Leeds-based Optare (www.optare.com), one of the UK’s leading bus manufacturers, has secured its biggest ever Australasian export order with a £21 million deal to supply 114 buses to Tranzit Group, a New Zealand public-transport operator.

The agreement will see Optare (a subsidiary of India-based Ashok Leyland) provide 114 innovative and environmentally efficient Metrocity buses to Wellington and the surrounding area, with the first buses due to be delivered in March 2018 and the order completed by July.

The buses feature engines compliant with Euro 6, best-in-class unladen weight, innovative monocoque design and higher seating capacity. They will deliver significant savings in fuel consumption and operating costs.

Optare president Graham Belgum said: “This is a significant step for Optare, as part of our international export strategy.

"It signals the exciting opportunities available to us in Australasia, and it recognises our continued innovation in lightweight products and environment-friendly technologies.”

Paul Snelgrove, managing director of Tranzit Group, said: “A team of us travelled the world to find the ideal lightweight solution for New Zealand’s roads.

"We were impressed with the lightweight design of the Metrocity, combined with the excellent passenger capacities it offers. The design’s reputation for excellent performance with regard to fuel efficiency particularly appealed to us.”