UAE firm on the buses in deal with maker of famous red London double-decker

The local family firm Al Habtoor Motors will partner the UK's Wrightbus, the company behind the British capital's well known Routemasters, in an exclusive distribution deal for this country.

A London bus passes the Bank of England in London. The UAE's Al Habtoor Motors has signed a deal with the UK bus maker Wrightbus. Frank Augstein / AP

The UAE’s exclusive distributor of McLaren supercars is taking a more sedate path with its latest agreement.

Al Habtoor Motors, which distributes the UK racer as well as Bugatti and Bentley among others, has entered a strategic partnership with the firm behind London’s famous red Routemaster buses.

The United Kingdom-based Wrightbus International has joined Al Habtoor, both are family-owned companies, in a deal that will see the local firm become the official distributor for Wrightbus’ products in the UAE.

Established in 1946, Wrightbus is a manufacturer of buses and is perhaps best known for the New London Routemaster. Its range of buses include Midi, Articulated, as well as Double Deck. Wrightbus has multiple manufacturing plants across the world and a customer base which extends across the United States, Middle East, Asia and Australia.

In August Arriva London announced it retained one of its most important routes in the UK capital, route 340 from Edgware to Harrow, for a further five-years.

As part of the new contract Arriva London invested in 10 new Wrightbus StreetDeck double deck buses, which both the public and the drivers are extremely happy with.

“The new buses are really fantastic, they’re so easy to use. The passengers absolutely love them, they always mention them when they get on,” said Tyrone Parris a driver with Arriva London for over five years on route 340.

In February Wrightbus announced an order with Transport for London for another 195 of the New Routemaster buses.

Billions of pounds are invested by Transport for London on products and services from businesses outside the capital every year; and the deal with Wrightbus safeguards 300 manufacturing jobs, as well as support a supply chain of companies across the UK.

The company is also at the cutting edge of alternative transport power. Its 9.5 metre plug-in electric StreetLite EV is fitted with an all-electric driveline from the Wrightbus Electrocity range, which is now available to order.

The Electrocity bus range deploys a series of modular concepts, which have been designed by the company’s alternative driveline business unit. “By utilising a modular build process, Wrightbus is able to offer three different vehicle charging and associated battery configurations on the same platform, thereby facilitating standardisation across a vehicle fleet and optimising aftermarket support,” the company says.

The StreetLite EV is a plug in, with overnight charging of the nickel manganese cobalt batteries giving a daily range of 240km or 18 hours of service. In its “wheel forward” format fitted with 37 seats, the StreetLite EV features the Siemens ELFA 2 electric drive system.

“We are both honoured and delighted to form this new relationship with Al Habtoor Motors and pleased to have them acting as our official distributor in the UAE,” said Paul Brannigan, the Wrightbus International Middle East Manager, who heads up the company’s office in Masdar City in Abu Dhabi.

“We see a great synergy between the two family owned companies as Al Habtoor is highly respected in working with the most prestigious automotive marques in the region and has a close rapport with the people of the United Arab Emirates. We believe this heralds the start of a mutually successful and long term relationship for us and comes at a time when we are penetrating new market segments in the UAE.”

Al Habtoor Motors is part of the diversified multi-billion dirham business conglomerate Al Habtoor Group. Al Habtoor Group has varied interests and substantial investments ranging from engineering, property, hotels, leasing, education, publication and automobiles.

“We are proud of our new association with Wrightbus, a truly innovative bus manufacturer with a long history and global presence. Wrightbus has an excellent global reputation based around the quality, design and latest technology of its bus products. We are excited to be made their official distributor for the UAE and are looking forward to working with them to grow their market share in the region. Al Habtoor Motors has a very strong after sales division with best in class customer care to offer aftersales support for Wrightbus International clients in the region,” said Jagdish Parulekar, the chief financial officer for Al Habtoor Motors.

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