Work to support domestic bus manufacturing continued with a meeting on 28 July of the UK Bus Manufacturing Expert Panel that focused on building what the Department for Transport (DfT) says is a 10-year pipeline of zero-emission vehicle orders from that source.
How that could be structured is not yet known, but it sits alongside work led by the Scottish Government to preserve bus manufacturing by Alexander Dennis in Scotland. The NFI Group subsidiary earlier announced plans to cease that activity at plants in Falkirk and Larbert and consolidate all assembly in Scarborough.
The Scottish Government has already begun a process to secure a pipeline of orders to enable Alexander Dennis to maintain bus building in Scotland, but it said earlier in July that collaboration with the UK government is imperative to avoid the proposed plant closures.
In June, Alexander Dennis President and Managing Director Paul Davies told the Scottish Government’s Economy and Fair Work committee that the builder needs an additional 70 to 100 orders for 2025 and 300 to 400 for 2026 to row back on its plans. 400 jobs are currently under threat.
The 28 July Panel meeting was chaired by Secretary of State for Transport Heidi Alexander and Local Transport Minister Simon Lightwood. Representing the Scottish Government was Cabinet Secretary for Transport Fiona Hyslop. Also present were Under-Secretary of State for Scotland Kirsty McNeill and Metro Mayors Richard Parker (West Midlands), Steve Rotheram (Liverpool City Region), and David Skaith (York and North Yorkshire).
DfT adds that a focus on a strong pipeline of zero-emission bus orders for UK manufacturers will give those builders “the long-term certainty needed to invest and grow.”
The Panel has additionally committed to ensuring that zero-emission buses bring social benefits to the communities they serve and support local employment, sustainability and inclusivity, the Department adds.
Ms Hyslop says that a future pipeline of orders across the UK “is essential to support bus manufacturing in Scotland.” Demand in England, from operators and mayoral authorities, is “essential” to that.
“That is why it is so important we see a cross-governmental approach to consider the future pipeline of demand, and why I was pleased to be able to attend and contribute to this extraordinary meeting of the UK Bus Manufacturing Expert Panel in London,” she continues.
“The Scottish Government remains wholly committed to supporting the future of bus manufacturing in Scotland, which contributes greatly to our economy and directly supports our transition to a net-zero transport system.”
