<p> Bus and coach industry news</p><p>Date: 13 March 2006 Number: 4450 Release: Now Big bus registrations firm early in 2007</p><p> Big buses stable at 2,809 for the rolling year to February.  1,082 coaches to January, on par with the annual average for the four years to 2006.  Minibuses, at 4,600 for the rolling year to January continue their downward slide.</p><p>‘Two months into 2007 and big bus and coach registrations are holding just below most recent annual levels.’ said Christopher Macgowan, SMMT chief executive. ‘The growth we saw in 2006 has eased but we expect stability in 2007. A few erratic months lie ahead as coach registrations were especially strong in April 2006 and big buses over 8.5t gvw also saw a strong period to September. Minibus registrations continue to slide.’</p><p>Big buses and coaches – rolling year registrations December 2002 to January 2007</p><p>Big buses 8.5t gvw & over and coaches 16t gvw & over</p><p>Coaches over 16t gvw All buses over 8.5t gvw s l a t o t</p><p> n o i t a r t s i g e r</p><p> r a e y</p><p> g n i l l o r</p><p>Dec 2002 to date</p><p>If you have any questions, please call Robin Dickeson on +44(0)2 073 449 222 Mobile +44 (0)7 974 435 641 E-mail: [email protected]</p><p>Further tables and charts follow with more details of annual trends by gross vehicle weight & type.</p><p>1 February 2007 bus and coach registration data</p><p>New bus and coach registrations in the United Kingdom – 2007 February % change* YTD 2007 % Rolling year to Feb change* Total buses and coaches 588 - 12.1% 1,261 - 9.0% 11,613 Buses above 8.5t 147 - 28.6% 295 - 24.7% 2,809</p><p>Single-deck buses: minibuses to 3.5t 204 - 30.4% 368 - 36.7% 4,600 3.5 – 8.5t 178 47.1% 479 64.6% 3,122 8.5 – 16t 50 - 34.2% 131 - 23.4% 1,206 16t + 67 0.0% 110 - 7.6% 787 Single-deck buses total 499 - 10.4% 1,088 - 6.4% 9,773 16t + double-deck buses 30 - 52.4% 54 - 47.1% 816 All buses 529 - 14.7% 1,142 - 9.7% 10,531 All coaches 59 20.4% 119 - 1.7% 1,082 Coaches 3.5 – 16t 24 380.0% 45 221.4% 182 Coaches 16t+ 35 - 20.5% 74 - 30.8% 900 The statistics in the above table are based on all vehicles registered in the UK with a bus and coach body. The data covers all vehicles, from minibuses to double-deck buses and coaches.</p><p>Notes Source: SMMT MVRIS Reports (NR3-BC) *NB: Percentage changes are on the same period a year before YTD: Year-to-date</p><p>2 Key annual trends in the UK bus and coach new registration markets</p><p>Annual trends – rolling year totals for months from December 2002 to 2007</p><p>Minibuses to 3.5t gvw Buses 3.5t to 8.5t gvw 8000 3500</p><p>7500 3000 7000</p><p>6500 2500</p><p>6000 2000 5500</p><p>1500 5000</p><p>4500 1000 D M J S D M J S D M J S D M J S D M J S D D M J S D M J S D M J S D M J S D M J S D 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 3 4 5 6 7 2 3 4 5 6 7</p><p>Buses 8.5t+ gvw All coaches over 3.5t gvw 2250 1300</p><p>2000 1200</p><p>1750 1100</p><p>1500 SDBuses>8.5t DDBuses>16t 1000 1250</p><p>900 1000</p><p>750 800 D M J S D M J S D M J S D M J S D M J S D D M J S D M J S D M J S D M J S D M J S D 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 3 4 5 6 7 2 3 4 5 6 7</p><p>SDBuses: Single-deck buses DDBuses: Double-deck buses</p><p>Analysis based on SMMT’s MVRIS – Bus and coach report NR3B&C</p><p>3</p>