News
News ›WHEELS CONTINUE TO TURN AS THE INDUSTRY PREPARES FOR A RECORD BREAKING SHOW
Euro Bus Expo 2008 is set to break a number of records as the showcase event for the European bus and coach industry opens for business at the NEC Birmingham next week (Tuesday 4th November).
25th October 2008
Speaking ahead of the show, President of the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT UK) Giles Fearnley said, “All the major transport sector stakeholders will be taking part in this year’s show – operators, global manufacturers, suppliers, international delegates and trade bodies, local authorities and national government and even royalty.”
“Collectively we will be demonstrating the progressive, forward-thinking, environmentally-sensitive, socially-inclusive and economically-vital role that public transport is playing in the daily lives of people all over the UK”, he added.
Exhibitor numbers – 318 at the last count – are up some 12% from when the show was staged two years ago, with no less than 136 exhibitors “setting out their store” at EBE for the first time. The growing international nature of the industry is reflected in a wide-ranging exhibitor representation from 21 countries – another show record.
Always a major attraction at the show, the highest-ever number of vehicles – the latest estimate is 180 buses and coaches and mini vehicles - are set to be displayed, more than 20% up on 2006 effectively turning Halls 4 & 5 at the National Exhibition Centre into a giant 34,000m2 showroom for all the latest models from Europe’s leading manufacturers.
Major product launches are scheduled from the likes of Alexander Dennis, Optare, Plaxton, Volvo and Wrightbus to name but a few, plus the recently crowned International Bus of the Year – the Setra S415NF - will be on show along with its Coach counterpart,the Volvo 9700. There’s even a display of vintage vehicles too, celebrating Ten Decades of the Bus.
Visitor numbers are likely to set a new record too if pre-registration figures continue to be an accurate guide - up 10% on EBE06. Delegates from 42 countries and every continent have registered for their free entry pass on-line, allowing them easy access to all three show days on Tuesday 4th to Thursday 6th November inclusive. As well as seeing all the latest bus and coach models, there is plenty for all visitors to see over an action-packed show programme, which includes daily free-to-attend Conference & Seminar sessions and Exhibitor forums.
Fully sold out space in the Technology and Training & Development Zones underlines the huge importance now attached to both of these areas by the industry as a whole. And for the very first time, five of the UK’s largest bus operators along with Trueform will be sponsoring a special Environment Zone to highlight just how buses and coaches are a key part of the solution in making travel more sustainable.
Giles Fearnley added, “Euro Bus Expo 2008 comes at an excellent time for the industry to show that it is still in a very robust state, despite the recent worldwide financial crisis and concerns about state of the wider economy. A visit to EBE08 will show that the wheels continue to turn right across the bus and coach sector throughout Europe. It is a great chance to come together and look forward to the many challenges and opportunities that our industry will be facing in the very near future.”