With a passenger capacity in excess of 50, a trio of Optare Versa EV’s, now entering service with Travel De Courcey in Coventry, are the largest battery-powered electric buses on Britain’s roads. The buses were handed over to Travel De Courcey by Optare’s Sales Director, John Horn, at an event in Coventry yesterday, Wednesday 13 […]

The first of 190 Optare Solo SR’s destined for a ground-breaking feeder services in Cape Town rolled out of the plant of Optare’s South African partner, Busmark, this week. Assembled from a CKD kit of components, the new bus is the first of 30 scheduled for delivery before the end of June 2012. The new […]

The gates at Optare’s factory in Blackburn have closed to allow final clearance of the site, bringing 80 years of bus manufacturing in the town to an end. However, the move marks the start of a new era for the company, now reborn, re-energised and secure as part of global busmaker Ashok Leyland. Formerly the […]

Two electrically powered Optare Solo SRs are now being trialled on a route between Dorchester and the ‘model village’ of Poundbury. The vehicles, funded by the Duchy of Cornwall, West Dorset District Council and Dorset County Council, are expected to embark on passenger carrying service duties in a few weeks time. This is the first […]

A further ten Optare Versas are on their way to Transdev Blazefield. Eight are for Harrogate using the new Harrogate Connect brand and two for Burnley using the popular Starship brand. The exterior livery of the Harrogate Connect vehicles is an eye catching combination of black and burgundy, while the Burnley vehicles retain their familiar […]

A total of 39 Versa hybrid vehicles designed specifically for use as school buses, and which are thought to be the first hybrids dedicated solely to this type of operation, are set to enter service after the Easter holiday. They are also believed to be the first buses built specifically for this application that fully […]

The latest fleet of Optare Tempo buses has entered service with Traws Cymru on the new T4 route linking Newtown, Llandrindod Wells, Builth Wells, Brecon, Merthyr Tydfil, Pontypridd and Cardiff. The new fleet of vehicles, which have been carefully designed following consultation with passengers, are part of the £2.2m Welsh Government investment to improve and […]

At this month’s Delhi Auto Expo, Optare showcased its Ashok Leyland branded Solo – the first low floor midibus to be offered in the Indian market. The vehicle on show has an interior developed to suit Indian operating conditions. It also features a 110 kW ‘H’ Series engine (BS4) of proven pedigree from Ashok Leyland, […]

A meeting of Optare plc’s shareholders at the company’s state of the art bus assembly plant in Sherburn in Elmet today has given overwhelming support to a plan which secures the company’s long term future with Ashok Leyland. More than 99.9% of the shareholders who voted backed the deal under which Ashok Leyland will increase […]