TOURING COACHES

Crouching dragons

Can Chinese PSV manufacturers hit the big numbers in the UK? Currently, there are 18 UK aftersales points: five more are expected Brian Weatherley examines progress and considers the prospects by December. Residual values are also for Scania’s latest Touring coach, built in by Higer doing well, according to Cassar. As for customers, they range from big-league espite interest in the was King Long, which celebrates touring firms to smaller independents. eight-wheeler at its 10th anniversary here this autumn. Cassar describes them as operators who this year’s CV Show – the Originally handled via an importer, this expect luxury as standard, but want a Dfirst Chinese heavy truck year saw sales and support move to lower price tag and reduced costs. offered in Britain – it’s King Long Europe UK. Last year saw the arrival of another China’s PSV (public service vehicle) To date, 415 King Long buses and Chinese contender, as Leeds-based manufacturers that have so far made the coaches (mostly coaches) have been Pelican Bus & Coach became UK and running. That phenomenon shows little sold in the UK and Chris Cassar, Ireland distributor for buses and sign of abating, given the £19 million managing director for King Long touring coaches – again, powered by order struck between BYD (the world’s Europe UK, is keen to grow the brand. DAF or diesels. PB&C is largest maker of all- chassis) “The immediate growth area is for a 10- wholly owned by CV specialist Pelican and bodybuilder Alexander Dennis, to metre executive [coach], with or without Engineering, and sales director Ken supply 51 pure electric single-deckers to toilet,” he says. Why? Because the Grindrod sees similarities between Go-Ahead London. market wants cheaper upfront costs and Pelican’s PSV customers and its former This order for 51 units reflects TfL’s fuel savings over 12-metre coaches. Foden truck buyers. Many, he says, are (Transport for London) policy to make all small, family-owned concerns who “still single-deck buses emission free by LUXURY WITHOUT THE COST write the cheques themselves” – 2020. When they arrive next August, the King Long’s Euro 6 two-axle 9m—12m although there are larger operators, too. capital will have the largest fleet of all- RHD touring coaches are powered by PB&C registered its first Yutong electrics in Europe. But while inner city Cummins’ 6.7-litre ISB (250bhp) and 8.9- demonstrator in March 2014. “We bus routes clearly lend themselves to litre ISL (400bhp) engines, with a ordered eight for stock, working on the electric operations, it’s a different story 360bhp Cursor 9 optional on its Day assumption that it would take a while to with touring coaches. So how are Tourer. Tri-axle models come with the ISL shift those. But, by the time they arrived Chinese manufacturers tackling this or DAF’s 440bhp MX-11. ZF AMTs they were all sold. We then ordered an market – with diesel-engined vehicles? (automated manual transmissions) are additional 12 and it’s just gone from The first Sino PSV-maker in the UK standard throughout. there,” reports Grindrod.

October 2015 www.transportengineer.org.uk 25 TOURING COACHES

“There are a lot of European components, which allows [customers] to get virtually what they had – but with bodywork and seats made in China” Ken Grindrod

Today, over 70 Yutong into the semi-integral Higer across all chassis from November. coaches are running on UK body, with its stainless steel Scania’s Higer-bodied Touring line-up roads. Initially, the only model exterior panelling, aluminium is currently restricted to the 13.7m 6x2 available was a Euro 5 Cummins hatches and box-section galvanised 57-seater. That’s based on the Euro 6 12m variant. But for Euro 6 steel support structure. K410 13-litre SCR (selective catalytic Yutong has extended the reduction) 6x2*4 rear-steer chassis, choice with the 400bhp Paccar MX-11 CHINESE BUT EUROPEAN TOO which has an optional 450bhp rating. for its 12m coach, while a 280bhp The Touring’s front styling owes much to However, it will soon be joined by a Cummins ISB drives the 9.35m model. the grille on the R range truck cab. All 12.1m 4x2 49-seater, based on the Euro As with King Long, Yutong’s price tag, vehicles are built to European WVTA 6 K360 9-litre SCR-only chassis. Scania’s especially at Euro 6, is fuelling interest. (whole vehicle type approval) standards, two-pedal Opticruise automatic GR875R And Grindrod says the Yutong’s with production overseen by eight-speed box is standard on both drivetrain is also attractive. “There are a representatives from the UK’s VCA (the 450bhp unit has a 12-speed auto). lot of European components, which (Vehicle Certification Agency), in China. But doesn’t Scania’s existing range allows [customers] to get virtually what Toilets, luggage racks, curtains and already serve the UK market? After all, its they had – but with bodywork and seats carpets are fitted in China. The 99% RHD line-up includes not only two- and made in China.” complete shells are then shipped to three-axle Irizar-bodied models (70% of As well as selling to local firms, Scania’s coach centre in Antwerp, where Scania’s RHD touring coach sales), but Pelican has supplied Yutong coaches to Kiel reclining seats are fitted, along with also the versatile two- and three-axle operators in the south of England and kitchenette/drinks machines, AV and OmniExpress, from Finland. Scotland. “We’ve been trying to set up wheelchair lifts, if specified. Scania general manager for bus and dealerships in areas where the operators As for the Touring’s spec, that coach retail Martin West explains that it’s are based, but we’ve also got vehicles includes electronic stability control, all about strategy. On a like for like basis, here equipped to attend breakdowns or reversing camera and Xenon headlights the Higer-built coach costs £25,000 less issues anywhere in the country.” – as well as LDWS (lane departure than an equivalent EU-sourced Irizar or Arguably, though, the most intriguing warning) and AEBS (autonomous OmniExpress. Additionally, with Higer, of the Chinese dragons is the Scania emergency braking), both mandatory Scania can compete against rival Touring Coach built by Higer, first shown from 1 November registrations. To Chinese products, yet with its own in RHD form at last year’s PSV Show. these, Scania adds ACC (adaptive chassis and drivetrain and a body built Scania has maintained a collaboration cruise control) as part of its Active to its standards. Moreover, the vehicle is with the Chinese manufacturer (itself Safety Support package – standard supported through its 93-strong UK part of King Long Group) since 2005, dealer and service network. with the A80 bus project – a Higer- And if the Higer body performs to bodied Scania single-decker for Egypt. Scania expectations, the Euro 6 Touring The pair then developed a coach for may well attract express coach Europe, launching the Scania Touring in companies. West says the first UK 12.1m 2009 at Kortrijk Bus World – with the first 4x2 Touring will arrive in November. “We RHD model going on the road in March plan to ... invite customers to view it this year. To date, some 20 RHD Scania from around December to March-April Higer models (all 6x2s) have been 2016.” And he adds: “We’ve also taken registered in the UK – a modest share of the first order for two 12.1m coaches for the 500-plus units supplied across delivery next spring.” Europe since 2011. He believes that, with both RHD Scania Touring is built on its own models in place, sales of 40—50 Scania assembly line at Higer’s plant Higer Touring Coaches per year is not under a Swedish quality control system. unreasonable. That may not happen Scania’s Sodertalje, plant overnight, but, as the Chinese proverb supplies short frame two- and three-axle has it: one step at a time is good chassis. These are split and incorporated walking.

26 www.transportengineer.org.uk October 2015