Following news in the last issue of Truck & Bus Builder (October 2019) announcing the collapse of the Wrights Group of Ballymena, Bamford Bus Company Ltd, a newly formed subsidiary company of AB&C Manufacturing Ltd (2006) set up and owned by Joseph Bamford, on October 22, 2019 announced it had acquired Wrightbus.

Mellor Coachcraft launched a new vehicle specifically designed for the Demand Responsive Transport market at Busworld Europe in Brussels last month.

A UK consortium led by autonomous systems provider, Fusion Processing Ltd, together with British bus builder, Alexander Dennis Ltd, one of the UK’s largest passenger transportation operators,  Stagecoach Plc, and three others, are to begin public trials of five autonomous diesel buses in Scotland starting in 2020.

Alexander Dennis Ltd is to supply six electric buses to Fullers360, a subsidiary of Weiheke Bus Company, commencing the conversion of bus services on New Zealand’s Waiheke Island to a zero emission operation. 

Having recently been installed in its new multi-million flagship manufacturing base in Belton, Cartwright Conversions, a division of the trailer builder, Cartwright Group, has already been earmarked for further expansion.

Ulemco, a developer of low carbon fuel applications, working in conjunction with Revolve Technologies, claims to have achieved record energy efficiency from use of 100% industrial grade hydrogen. 

Ford is introducing what it claims is its most intelligent, fuel-efficient, productive two-tonne Transit van.

Alexander Dennis Ltd has supplied an Enviro200 to the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority in Atlanta, for a six-month revenue trial.

After many weeks of speculation, double deck bus building specialist, Wrights Group in Northern Ireland, UK has gone into administration.

Mellor Coachcraft Ltd, a manufacturer of accessible low floor vehicles, is to launch a new niche product at Busworld Europe 2019 this month, designed specifically for the demand responsive transportation market.

Scania (Great Britain) Ltd is launching a limited edition of 25 flagship S-series Highline tractor units in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the V8 engine.

A new CO2 monitoring system for inside the bus has been developed by Potenza Technology Ltd. The system has been installed on a new protype all-electric low entry city bus developed as part of CELEB, a consortium of British companies and Agrale Argentina, which is due to go on trial in Q1 2020.