Data shows that across the country a total of 1,877 new buses and coaches were registered in the first three months, with demand falling -4.2%.
Double-deck saw strong growth with an uplift of 42.4% in Q1 to 487 units, but there was a decrease of -16.7% and -9.7% for minibuses and single-decks.
Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: “The uplift in double-deck demand is significant as they are used in our towns and cities so fleet renewal here will help improve air quality in urban areas.
“Following the strong market performance of 2016, some levelling off in the market overall was to be expected this year, as many operators have now invested heavily in their fleets.”
Additional data from the SMMT shows that the UK heavy goods vehicle (HGV) market remained steady during Q1 of 2017.
A total of 10,406 units were registered in the first three months of the year compared with 10,363 in Q1 of 2016 – a 0.4% increase.
Hawes added: “The stable start to the year for the heavy truck market is welcome news, particularly as it follows such a strong first quarter in 2016.
“HGVs are essential for transporting goods around the country and are vital for the UK economy. Almost all HGVs are powered by diesel, and thanks to heavy investment by industry the latest Euro VI CVs hitting our roads today are the cleanest and safest ever.”
