Harris Group Sales & Marketing Director, Chris Haughton talked to Andy Izatt at Coach & Bus UK about the Dublin-based company’s plans to offer a range of passenger vehicles in the UK
If anyone thought that Dublin-based Harris Group would be reining back following the death of legendary founder and owner Robert ‘Pino’ Harris in July, they would be wrong. The company, which made its name assembling and selling Hino trucks, has plans to sell Higer, Isuzu and LDV passenger vehicles in the UK as Sales & Marketing Director, Chris Haughton outlined at Coach & Bus UK.
“Pino had such an influence on the construction industry vehicles we drive in Ireland today,” said Chris. “He was very active right up to the end. His wife Denise was always his partner and she’s 100% committed to carrying on the business – so much so that a new management team is now running the company.[wlm_nonmember][…]
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“We’re just about to launch the Isuzu coach range in right-hand drive. It’s a project that we’ve been working on for a while, but we’re now ready for a soft launch in Ireland. We have an Irish distributorship and we’re in negotiations at the moment over the UK.
“Two vehicles will be offered initially – the nine-metre, rear-engined Visigo with 39 seats and a full touring specification, and the mid-engined Turquoise with 33 seats. The Visigo is Cummins powered while the Turquoise has an Isuzu driveline. Homologation and type approval for right-hand drive are ongoing at the moment.
“Over the last two years we’ve undertaken a lot of research into the coach industry and what became apparent was that tour groups are becoming smaller. What we have decided is that we want to become a dominant force within the midi coach sector and that means being able to offer operators a number of options to give them choice.
“Isuzu is using the same driveline as the Higer midi coaches we’re already importing into Ireland so that means that from a parts perspective there’s crossover between the two. At any time we hold €12m in spare parts so we know that we can provide the back up. We’re already an importer of Isuzu light commercials and we’ve been working with that company for 40 years so what we’re about to do is just an extension of an existing relationship.
“We’re keeping Isuzu prices under wraps at the moment, but I expect they will be similar to Higer. We want the launch vehicles driven and to make sure operators are happy with the specification before we talk about the price. At the moment we believe the first right-hand drive production vehicles will be on sale in June 2018. We build for stock, not to order and it looks as if the initial batch for each will be for 10. Build time is only 12 weeks.”
Developing Higer
“The 37-seat 9.4m Higer Super 9 midi coach on the stand was conceived at this show in 2014,” Chris continued. “That’s when we exhibited our 9.1m 35-seat Higer Storm. We wrote down everything that visitors told us about it that they didn’t like and I spent 18 months going backwards and forwards physically designing the Super 9 specifically for Ireland and the UK.
“It’s powered by a Darlington-built Cummins ISB6.7E5 engine driving through an Alison T325R automatic gearbox. There’s full independent front suspension and programmable ECAS (Electronically Controlled Air Suspension). Dana makes the rear axle, Wabco supplies the brakes, ZF the steering and there’s an auto lube system greasing the kingpins. Aircraft grade aluminium has been used for the doors and the wheel arches. Tinted glass has UV protection and Spheros supplies the air-conditioning. The interior specification includes a host of standard features including four-camera CCTV, 50-litre fridge, USB charging points and slide-out, reclining Vega 440 seats in leather.
“The vehicle on the stand is Euro 5, but our new Euro 6-C model will have predictive cruise control and a lane departure warning system. Luggage space goes up to seven cubic metres from 6.7m3 because it will be slightly longer at 9.6m and will be able to seat up to 41.
“That means there will be three Super 9 models – 35 seats with a toilet, 37 seats with a continental door and 41 seats with no continental door, but an emergency exit. Twenty-five Super 9s have been sold in Ireland. We have none left although a significant number are coming. We have the space and funding to hold stock and we’re not afraid to do that. Prices start from around £155,000 plus VAT. Storm is still available priced from £134,000 plus VAT. Of 15 Storms imported, there are four left.
“We’re also introducing a 12m Higer coach that will be called the Road-king and we’re expecting to have the first by the end of the first quarter next year. We have to choose the engine – either Cummins or Iveco Curser 9 and I think we’ll probably go with the Iveco, although that’s not decided. I’m going to China in November to try both and that’s when we’ll confirm the specification. Once we’re happy that the coach is right, we will launch it in Ireland and the UK at the same time.
“What sets Higer apart is that it’s the third largest bus builder in the world. It manufactures for Scania and we’re able to provide all the backup and parts that might be required. None of the potential distributors we’ve spoken to had the vision we were looking for so for the moment we’re going to direct sell into the UK. I think the coach industry is very personal and we’re happy to work one to one.
“Harris Group already has a UK subsidiary, Harris UK and we have an extensive dealership and support network throughout the British Isles. UK vehicles will be covered by warranty from WMS Group and there will be a dedicated phone line. Nationwide Coach Assistance provides backup while glazing support comes from PSV Glass & Glazing.”
LDV minibus options
“We have two LDV minibuses in the demonstration park,” said Chris. “One’s a WAV (Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle) with 10 seats and two wheelchair spaces. The other is a Mini-B sliding door entry vehicle with 15 seats. Both are front entry.
“We have a new vehicle that will break cover sometime in the next three weeks which is a front entry LDV with a boot, but it still conforms to the 3.5-tonne configuration. Our front entry layout has been passed by the NSAI (National Standards Authority of Ireland) which under mutual recognition will automatically be accepted by the VCA (Vehicle Certification Agency) in the UK.
“LDV conversions are carried out for us by Steve and Joe Ferry trading as Donegal Automotive Services. They have been doing it for a year building to our order and specification. Fifty have been done so far and all have been sold.
“Last week they delivered the first batch of 10 to UK operator, Afford of Stoke on Trent. We have two more substantial orders – one for 15, another for 10 that they’ll start working on in the next two weeks and, again, they’re for UK customers.
“We’re appointed to sell LDV minibuses, but there’s also the UK and Ireland dealer network. When customers see that LDV is back and that the specification is good, the dealers will start to sell them.”[/wlm_ismember]
