Archive, Bus Sales Data

EXCLUSIVE: Make mine buses

A buoyant mining industry in the west could be a source of hope for bus body builders in the new financial year.

September 9, 2010

The effects of the mining boom in WA appear to have rolled into demand for vehicles supplied by major bus builders in the past month.

BCI and Iveco have place units into WA’s north-west, the latter with four units assigned to Kellogg Joint Venture Group’s LNG operation.

With the tax incentives which saw a massive increase in the last stages of the ‘09 – ‘10 financial year now over and new buses delivered, mining has taken over as a source of hope for the bus and coach industry, back by the stability of state and local government-run public transport operations.

Against expectations, the 130 total deliveries for August 2010 matches the Government incentive-driven result of the same number – also 130 units – delivered in August ’09.

Even at this quiet time of the year it appears to be a good result, although bus suppliers are fighting hard for business.

The ‘league’ table has certainly changed, with Volvo chassis dominating the market place with 54 for August, where only 10 hit the streets at this time last year. Scania has slipped a little on the chassis side with just 16 units down from 43 twelve months ago. Of these 16, Scania placed ten K320s into South Australia’s Public Transport Department.

As has been well-reported, BCI has boomed over the past 12 months but has slipped recently to record just 8 body-chassis combinations last month, dropping behind Mercedes-Benz which has strengthened its position recently with state Government-funded orders of 8 to NSW STA and 5 to Transperth.

Volgren again holds onto top position as Australia’s biggest volume body builder with 62 units for August, up from its 44 in August 09.

And to keep cool as the summer months approach sees a spread of Thermo King units spread across Higer, Iveco, MAN, Mercedes-Benz, Scania, and Volvo, to remain as the top selling air-conditioner with 65 for August, up from 47 in July, and just 27 units in August 2009.

Sales by state has remain largely unchanged, although a 5 percent increase from July to 15 percent into WA could be significant, and a might be a state to watch in coming months.

September issue of ABC gives a comprehensive breakdown of August deliveries.

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