One of the UK’s leading bus manufacturers has demonstrated that there is life outside Europe post-Brexit by announcing a £21m deal to supply buses to New Zealand. The deal secured by Optare is the company’s biggest ever Australasian export order with a NZ$40m (£21m) value, which will see the Leeds based company supply 114 buses to Tranzit Group.
The Tranzit Group is one of New Zealand’s largest public transport operators and the agreement will see Optare provide 114 innovative and environmentally efficient Metrocity buses to the New Zealand capital, Wellington. The first Metrocity buses are due to be delivered in March 2018 and the entire order set to be fulfilled by July 2018.
The buses from Optare, a subsidiary of India-based Ashok Leyland, feature Euro 6 compliant engines, best in class unladen weight, innovative monocoque design and higher seating capacity altogether delivering significant annual saving in fuel consumption and operating costs. Set to safeguard the 300+ employees at the company, Mr Graham Belgum, President of Optare, said: “This is a significant step for Optare as part of our international export strategy and signals the exciting growth opportunities available to us in Australasia. Further it recognises our continued innovation in lightweight products that use fuel efficient and environmentally friendly technologies.”
Paul Snelgrove, Managing Director of Tranzit Group, said: “A team of us travelled the world to find the ideal lightweight solution (12-tonne GVM) for New Zealand roads. We were impressed with the lightweight design of the Metrocity combined with the excellent passenger capacities it offers. The design’s reputation for excellent performance with regards to fuel efficiency particularly appealed to us.”
