The 6-metre bus will serve in Ebbsfleet Valley, an area of major urban development between the Kentish towns of Dartford and Gravesend.

At the end of January, the European Commission kicked off a series of strategic dialogues with business leaders from the automotive industry to review regulations which set mandatory CO2 emission targets for newly-registered vehicles. In a press release, the ACEA alleged that car and van manufacturers could face fines of up to EUR16bn this year for failing to comply with the regulation. Cummins expects that a similar target for CVs – a 43% reduction starting in 2030 – will not be achieved without a drastic transformation of the market. Echoing the opinion of the ACEA, Lamb told Truck & Bus Builder that “the rollout of infrastructure for both electric and hydrogen vehicles is slower than will be needed to meet the 2030 target”.

Deliveries will be completed by Spring 2026 before the region serves as host to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The new-gen Strata provides improved accessibility and greater interior room for up to thirty passengers in its largest configuration.

This figure of 14,405 for city buses with alternative drivelines was marginally higher (+6.5%) than the 13,466 units registered in 2023, which was due, DVV explained, to higher volumes of electric buses.