- 1,066 new buses and coaches registered in Britain from April
to June, up 0.6% on the same period last year.
- Q2 performance puts first half of 2022 up 17.9% year-on-year,
with 2,040 vehicles registered – but market remains -46.4%
down on the pre-pandemic five-year average.
- Ongoing weak ridership levels acting as discouragement to
investment.
The UK new bus and coach market grew by 0.6% to 1,066 units in
the second quarter, according to figures released today by the
Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Bus and coach
sales so far this year stand at 2,040 units, up 17.9% on last
year thanks to the recovery in Q1, but still down -46.4% on the
pre-pandemic five-year average.1
The slight growth in Q2 saw single-deck buses up 65.3%, while
minibuses weighing up to six tonnes and with up to 17 seats – the
largest segment by volume – fell by -9.7%. Registrations of
double-deck buses, meanwhile, declined by -52.3%. In the year to
date, the overall sector is up 17.9%, with minibus registrations
increasing by 8.9% and single-deck buses by 84.8%, while
double-deck buses fell by -24.9%.
While ridership levels have gradually been improving since the
end of lockdowns, they remain below pre-pandemic levels, reducing
operator confidence to invest in their fleets. Although around
£270 million of Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) funding
has been announced since October 2021, this has yet to be
reflected in registrations. Delivering bus fleet renewal is
essential for achieving decarbonisation goals, given the sector
already currently exceeds the car sector in its embrace of zero
emission technology, and plays a vital role in affordable mass
mobility.2
Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said, “The bus
and coach sector is key to ensuring everyone in British society
can be on the move, with a critical role to play in the UK’s Net
Zero targets. Growth is therefore essential to get the cleanest
and greenest buses and coaches on Britain’s roads. However,
ridership levels are struggling to recover to pre-pandemic
levels, to the detriment of operators’ confidence in renewing
their fleets.”
Notes to editors
1 First-half pre-pandemic five-year average: 3,806
units.
2 SMMT motorparc data 2021: BEVs comprise 1.3% of
buses on the road, 1.1% of cars
