The latest SMMT data show total bus and coach registrations down 38.2% in March and down 18.6% for the rolling year to March.  Within that, March coaches dropped 32.3% but rose 5.8% for the rolling year.  Buses fell 39% in March and by 21.1% for the rolling year.  "In the short term the registration data are grim, buses are heading for a near 10 year low, midibuses for a 17 year low and coaches for their lowest for over 50 years," said Paul Everitt, Chief Executive at the SMMT.  "But the good news is that orders are starting to flow again, meaning that we should see registrations start to rise in the fourth quarter of this year and into 2012."
More from Robin Dickeson on +44 (0)2 073 449 222 or rdickeson@smmt.co.uk