Following the recent news that Northern Ireland bus manufacturer Wrightbus entered administration;

Simon Warburton, Automotive Editor at GlobalData, offers his view:

“It’s the latest in a series of economic blows for the town of Ballymena. Some 1,200 jobs in Ballymena are at risk with the Wrightbus failure, which comes hard on the heels of Michelin’s decision to shutter its truck tire plant in the town, as well as the closure of the JTI Gallaher cigarette factory.

“There are, however, indications of interest in the company, which is best known for producing the ‘Boris Bus’ replacements for London’s iconic Routemaster buses.

“I would not be too surprised to see interest from bidders, and two are reportedly in the mix.

“There is a highly trained workforce at the plant and local authorities are keen to provide any support possible to the beleaguered town. Should any buyer step forward, it would find a ready-made and already iconic product in the zero-emission New Routemaster, launched nearly three years ago and debuting a hydrogen fuel cell driveline.”