The UK’s new bus, coach and minibus market has strengthened its recovery, recording a second consecutive year of growth and the best annual performance since 2008, according to the latest figures published earlier this week by the
Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). A 70.1% increase in registrations saw 8,390 buses join Britain’s roads in 2024 to become the largest overall European bus market, reflecting growing operator confidence in ridership levels and substantial Government funding for ‘zero emission’ technologies.
2024 saw robust demand across all segments, with deliveries of minibuses more than doubling, up 102.5% to 4,816 registrations, and accounting for 57.4% of the overall market. Single and double-decker bus deliveries also grew, up 22.5% to 1,973 units and 69.6% to 1,601 units respectively. Registrations in England, Wales and Northern Ireland were all up, rising by 77.2%, 184.9% and 52.4% respectively, while roll-out in Scotland dropped by -15.6%. With its larger population, England accounted for the lion’s share (87.4%) of all vehicles delivered.
‘Net zero’ transitionThe role of zero-emission buses (ZEBs) in Britain's ‘net zero’ transition, meanwhile, was solidified in 2024. Indeed, the UK maintained its status as having Europe’s biggest ZEB market by volume, with 1,570 electric or hydrogen units entering service across all three bus types last year, representing a 35.5% increase in demand. The growth was driven in part by increased model availability, with operators able to choose from 17 different options — particularly single and double deckers, where ZEBs comprised 43.9% of registrations.
Given the vital role of the UK's bus fleet in providing sustainable mass transport nationwide, increased adoption reflects the sector’s commitment to decarbonisation. Britain’s expanding bus fleet, already advanced in its transition, has been further accelerated by the roll-out of the Zero Emission Bus Regional Area (ZEBRA) scheme across regions – and with the second phase of funding now awarded and orders placed, more deliveries are expected this year.
Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: “Two years of growth and a 16-year high have cemented the recovery of Britain’s bus sector, with passenger numbers continuing to rise alongside increasing deliveries of new zero-emission buses. Government funding is helping deliver this stand-out performance and, as Europe’s largest zero-emission bus market, we are well on our way to achieving our ‘net zero’ goals, improving air quality and providing sustainable public transport in every region.”