ADL to purchase Optare?

[anthony263]

According to the latest issue of route one magazine

ADL are considering whether or not to put a bid in to buy Optare outright, this should allow it to snatch control of Optare from under the noses of indian based Asok Leyland who are trying to get a 75% stake in Optare.

I am not too sure what to make of this, especially considering the build quality of Optare products compared to those offered by Alexander Dennis.

This is all still subject to confirmation and ADL could decide to walk away from making a bid for Optare

 

[Schnellzug]

This would really not be a good idea, as it would reduce choice to the customer, and it does sound very much as if ADL don't learn the lessons of history and are trying to reconstruct Transbus again, or even British Leyland. i expect the Papers, though, if they ever took an interest in bus as opposed to train builders, would be all in favour, as it would mean that Optare remained British owned. :roll:

 

[anthony263]

Your are not the only person who has said that.

we have seen the case with ADL when they purchased plaxton and then scrapped the Dennis trident design and the plaxton president body in favour of the ADL enviro 400.

I do prefer the plaxton president bodywork on a double decker compared to say the alexander alx400 bodywork.

That said I do like the east lancs Olympus double decker particulary those operated by Cardiff bus

 

[trentside]

I seriously hope they don't.

I find that ADL products could best be described as 'shoddy'. We have some ADL Enviro400s around here, and I'm surprised they haven't rattled themselves to pieces. My experience of other products in their range is similar.

Optare, while never renowned for build quality, seem a little better in this regard from a passengers point of view. No doubt ADL would seek to scrap much of the overlapping range were they to take over - further reducing choice in the market for operators.

 

[mbonwick]

It will be interesting to see if they do.

People have valid points about it being Transbus all over again - but unlike Optare, ADL are turning healthy profits atm.

Even if ADL don't bid for Optare, something needs to be done. They're currently only managing to build 3ish vehicles per week, many with basic construction flaws and a good number to the wrong spec!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Just seen that ADL have now withdrawn interest, due to
A. Ashok Leyland refusing to sell their 26% stake
B. Optare not providing the requested info on shares and finances

 

[Rhydgaled]

Optare, while never renowned for build quality, seem a little better in this regard from a passengers point of view. No doubt ADL would seek to scrap much of the overlapping range were they to take over - further reducing choice in the market for operators.

Is any bus builder renowned for build quality? Most buses sound like they are risking shaking themselves to peices to me, but Optare Tempos & Solos seem to be better than most (the Enviros my local operator has are particularly bad considering they are newer than the much nicer Tempos). I've only been on one Excell I think, which was pretty rattlely last time but I think that may have been down to replacement windows (marked PSV glass not Optare) which several of the bus company's staff seemed to be taking a look at when they asked everyone to get off the Excell and onto an ancient-looking thing. That's another thing, the Excell I've been on (I think it was of the updated Excell2 varient), standard Solos (ie. not the Versa-style hump-backed ones) and, esspecially, Tempos, are much better looking than most buses in my opinion.

 

[Schnellzug]

Wrights seem to do a pretty reasonable job, although it helps when they build on Volvos or Scanias which are put together like Siemens built trains, i.e. they may be heavier but they're built to last.