BUS AND COACH REGISTRATIONS UP 37.4% IN MARCH
07 April 2006 - SMMT

Rolling year total at 13,021, down 0.8 per cent on the same period last year.

*Bus and coach registrations for the month at 2,037, up 37.4 per cent on March 05.
*Coaches fall 14.3 per cent to 191 units; all bus segments see strong growth.

‘The good start to 2006 continues, with strong growth in March registration figures, boosting industry expectations of stable result for the year as whole,’ said Christopher Macgowan, SMMT chief executive. ‘2006 opened with modest year-on-year growth in the bus sector, but March saw the pace increase, although with no real change in the underlying trends in the sector. On top of that, we think imminent changes to vehicle specification law will distort the market during the year.’

The rolling year total was 13,021 units, up 6.8 per cent. Bus and coach registrations are stable over 12,000 for the rolling year and with March bus and coach registrations up 37.4 per cent this trend should continue.

Light mini bus registrations, under 3.5tonnes, have picked up well over the last three and six months; up 19.6 and 8.8 per cent respectively. This is reflected in the rolling year total which has grown in recent months.

Double-deck bus registrations increased 7.1 and 19.1 per cent for the previous three and six month’s totals. The rolling year total for double deck buses was down 9.4 per cent to 958 units.

Rolling year coach registrations were at 1,061 in March, down 6.3 per cent on the same period last year. The rolling year totals for coaches 3.5 to 16t, and coaches above 16t, were down 11.5 and 4.8 per cent respectively.

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