Ikarus/Plaxtons in UK bus deal
Page 23
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
• Hungarian PSV producer Drams is to develop a range of buses for Britain and Ireland under an exclusive five-year deal with the UK coach building giant Plaxtons.
Plaxtons subsidiary Kirkby will build components for the buses and will market the range in this country. Some finished models may be reexported to the Eastern Bloc. The buses are likely to be similar to the Ikarus 400s that were introduced by the Hungarians a year ago.
Kirkby says that new jobs are likely to be created at its base in Anston, near Sheffield, where it will also build chassis for export to Ikarus' factory.
The buses are unlikely to be available before the end of 1988, but Kirkby hopes to sign contracts with UK parts manufacturers within the next few months.
Kirkby has long-standing links with Ikarus, the world's largest bus-builder: two years ago it began to market 'Icarus Blue Danube luxury coaches in this country. Earlier this year it was taken over by Plaxtons.
The new deal is Plaxton's first venture into the bus market. The Scarborough operation was prompted by deregulation and the sale of most of the National Bus Company's subsidiaries to the private sector.