The Urban Transport Group has joined the Government’s new UK Bus Manufacturing Panel, which launched today (Thursday) in Sheffield.

The Panel has been set up by the Department for Transport (DfT) to bring together industry experts and local leaders to ensure that the UK remains a leader in bus building while helping local authorities to deliver their transport ambitions. It will focus on supporting UK bus manufacturing growth and creating jobs, boosting zero emission buses and delivering the Government’s Plan for Change.

UTG will be a ‘standing member’ on the Panel, alongside Government departments (DfT and Department of Business and Trade), bus operators and wider industry bodies.

The Panel was launched by Transport Minister Simon Lightwood, who was joined in Sheffield by Mayor of South Yorkshire Oliver Coppard, as well as Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, and other leading figures from the transport sector.

Jason Prince, Director of the Urban Transport Group, said:

“The UK has a successful history of building buses and has the potential to be a global leader when it comes to manufacturing zero emission buses.

“The Government’s new Panel - of which we are pleased to be a part of – will bring together leaders from across the sector to help secure the UK’s strong bus manufacturing position and to deliver new jobs, greener buses, cleaner air and regional economic growth.”

UTG’s A Smoother Ride: Unlocking a green bus revolution report, published last September, revealed the challenges of greening England’s buses, including manufacturing zero emissions buses (ZEBs). It found that 15,000 buses operating in England’s major cities must become zero emissions by 2036, if city regions are to hit their ambitious net zero targets.