Bus deliveries in 2022 start modestly, but with promise after bumper 2021 finish.
We are out of the gates for 2022 and after a dramatic past year – where deliveries saw a huge drop and then surged back for December – January’s total of 86 is a quieter start, but hopefully a sign of increasing stability.
In the chassis sector, Volvo and Yutong were neck and neck at the finish line with 20 each – Volvo showing a small drop from December, but Yutong going strength to strength with its highest number since January, 2020. In the middle of the pack Mercedes-Benz comes in at 14 and we welcome Custom Denning to the chassis deliveries with 11 units, matching Scania. BCI, meanwhile, gained a few on December with a total of seven, while BLK Auto, Challenger and Hino round off the total with one each.
In the body-building sector, Volgren was finally outstripped by Yutong after five months on top, overcome 20 to 17. Again, a fantastic result for Yutong. Custom Denning brought a strong 12 to the table while Irizar, on 11, is also showing fighting spirit with a total not seen since November, 2020. Bustech Group dropped back to six after a very strong November and December. Of the rest there is a welcome return from Challenger, which hasn’t supplied delivery data since last August.
In the air conditioning sector, Thermo King remains the reigning champion, but Cling-Yutong is snapping at its heels with results of 25 and 20, respectively. Hispacold bounced back to 13 from December’s seven, while Valeo’s 11 – thanks to Custom Denning – brings it back to these pages after a six-month absence. MCC also showed a strong gain, up six from December to reach seven. Coachair saw a large drop from December’s 16 to finish up on six, but was still up on October and November’s totals, while Spheros was up one for a total of four.
At the state level, NSW has knocked Victoria from its lofty December perch with a total of 28 versus 20 and Western Australia is looming in the rear view with 15. South Australia may be in the middle, but its total of nine is its highest since February 2020’s 10, so congrats to SA. Also congratulations to the Northern Territory, which saw the delivery of eight buses – the highest recorded for NT in these pages! Queensland, meanwhile, took a bit of a breather with six after December’s 16.
Turn overleaf for comprehensive bus and coach delivery information for January. Please note all data is as supplied from manufacturers, at their discretion.
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Photography: Courtesy Yutong