Local MP for Selby and Ainsty, Nigel Adams visited the Optare manufacturing facility at Sherburn in Elmet, near Leeds last week.

Optare is committed to supporting greener travel in the UK and in addition to supplying low carbon diesel buses is currently the largest supplier of fully electric buses in the UK, with over 80 currently in service across the UK.

The visit included a tour of the factory where Mr Adams met staff and saw several buses in production, including Optare’s fully electric models, a further 6 of which are due to go into service at York’s newest Park and Ride this year.

Mr Adams said, “I was very impressed with the quality and design of the latest electric and low emissions buses manufactured in Sherburn in Elmet. It was a delight to see buses for world markets being made in Yorkshire.  It is a very competitive international market and one in which Optare shows engineering excellence.”

The Optare factory employs over 400 local people and in addition to supplying vehicles across the UK, exports its vehicles as far afield as South Africa, The Middle East and Australia.

Enrico Vassallo, CEO, Optare PLC said: “Nigel Adams MP’s visit to the factory underlines the importance of Optare’s contribution to the local and UK economy.  We were particularly delighted to be able to showcase the proven technology of our fully electric vehicles and our newly developed MetroDecker, double deck vehicle.”