lot of our stock will be Plaxton in the yard as we want it back to sell.”
Richard continued: “We’re trying to build the stock for the time people want it. I believe that was a key driver in the additional sales last year of our Panther touring coach. We were also quite flexible in the specification.
Although the build programme was in place, we could change specifications. Because we’re a body builder, we have got the capability to do that.
“That was the same with Leopard, which is an all rounder. It is however, still seen as a school vehicle. It’s non-toileted but it’s a high-capacity coach and ideal for UK tours. We tend to sell out of Leopards as soon as we build them. We’ve laid down more for later in the year. It’s a great product for us.
“The Volvo B8 chassis has been really well received too – including in terms of its fuel efficiency, lightweight and versatility. It’s also a Volvo, so it’s proven, with great aftersales service and support.”
Used sales
There are approximately 80 used vehicles currently in stock.
“We will take coaches against buses or vice versa – whichever mix the customer wants to offer. We’re open to deal. Anston’s the place to come if you want a new or used bus or coach,” Richard said.
Martin took up the story: “For example, we’ve sold two 2013 Euro 5 DDA-compliant former Park’s of Hamilton Elites to Docherty’s of Auchterarder. They’re in incredibly good condition and were ideal for the contract concerned. We’ve taken two Scania service buses in part-exchange.
“We welcome two for one in part-exchange. We’ll take minibuses in too. We also have operators who trade in late model Enviros after losing a bus contract. A Euro 5, especially if fitted with seatbelts, can be highly desirable.”
With ADL supplying large volumes of new buses to fleet customers, in some instances a number of vehicles are being take in part-exchange – Go South Coast (GSC) being a current example.
Martin continued: “Sanders of Holt will be acquiring 10 former GSC Wrightbus-bodied Volvo B7RLEs. The 54-plate buses seat 40 and they’re in superb condition – one owner and a full service history. We’ve got some Mercedes-Benz Citaros coming in from GSC too.”
High capacity coaches
Upseated coaches were very much in evidence at the event, with what were believed to be the inaugural examples of two high-capacity models to their particular configuration.
“Values are very much up and down, so we’re trying to stabilise what our vehicles and operators’ fleets are worth – the fact is that if something has a use, it’s saleable,” said Martin.
“What we’re trying to do is type approve and have a second life. For example, it would be great if someone knows that a new Elite they’re buying now can be upseated in 10 or 15 years’ time.”
Citing an example from the current stock, Martin said: “We’ve got a batch of 11-plate Euro 5 Plaxton Elite-bodied Volvo B9Rs from Park’s of Hamilton.
“They’re high mileage but well looked after. We’re converting them to 70 seats. We’ve got eight coming through – the first three have been sold.
“It shows what can be done – we can now upseat an Elite to 70, so breathing new life into a touring vehicle that’s done in excess of a million kilometres, so it’s had its first life. That goes back our nine lives campaign. The Elite makes for an attractive high-capacity coach – it has a nice wide door, a flat floor and a good floor to head height.”
New stock
Stock of the previous style Euro5 Enviro200, or ‘classic’ as ADL refer to it remains available. The 10 buses left comprise one 8.9m, four 9.6m and five 10.8m vehicles.
Displayed at the gate was a stock 10.8m Euro6 single-deck, with ADL’s new standard interior and recently launched Smart Seats. Stock vehicles are available with or without belts.
“It’s an example of our standard stock, which we’re building from the 8.9m, 9.6m and 10.8m. They’re available now and can be road tested at Anston. The interior is fresh, light, airy and welcoming,” Richard enthused.
Stock Euro 6 Cheetah XLs remain available. Richard said: “The customers who run them love them. It’s a little coach with a big coach feel. Recent sales have included examples to Country Lion and York Pullman, with two joining the four-strong fleet.
“We’ve found the Cheetah has a degree of desirability in the used market. We’ve quickly sold them.”
Rally
Plaxton will be present in the trade area of the UK Coach Rally in Blackpool over the weekend of April 28-29.
“We’re looking forward to being there – we’re excited about our line-up,” commented Richard.
“We’re going to show three Panthers – one with the optional new step entrance, one will be for Bradshaws and the other will be an ex-Logans example with a different upseated layout. We will also have operators who’ll be competing with Plaxtons in the rally itself.”
Martin enthused: “Two different step heights to get into the vehicles doesn’t seem like much on the face of it, but I’m sure many will be interested when they see it in the metal.”
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