Motorcoach sales dropped by more than half during the first quarter of 2021 compared to the same period a year earlier.
That data comes from the results of the First Quarter 2021 Motorcoach Builders Survey released this week by the American Bus Association Foundation (ABAF).
Based on surveys of the major motorcoach manufacturers that sell vehicles in the United States and Canada, motorcoach sales from the participating manufacturers saw a drop of 52% in quarter one sales in 2021 sales as compared to the first quarter of 2020.
The biggest drop in sales came in the mid-sized bus (40-44 feet) dropping from 67 buses sold in the first quarter of 2020 to only 3 sold in that span of 2021. Forty-five-foot and up buses saw a decrease of 37%, falling from 244 to 153 quarter over quarter. The small bus market saw a drop of 76%, falling from 38 units to 9 units sold.
Pre-owned sales over the same period fell by 52% from sales in the first quarter of 2020 at 219 down to 105 in the first quarter of 2021.
Clearly, the pandemic not only has been devastating for motorcoach operators but also the many suppliers who service the industry, said Larry Killingsworth, CEO and President of the United Motorcoach Association.
“Inspiring to me has been the genuine spirit of mutual support between operators and suppliers through the past 15 months,” said Killingsworth. “It was never more evident than at the UMA EXPO last month. Our 450 members, both operators and suppliers, attended with many describing it as a much-needed family reunion.”
Data was collected by John Dunham & Associates, a leading New York City-based economic consulting firm specializing in the economics of fast-moving issues.
