Switch is planning to close its Yorkshire factory and concentrate on India

[Mikey C]

Switch , formerly Optare until 2020, has announced that it is undertaking a consultation process in relation to the potential closure of its bus building facility in Sherburn-in-Elmet in North Yorkshire due to ‘eocnomic uncertainty and ‘slower than expected adoption of electriv vehicles in the UK.’ In a statement, the company, whose sales have been slow in the UK for a number of years and which recently restarted production of the Optare-badged diesel Solo for Stagecoach, said it wants to refocus its efforts on the growing Indian market where it sees greater potential.

They might blame the market uncertainty, but that hasn't stopped Wrights and BYD selling loads of electric vehicles. The reality is that nobody is buying their products

Switch off possible as bus maker consults on closure - CBW

Switch , formerly Optare until 2020, has announced that it is undertaking a consultation process in relation to the potential closure of its bus building facility in Sherburn-in-Elmet in North Yorkshire due to ‘eocnomic uncertainty and ‘slower [...]

cbwmagazine.com

 

[Pyewipecarshed]

Not good news but not really a surprise. The lack of new Switch vehicles taking to the roads has been noticeable.
I thought restarting production of the Solo might keep them going, but they seem lukewarm to building them unless begged to do so. I realise it's a bit embarrassing when customers prefer your old-as-the-hills diesel to your new electric range but business should be business...if folk want to buy it then you sell it!
Hopefully a solution will be found that keeps the factory open and the jobs secure.

 

[Observer]

Any likelihood that they could just sell the Solo designs and such to another manufacturer if there is still demand for them from some companies? It might be the best solution here.

 

[Pyewipecarshed]

Any likelihood that they could just sell the Solo designs and such to another manufacturer if there is still demand for them from some companies? It might be the best solution here.

It's not unheard of, Optare themselves did it when they bought the Metrorider from MCW. It would be a good little earner for whoever took it on.

 

[Dwarfer1979]

due to ‘slower than expected adoption of electriv vehicles in the UK.’

The UK was the largest market for electric buses in Europe last year (and the two years before I think thanks to ZEBRA funding), how much faster were they expecting? Just self-justification for not actually offering the market a bus they have told them they want.

 

[citybus2500]

due to ‘slower than expected adoption of electriv vehicles in the UK.’

The UK was the largest market for electric buses in Europe last year (and the two years before I think thanks to ZEBRA funding), how much faster were they expecting? Just self-justification for not actually offering the market a bus they have told them they want.

Indeed. Not because they have a rubbish product.

Did they ever open their factory in Spain?

 

[Mikey C]

due to ‘slower than expected adoption of electriv vehicles in the UK.’

The UK was the largest market for electric buses in Europe last year (and the two years before I think thanks to ZEBRA funding), how much faster were they expecting? Just self-justification for not actually offering the market a bus they have told them they want.

It's complete nonsense. Apart from the lack of sales of their existing electric products, when was the last time they launched anything new in the UK? Since their last product launch, ADL for example will have completely replaced their range.

 

[scosutsut]

I think the largest shock is how this has taken so long to be honest. Their product line has been a basket case for years and has sold like ice cubes in the Antarctic.

 

[Observer]

It's not unheard of, Optare themselves did it when they bought the Metrorider from MCW. It would be a good little earner for whoever took it on.

As said it would be the best option unless an existing manufacturer can come up with something that would meet the requirements that people are exactly looking for.

 

[Andyh82]

Surely if the Solo is discontinued, we will just end up with more Mellor Strata’s etc, which I’m not sure many here would like

There are loads of rural routes that won’t be going electric any time soon and won’t be able to justify a bigger proper bus like an Enviro 200

 

[Great_Western]

Left feild suggestion here but one of the major manufacturers would want to take on Solo production as they offer competing products, but I wonder if Pelican Engineering would consider it as an option?

They're already Yorkshire based, have a very positively recived distribution network and existing relationships with operators via Yutong who don't have a competing diesel option.

If they can afford it, it makes sense at least on paper.

 

[37114]

Left feild suggestion here but one of the major manufacturers would want to take on Solo production as they offer competing products, but I wonder if Pelican Engineering would consider it as an option?

They're already Yorkshire based, have a very positively recived distribution network and existing relationships with operators via Yutong who don't have a competing diesel option.

If they can afford it, it makes sense at least on paper.

ADL briefly look at buying Optare as was a few years ago, there was an announcement on the website saying they were intending to buy then for the next day they weren't as they couldn't get full control of the business. From recollection access to the Solo to give them a small "Wheel forward" product was a key part of the attraction as well as the access to the "back catalogue" of Optare customers.

With the Enviro 100ev filling that small bus gap they are unlikely to be interested now although Shuttle buses who to date are the only non Stagecoach purchaser of the E100 have just had 2 Solos delivered with another 2 on order.

 

[joieman]

With the Enviro 100ev filling that small bus gap they are unlikely to be interested now although Shuttle buses who to date are the only non Stagecoach purchaser of the E100 have just had 2 Solos delivered with another 2 on order.

And Centrebus have just had two more delivered. The demand might be in piecemeal fashion for smaller operators, but it cannot be denied that it's still there in some form.

 

[Observer]

ADL briefly look at buying Optare as was a few years ago, there was an announcement on the website saying they were intending to buy then for the next day they weren't as they couldn't get full control of the business. From recollection access to the Solo to give them a small "Wheel forward" product was a key part of the attraction as well as the access to the "back catalogue" of Optare customers.

With the Enviro 100ev filling that small bus gap they are unlikely to be interested now although Shuttle buses who to date are the only non Stagecoach purchaser of the E100 have just had 2 Solos delivered with another 2 on order.

Not everyone wants electric. If ADL can come up with a diesel variant they might be onto something but saying that, they've had years to come up with this and focused on other products instead.

Mellor also have their Strata range on Mercedes. Will have to see what happens I guess, especially as more of the existing Solos are now showing their age and are soon to end up as coke cans and razor blades.

I seem to recall the only reason they restarted production was Stagecoach requested a new order and other operators soon tacked theirs onto the build cycle. Think they are Cummins engined too?

 

[stevieinselby]

Quite. The Metrocity and Metrodecker are over 10 years old, and the Solo SR is over 15 years old – in that time, there's been precious little development of either diesel or electric, and their electric powertrains and batteries have not kept up in a rapidly evolving marketplace – they are trumpeting the eMetrocity as having a range of 190 miles, while the new Enviro 200EV has a range of 285 miles. They've got new Switch models for India and Europe, but we're not getting them in the UK. And then they wonder why buyers are turning their back on outdated tech.

 

[Bornin1980s]

Why didn't low bridge areas, like Exeter, order Metrocities? The Metrocity has no roof batteries, and is lower than any other electric.

Instead, Exeter ordered Volvos which would only just fit, only for the bridge to be lowered!

 

[cnjb8]

Why didn't low bridge areas, like Exeter, order Metrocities? The Metrocity has no roof batteries, and is lower than any other electric.

Instead, Exeter ordered Volvos which would only just fit, only for the bridge to be lowered!

Probably because the range and product itself won't meet the requirements from Stagecoach

 

[Dwarfer1979]

Surely if the Solo is discontinued, we will just end up with more Mellor Strata’s etc, which I’m not sure many here would like

There are loads of rural routes that won’t be going electric any time soon and won’t be able to justify a bigger proper bus like an Enviro 200

The short E200MMC is the same size as a standard Solo, costs the same to buy (roughly depending on what deal you can get from the manufacturer) and the same to run. The difference between an 8.9m E200MMC & Solo SR (the sub 8.5m Solos never returned to production as no one ordered enough to restart that production line) is simply operator preference not cost.

 

[Cesarcollie]

The short E200MMC is the same size as a standard Solo, costs the same to buy (roughly depending on what deal you can get from the manufacturer) and the same to run. The difference between an 8.9m E200MMC & Solo SR (the sub 8.5m Solos never returned to production as no one ordered enough to restart that production line) is simply operator preference not cost.

Fuel consumption slightly better with Solo, and parts cheaper (windscreen just over half the price of E200). Otherwise generally agreed!

 

[Dai Corner]

Can't really blame them. Indians will work for lower wages, put up with a worse environment and accept poorer public services.

 

[Pyewipecarshed]

The short E200MMC is the same size as a standard Solo, costs the same to buy (roughly depending on what deal you can get from the manufacturer) and the same to run. The difference between an 8.9m E200MMC & Solo SR (the sub 8.5m Solos never returned to production as no one ordered enough to restart that production line) is simply operator preference not cost.

Is the turning circle better on the Solo with the position of the front wheel? Or are they similar...no idea, just asking. It might influence some operators on tighter routes

 

[Non Multi]

Stagecoach ordered the narrow body Solo SR. I don't think ADL make a narrow e200mmc variant.

 

[MotCO]

Not everyone wants electric. If ADL can come up with a diesel variant they might be onto something but saying that, they've had years to come up with this and focused on other products instead.

Mellor also have their Strata range on Mercedes. Will have to see what happens I guess, especially as more of the existing Solos are now showing their age and are soon to end up as coke cans and razor blades.

I seem to recall the only reason they restarted production was Stagecoach requested a new order and other operators soon tacked theirs onto the build cycle. Think they are Cummins engined too?

Would Mellor be interested in building Solos, as a complete in-house build as opposed to body on chassis? Could maybe be complementary to their existing range? The larger Solos are bigger than Mellor currently body.

 

[Pyewipecarshed]

Would Mellor be interested in building Solos, as a complete in-house build as opposed to body on chassis? Could maybe be complementary to their existing range? The larger Solos are bigger than Mellor currently body.

Certainly a possibility as Mellor seem quite ambitious. It's just a shame Switch can't see that demand is there; I'm sure the Solo could keep Sherburn going for a couple of years whilst they developed an electric range that people actually wanted to buy. As I said above, if people want to buy Solos then build Solos!!

 

[Goldfish62]

Stagecoach ordered the narrow body Solo SR. I don't think ADL make a narrow e200mmc variant.

The E200MMC is sort of semi-narrow bodied at 8'0", rather than the standard 8'4". It's very noticeable beside an E400. The slimline Solo I think is 7'10".

 

[MotCO]

Certainly a possibility as Mellor seem quite ambitious. It's just a shame Switch can't see that demand is there; I'm sure the Solo could keep Sherburn going for a couple of years whilst they developed an electric range that people actually wanted to buy. As I said above, if people want to buy Solos then build Solos!!

Is there much difference between a Solo and a Metrocity - the latter looks just like a door-forward Solo? If so, if they take on the Solo, they might as well take on the Metrocity.

 

[Dwarfer1979]

Is the turning circle better on the Solo with the position of the front wheel? Or are they similar...no idea, just asking. It might influence some operators on tighter routes

Worse generally, the set-back axle of the E200 always seems to give better maneuverability (you can sweep the front which you can't do with a wheel forward), I know driving an MPD always felt like they could come out sideways but Solos never gave that experience and I've been told by a colleague who used to drive them regularly that MetroCities which should have had a similar advantage with a set back axle had the turning circle of an oil tanker as the steering lock was terrible so may not be an Optare feature to give a tight turning circle.

Fuel consumption slightly better with Solo, and parts cheaper (windscreen just over half the price of E200). Otherwise generally agreed!

I don't think ours come out much difference and we are dual sourcing but things like fuel consumption can be affected so much by operator specific aspects (scheduling, engineering, vehicle allocation & driver preferences) once you are at that detail that we can both be right as what one gets may not entirely match what another can do.

Is there much difference between a Solo and a Metrocity - the latter looks just like a door-forward Solo? If so, if they take on the Solo, they might as well take on the Metrocity.

Effectively a MetroCity, and a Versa, are just an extended version of the Solo with the door added in front of the axle. There probably are some differences to account for the generally larger size but when they were launched Optare made play of the fact that from behind the front axle they were structurally the same as a full width Solo.

 

[JD2168]

They should have kept the best selling products like the Diesel Solo going whilst developing electric vehicles, not ditching them all at once.

It says everything when Stagecoach got them to build more Solos other operators tagged on the end for some themselves but no one is buying the electric option

As has been mentioned previously there are a number of independent & rural bus operators who can’t at the moment go electric but would want to replace some now quite elderly Solos but find other options possibly too big for their needs.

 

[Russel]

If the Solo is finally killed off by this, is the Wright Streetlite still available?

I know it's not popular, but it's an option.

 

[Pyewipecarshed]

If the Solo is finally killed off by this, is the Wright Streetlite still available?

I know it's not popular, but it's an option.

No, it's not listed on the Wrightbus website. The only available diesel single decker is the full-length GB Hawk