The Australian bus and coach market feels the pandemic pressure, exclusive ABC data reveals.
While remaining largely resilient for the first half of the year in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic, market contractions have now flowed on to the Australian bus and coach market, with deliveries slipping to 70 in August.
Despite representing the lowest monthly tally for the year – and for some perspective – it steers clear of some recent historic lows, including 53 deliveries in September 2017.
For the chassis sector, Volvo remained top, but its 20 deliveries were half of last month’s, marking a yearly low. Similarly, second-placed Scania had its second consecutive month in the teens, but well short of June’s best of 46. One of the positives in August was MAN’s best month, due to a major order from Surfside Buslines. BCI also returned with seven deliveries after none in July.
Volgren led the way for the body builders with its 20 deliveries more than half its best, but also slightly better than some other months this year. Australian Bus Corporation’s three brands of Precision Buses (7), Bustech (5), and Elphinstone (3) were evenly spread for a combined tally of 15. Meanwhile, BCI also rebounded to 14 after two in July.
Thermo King led the air-conditioning sector, but it too had its lowest tally for the year (30), short of its previous low of 42. MCC had a better month with 11 recorded deliveries, compared to one last month.
For the second time this year WA topped the state charts, with 29 per cent of the deliveries, outranking its eastern seaboard compatriots NSW (26 per cent), Victoria (20 per cent) and Queensland (16 per cent).
Click here for comprehensive bus and coach delivery information for August. Please note all data is as supplied from manufacturers, with their involvement at their discretion.
Photography: courtesy MAN-Penske