Falkirk-based Alexander Dennis has signed a deal with US firm ElDorado to construct its buses and is opening a 50,000 square foot support base in Las Vegas as it seeks to convince Americans of the merits of double deckers.
The company, which yesterday netted a £2m bus order from Perth-based Stagecoach to put vehicles running on biodiesel from food waste on a guided busway in Cambridge, also unveiled what it says is North America's first double deck hybrid electric-diesel bus capable of carrying almost 100 passengers.
The company plans to start building buses in the United States in the first half of next year in partnership with California-based ElDorado, part of Thor Industries. Although the kits will be imported from the UK, the fact they are put together in America will make them compliant with Made In America rules for potential purchasers.
ADL chief executive Colin Robertson said: "Over the past five years we have steadily increase our presence in Canada and the USA with double decks now running in cities such as Vancouver, Toronto and New York and we expect demand to remain strong."
Stagecoach, whose chief executive Brian Souter has a stake in ADL, announced yesterday that it has ordered 10 double deckers, equipped with leather seats and wireless internet, from ADL as part of a £3m order for vehicles to run on the guided route opening in Cambridge in April 2009.
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