Doubts on B15's future
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LEYLAND Truck and Bus executives still cannot decide whether to put firm proposals before the National Enterprise Board on whether or not to take up £13 million that has provisionally been earmarked for the B15.
But time is now running out if the B15 is to have any chance of coming into volume production in 1978/79. A decision must be made soon.
There now seems to be a stalemate situation over the B15 between Leyland and the Passenger Transport Executives, The PTEs are not prepared initially to order large numbers of B15 buses — but Leyland is not prepared to ask the NEB for the £13 million to set up production, without guarantees of such large orders.
Leyland is thus still "testing the market" with the B15 prototype in service with London Transport.
LT itself was known to be keen on ordering more B15s, but a decision on whether to make cash available was postponed by the GLC.
Greater Manchester PTE has opted for 50, but this is about the only order so far.