Jim Sumner, chief executive at Optare is optimistic about the company's ability to weather "very uncertain times."  He says the firm has stuck to its plans to cut cost and debt in a changing market and he is confident of the firm's ability to offer a wider range of "more affordable" solutions to cash-strapped operators.  New advanced technology will help here and Sumner is proud of the firm's record; "We backed four horses and I think we picked four winners."  Optare won the first big contract for hybrid buses, with Manchester, it has the first electric bus running, in Durham; it won a CILT award for its Eco Dash and now it is working to help develop a line or retrofit, low-cost mechanical hybrid: The Fly Bus project should start tests early in the new year.  On top of this he expects great things from the partnership with Ashok Leyland.  And "last November our order book stood at about £7.5m, now it is over £35m and should hit £40m by the end of the month."
More from Martin Hayes on +44 (0)2 074 948 050 or mhayes@automotivepr.com