EAST Lancashire bus maker Optare has won a £13million deal to supply councils.
The Blackburn firm will supply Greater Manchester’s transport body with its ‘green’ Solo, Solo SR, Versa and Tempo models.
The buses, all manufactured at Optare’s base in Lower Philips Road, Whitebirk, use diesel-electric hybrid engines and a special system which encourages drivers to be more fuel efficient.
The vehicles will be used across Greater Manchester and will also feature passenger-counting devices and CCTV.
The deal is a huge coup for the firm, which has an annual turnover of around £18million a year, and will help secure East Lancashire jobs.
Optare chief executive Jim Sumner said: “This order emphasises our significant lead in the design and production of low and zero emission buses.
“The global trend toward low carbon and zero emission bus technology is now unstoppable.”
The deal was sealed using cash from the Government’s green bus fund.
Optare laid off more than 100 workers last year. But earlier this year it raised £2.2million through a share placing.
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