DOWN: May slump for bus and coach market
Bus and coach registrations declined by 22 units during May, figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) have revealed.
The small drop means that year-to-date figures remain up by 4.1%.
Meanwhile, the purpose-built sector fell to 284 units in the month, with year-to-date volumes showing an 11% drop.
More positively, the converted bus market grew by 31.9% in May with year-to-date registrations up 19.9%.
Mike Hawes, Chief Executive of the SMMT, said: “After a glut of new bus and coach registrations in April, the sector performed more modestly in May, down 3.3%.
“While the purpose-built sector suffered a 27.7% reduction versus May 2013, converted bus registrations fared better with 31.9% growth.
“The positive results for the 12months to May (up 6.8%) and for the year-to-date (up 4.1%) are a solid base for the remainder of 2014.”
