Demand for buses in Ukraine down by one-third in July, share of new ones up - Ukrautoprom

MOSCOW. Aug 12 (Interfax) - The number of initial registrations of new and used buses, including vans, decreased by 34% to 138 in Ukraine in July 2024 compared to July 2023, which was also one bus fewer than in June 2024, Ukrainian media quoted Ukrautoprom, the national association of motor vehicle manufacturers, as saying on its social account.

This number included 85 new buses (62%), which is eleven percentage points more than in July 2023 (106) and 17 percentage points more than in June 2024 (63).

The registrations of new buses dropped by 20% in July 2024 against July 2023 but grew by 35% from June 2024.

The top-3 brands of new buses registered in Ukraine in July were Ford (35 against seven in July 2023 and 11 in June 2024), Citroen (18 against 58 in July 2023), and Ataman, the June 2024 leader (down by seven against July 2023 and down by two against June 2024)

Following them were Mercedes-Benz with four buses registered in July 2024 and Ukraine's' Etalon (three).

The top-3 brands of secondhand buses registered in Ukraine in July 2024 were Mercedes-Benz (24), Van Hool (four), and Iveco (four).

Ukraine's bus fleet grew by 1,007 in January-July 2024, 30% fewer than in the same period in 2023. This number included 563 new buses (down 36%) and 444 used ones (down 18%), Ukrautoprom said.

As reported, Ukraine saw 1,701 initial registrations of new buses of all classes in 2023, which was 86% more than a year before. Ukrautoprom did not report statistics on secondhand buses in said period.

Ukrainian bus manufacturers include PJSC Cherkasy Autobus, the Chernigov-based automobile plant belonging to the Etalon corporation, and the UkrAuto Group automobile plant, whose core products are school buses procured by regional administrations under the School Bus government program.