Following the introduction of Mellor into the Swedish small bus market last year, the company has announced the sale of four Strata Low Floor vehicles to its Scandinavian distributor, BK Invest Sweden, consolidating the significant European partnership.

The vehicles were officially handed over at an event at the British Ambassador’s residence in Stockholm last week, attended by valued customers, local dignitaries and important stakeholders.
Margareta Lundqvist, Managing Director of BK Invest, said:

“We are pleased to be representing Mellor and its exciting range of vehicles in Scandinavia. The four Strata buses have been sold by BK Invest to several operators which provide passenger bus services in Dalarna County in central Sweden.
“The low floor Strata was chosen because of its capacity, low single step entry, height and wide entrance door, all of which makes the bus wheelchair and pushchair friendly and suitable for both urban and rural communities.”

David Cairns; UK Ambassador to Sweden, Göte Persson From Dalarna Centerpartiet, Gustav Hemming: MP for Environment, Archipelago and public transport

The Strata Low Floor bus has recently been awarded a Low Emission Bus (LEB) certificate in the UK, proving its environmental friendly credentials, and offering financial incentives to operators.

Margareta Lundgvist, continued:

“The Strata was launched into the European market in October 2017 at the Bus World exhibition in Kortrijk where it was very well received. We are now starting to receive business on the back of Bus World, with Sweden being the first country outside of the UK to request the product. This is the start of a serious export drive with Mellor with many new vehicle orders on the horizon.
“Although the Strata was the first bus to be adopted by the Swedish market, the Orion E is Mellor’s first electric bus, designed to meet the local community responsive bus market. With the success we have seen from the Strata, we also look forward to seeing how the Orion E is received by the Scandinavian market as it travels around on demonstration over the coming months.”

John Randerson, Managing Director for Mellor, said:

“We are thrilled to see the export of Mellor vehicles starting to take effect in Europe. The small bus market is changing, and passengers are looking for the comfort of a large bus but with the convenience and environmental performance of something more size appropriate.
“The journey of Mellor is based on the vision of offering the best customer experience, while helping to solve the evolving issue of air pollution and congestion. Mellor recognises the shifting age demographic as well as other social needs and offers vehicles that are designed for responsive services, rural routes and ready for future changes in electric platforms.”

The market for passenger vehicles under 8.0T is approximately 300 vehicles per year and Mellor says the market is changing throughout Europe. Bus companies are looking for new products such as the Strata to meet shifting customer demographics and expectations.
John Randerson added:

“We also look forward to seeing Mellor’s buses in Europe and anticipate a successful roll out of the Orion E as the benefits of electric vehicles are fully realised.
“We continue to develop our products for Scandinavia by undertaking advanced testing in cold climates in the pursuit of the best electric bus for our customers.”

Based in Henån, Sweden, BK Invest sells and rents a wide range of commercial vehicles including buses, trucks and trailers.