Leyland-based MOBIpeople dealer BASE Coach Sales has offered a first glimpse at its newly-developed MOBIpeople Executive Coach.
The first prototype has been built for Anthony’s Travel of Runcorn, a long-running BASE customer. Once it arrives in the UK from the MOBIpeople factory in Portugal, it will then head to AD Coach Systems in Congleton to be converted to the operator’s ‘team coach’ specification.
The development of the prototype has taken a little over 12 months, following on from the 2019 launch of the MOBIpeople High Floor Explorer.
The prototype example utilises a MAN RR2 430 bhp chassis, but a version with a Scania chassis will also eventually become available.
Up to 57 seats are available with a centre sunken toilet (or 55 with a rear floor mounted toilet) in addition to PSVAR options.
The vehicle has been built to a 3.75m overall height to achieve what BASE describes as ‘an excellent blend of seating capacity, luggage capacity and PSVAR compliance without the need to go to a three-axle specification.’
Richard Bamber, Managing Partner at Anthony’s Travel, commented: “As a company we are very proud to be the launch customer for the new MOBIpeople coach and of our partnership with BASE Coach Sales.
“Being part of a small working group of operators who contributed to the design of the vehicle was a great experience and this is truly a bespoke product, not a mass produced vehicle.
“Whilst we are facing the biggest crisis this industry (and indeed the world) has seen in living memory we were determined with BASE to push ahead with this project, as we mustn’t lose sight of planning for the future and not just focusing on today no matter how troubling things are.
“Whilst there are currently plenty of issues to be rightly concerned about this is something we feel brings much needed positivity not only to Anthony’s and BASE but the industry in general.
Antonio Catarino, General Manager of MOBIpeople, added: “We are delighted during this time of international crisis, to be able to complete and deliver the latest addition to our model range.
“We have worked closely with BASE and a number of their customers to deliver what we believe to be an excellent balance between attractive styling and class leading functionality.
“BASE hope to deliver the 200th MOBIpeople product to UK later this year, and we look forward to building on this success with the new model.”
For further details on the new vehicle, contact BASE Ltd on 01772 425355.
