• Dutch coachbuilder Berkhof has purchased a controlling interest in
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Hainje, one of the Netherland's largest bus bodybuilders, enabling it to export a range of buses as well as coaches. Hainje has 195 employees and can build up to 190 bodies a year. It builds bodywork on Daf, Mercedes and Volvo chassis, and integral midibuses with Daf and MAN running gear.
• Bus and Coach Council president Simon Newman has warned that profits in the PSV industry must be increased if fleets are to be renewed at an adequate rate. "The signs of new confidence within the bus and coach industry are becoming clear. The Government, the industry and the public are now beginning to feel the benefits of deregulation," he said at the BCC's annual dinner last week, replying to guest of honour Michael Portillo. But he warned operators that "profitability will have to be substantially improved to justify the major investment required" if they want to keep their fleets up-to-date. At the current rate of new vehicle investment it would take 30 years to replace Britain's PSV fleet, he said.