Cementing its position as the largest overall market in Europe for bus, coach and minibus registrations, the UK saw the biggest number of new vehicles joining the roads since 2008, according to the latest figures published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
Continuing its challenging market recovery with strong growth, there was a 70% year-on-year increase in registrations across all segments, which saw a total of 8,390 buses, coaches and minibuses entering service in 2024, reflecting positive operator confidence in bus patronage, as well as the use of government funding in support of the acquisition of new zero emission vehicles.
The UK also maintained its status as Europe’s biggest ZEV bus market by volume with 1,570 electric or hydrogen units entering service across all three bus types in 2024. This growth in the zero emission fleet solidified the UK’s net zero transformation, following a 36% increase in demand, driven in part by increased model availability, with operators able to choose from 17 options.
According to the SMMT, the uplift in the market has been further supported by Zero Emission Bus Regional Area (ZEBRA) funding, which began in 2022. With the second phase of funding now awarded and orders placed, additional zero emission bus deliveries are expected this year.
Commenting on the latest bus and coach statistics, Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said:
“Two years of growth and a 16-year high have cemented the recovery of Britain’s bus sector, with passenger numbers continuing to rise alongside increasing deliveries of new zero-emission buses. Government funding is helping deliver this standout performance and, as Europe’s largest zero emission bus market, we are well on our way to achieving our net zero goals, improving air quality and providing sustainable public transport in every region.”
John Dwight, Sales Director of Imperial Engineering, which has recently been appointed the UK distributor for BYD eBuses commented:
“Having supported the UK bus and coach industry for over 60 years, we are greatly encouraged by these figures, which demonstrate a robust market and one that leads Europe. We should look forward with optimism as operators continue their transformation journey to zero emission fleets. Our status as the primary distributor for BYD in the UK reflects how the market has developed and the pace at which new ZEV units are being introduced. We look forward to another busy year of supporting operators with OE and remanufactured parts.”
Imperial Engineering is fully geared up to serve operators with parts for BYD eBuses and already has a significant inventory in place at its new distribution facility in Harlow, Essex. The company has made a significant investment in a brand new warehouse management system upgrade to support the BYD parts supply agreement and is introducing further measures to meet the growing demand from operators, as the number of BYD eBuses on UK roads continues to increase.
Alongside parts supply which supports bus and coach operators across the UK, Imperial Engineering assists customers in identifying the correct parts for their vehicles, as well as providing technical support and training, in partnership with its manufacturer partners.
