SODERTALJE, Sweden, Dec. 3, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- Scania (NYSE:SCVa) (NYSE:SCVb) buses are making strong headway in Britain. "In the last few weeks, we have sold 145 buses and more orders are in the pipeline," commented Geoff Bell, MD of Scania Bus & Coach. "The year 2002 will be a very successful one for Scania bus sales in Britain."
"We are now reaping the benefits of expanding our product range and focusing more intensively on the city bus segment, while our success in the tourist coach market also continues," explained Bell. "Scania has also gained a foothold with several new customers in Britain, which is now the company's third biggest bus market in Europe," he added.
The contract to supply 25 low-floor Scania OmniCity buses to London's Heathrow Airport is an important and prestigious one for Scania. Scheduled for delivery to the customer, Menzies Aviation Support Services, early in 2003, these will be used to operate shuttle services at the airport. According to Geoff Bell, this contract also offers excellent prospects of further orders.
Scania has also sold 64 city buses to Trent Buses, which was voted Bus Operator of the Year in Britain in 1999 and 2001. Built on Scania city bus chassis, these will be bodyworked by Wright, a company with which Scania collaborates closely in the British market.
The remaining 56 buses include 33 double-deckers built on Scania's new double-decker chassis, N94 UD4x2, bodied by East Lancs Coachbuilders. These will enter service with Nottingham City Transport and the Brighton & Hove Bus & Coach Company.
For further information please contact: Gunnar Boman +46-8-55389510 mobile +46-70-5508606
Scania is one of the world's leading manufacturers of trucks and buses for heavy transport applications, and of industrial and marine engines. With 28,300 employees and production facilities in Europe and Latin America, Scania is one of the most profitable companies in its sector. In 2001, turnover totaled SEK 53,000 million and the result after financial items was SEK 1,500 million. Scania products are marketed in about 100 countries worldwide and some 95 percent of Scania's vehicles are sold outside Sweden. Bus manufacture takes place in Sweden, Poland, Russia, Argentina, Brazil and Mexico.
Scania press releases are available on the Internet, www.scania.com
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