Wheelers Travel takes Volvo B8L MCV EvoSeti tri-axle fleet to six
Wheelers Travel of Southampton further expanded its high-capacity fleet during the summer with the arrival of fifth and sixth examples of the Volvo B8L tri-axle with MCV EvoSeti double-deck bodywork, supplied by Volvo Bus UK and Ireland.
All are 12.8m, 98-seaters. The uplift is a response to growing demand for large group transport across Hampshire and the south coast and follows two B8L EvoSetis received new in 2025.
Speaking about the latest purchases, Wheelers Travel owner Derek Wheeler says: “The Volvo B8L MCV EvoSeti has quickly become a dependable part of our fleet. It has gone down very well with both our drivers and our passengers, giving us the reliability we need and the comfort our customers expect.
“We have enjoyed a strong relationship with Volvo Buses over many years, and MC Truck and Bus has been a key part of that confidence, providing the service support and backup we need to keep our fleet moving.”
Use of the latest vehicles will be on cruise and tourism-related work, school services, contracts, and event duties. One wheelchair user can be carried, with PSVAR compliance specified. Power is from the 7.7-litre D8K engine developing 350bhp coupled to a ZF EcoLife six-speed automatic gearbox.
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CMAC Group completes full purchase of Coach Hire Comparison
CMAC Group has taken full ownership of coach and minibus booking specialist Coach Hire Comparison in a move that builds on a 51% stake in the business it acquired in 2023.
Purchase of the remaining shares follows significant growth for Coach Hire Comparison during the intervening period. In 2025 it returned revenue of £4.15 million, up from £3.3 million in 2024. The number of passengers served has almost doubled over the last year, and an employee headcount of two in 2023 has risen to 10 today.
CMAC says that full ownership strengthens the parent’s position “as a leading provider of large vehicle transport solutions across disruption management, rail replacement, events, corporate mobility, group travel and leisure transport in the UK and beyond.”
Coach Hire Comparison already has an important role in the CMAC large vehicle offering, with the two businesses together connecting customers with more than 800 coach and minibus operators in the UK, the buyer notes.
Founders James (pictured, centre) and Laura Stokes (pictured, right) will remain with Coach Hire Comparison in “supportive and transitional roles” until the end of 2026 to ensure a smooth transition for customers, operator partners and employees, CMAC says.
Adds Mr Stokes: “I am incredibly proud of the growth that Coach Hire Comparison has achieved in recent years and the talented team and operator network that have made that success possible.
“CMAC’s support has played an important role throughout the journey, helping us to strengthen our proposition and scale the business. With the group’s continued backing and investment, Coach Hire Comparison is well positioned to build on its success, further develop its bespoke booking platform, and deliver even greater value for customers and operators.”
CMAC Group CEO Peter Slater (pictured, left) describes purchasing the remaining shares of Coach Hire Comparison as “the natural next step in a partnership that has gone from strength to strength since 2023.”
Mr Slater has thanked Mr and Mrs Stokes for building the booking specialist over 16 years and for the contribution they have made since joining forced with CMAC. “We have seen first-hand the power of the Coach Hire Comparison platform, the value it deliver to customers, and the opportunities created by bringing our expertise and capabilities closer together,” he continues.
“Our operator network and our teams remain central to that success, and I am excited about the opportunities ahead as we continue to build on our shared ambitions for growth.”
Former Wallace Arnold man to lead Harris Group dealer progress
One-time Wallace Arnold man Glen Wright has been named Dealer Network Development Manager by Harris Group, where he takes up responsibility for expanding and strengthening the networks behind a multi-brand portfolio that includes Higer coaches and buses.
His arrival follows a slew of other appointments within both the group and its Harris Bus and Coach operation, including Dave Porter as Managing Director of the latter.
Mr Wright is highly experienced in the commercial vehicle industry and includes Harris brands Maxus and Sinotruk alongside Higer in his remit. Those on an overarching basis are to ensure that the group’s growth is underpinned by a dealer network that is appropriate in its structure, capability, and partner relationships.
Key to that is furthering the Harris Group reputation “as a responsive, agile and straightforward distributor/partner that combines deep industry knowledge with the ability to anticipate market needs and respond decisively, without creating unnecessary layers of process or bureaucracy for dealers,” it says.
Mr Wright’s over 40 years in the automotive sector began with coach operator Wallace Arnold in Leeds. He then moved to take on responsibility for rental fleets, and then management of dealer accounts with Renault Trucks, alongside oversight of its dealership operation in Leeds.
From there he progressed to Daimler Chrysler in a business management role, subsequently focusing on Mercedes-Benz trucks and their associated network.
Speaking about his appointment, Mr Wright says: “This is a fantastic opportunity to take my decades-long experience and quickly implement ideas at ground level, develop our networks, and ultimately improve the experience for our dealer partners and their customers.
“What attracted me to Harris Group is the way the business operates. It is ambitious, knowledgeable and fast-paced, with a real willingness to anticipate and respond quickly to market changes. That is important when working with dealers.
“They want a distributor that understands their business, [and] listens and acts on problems and opportunities. Being straightforward and responsive is fundamental to building successful dealer relations.”
Harris Group Chief Operating Officer Bill Laidlaw adds: “Glen brings exceptional commercial vehicle and dealer network experience to Harris Group. We have significant plans for Maxus, Higer and Sinotruk, and we are moving quickly. But ambition needs to be matched by knowledge, experience and the ability to act.
“We are a distributor that listens, responds, and gets things done – upfront and easy for our dealers. Glen’s experience and understanding of dealer relationships make him the ideal person to help us strengthen our networks and build the partnerships we need to support the growth of our brands.”
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