Strong August for bus & coach registrations

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Bus and coach registrations were up 56.9% to 488 units in August, although registrations across all bus and coach markets are still down 16.9% for the year-to-date.

Purpose-built coach registrations are now up 15.4% to 643 units for the year-to-date, while purpose built buses remain down 20.4%. Purpose-built bus and coach registrations increased 52.0% to 231 units in August. This was a result of a 27.8% increase in bus registrations and a 487.5% increase in coach registrations to 47 units.

Wendy Williamson of SMMT said: “The bus and coach sector has recorded significant growth this month compared to August 2012, following months of negative growth in the wake of last year’s Olympics-boosted sector.

“This month also marks a return to growth over August 2011, which was not affected by the Olympics, a positive sign the market will return to a trend of sustainable growth.”