• Home
  • Sales
  • About
  • After Sales
  • Vehicles
  • News
  • Careers
  • Contact
Menu

Optare PLC

Hurricane Way South, Sherburn in Elmet
Leeds LS25 6PT
+44 (0)8434 873 200
Tag line

Optare PLC

  • Home
  • Sales
  • About
  • After Sales
  • Vehicles
  • News
  • Careers
  • Contact

One era ends - and a new one begins

October 28, 2011 Rebecca Green
Crossgates final.jpg

With production now in full swing at Optare’s brand new factory at Sherburn-in-Elmet, a major new chapter in the history of British bus manufacturing begins – while another ends as the gates at the company’s Crossgates works in Leeds are closed and locked for the last time.

Optare has been building buses at Crossgates since 1985, but the site’s history dates back to the early 1920s when Charles H Roe started the construction of charabanc vehicles on the eight-acre site. The company was soon building both single- and double-deck bodies and established itself as a supplier of high-quality buses to large and small operators in Yorkshire and the north of England.

Over the years the Roe business also built trolleybuses, articulated buses, coaches and a small number of trams. During World War 2 the factory produced over 650 utility bus bodies and also manufactured other specialised vehicles to support the war effort, including trailers for use as mobile map printing units which supported the D-Day landings.

The Roe business became part of Associated Commercial Vehicles in the late 1940s, and then part of what became the British Leyland Motor Corporation in 1961. However, a reduction in demand prompted Leyland to streamline its manufacturing facilities and the Roe plant was an unfortunate casualty. It was closed in 1984, but a group of former employees and managers saw an opportunity for a forward thinking, innovative company to take advantage of new potential in the deregulated market, and their efforts saw the business revived as Optare in 1985.

Optare quickly established itself as a style leader in the bus industry with early models such as the CityPacer, StarRider, Delta and Spectra. That focus on style has continued in the current range of Solo, Versa and Tempo. The Solo has been the most successful model in the company’s history, with over 4,000 in service, including hybrid and battery-electric versions. Total Optare output at Crossgates was just over 8,700 vehicles.

“Those who have worked at Crossgates over the years can take justifiable pride in their achievements,” says Jim Sumner, the company’s chief executive officer. “The factory has produced some of the most exciting bus designs to operate in Britain, attractive vehicles which are designed to encourage people to see public transport as a vibrant and high-quality alternative to their cars.

“As with any factory move of this scale there will always be a settling down period but our new facility brings with it an improved working environment for our team and allows us to streamline production and improve efficiency. We now have the ability to double our output, opening up new opportunities in both UK fleet and export markets, and we maintain a firm focus on the manufacture of stylish, reliable, high-quality buses to ensure that our customers can offer their customers, bus users, a top-quality service.”

The gates at Crossgates were finally locked this week by commercial director Chris Wise, who is Optare’s longest serving employee having started with the company at day one, and also working for the previous Roe business since 1975.

← Minister pays Optare a visit to mark commissioning of new plantFirst Optare Tempo SRs go to trent barton →

Working with us

As part of a global group, we are one of the UK’s leading bus manufacturing companies employing around 350 people across our business. Our parent, Ashok Leyland, part of the Hinduja Group, is ranked within the top four global bus manufacturers.

We believe that a highly skilled and appropriately trained workforce is a key ingredient to our continued success and we are always looking for people who have the necessary skills, knowledge and experience coupled with drive, ambition and commitment to take our business forward in our effort to maintain our reputation as the most innovative bus manufacturer in the UK.

In return we have attractive remuneration and benefits packages appropriate to each opportunity within the Company. We also offer a comprehensive apprenticeship programme to help us develop the technical experts of the future. This gives young people the chance to pursue a number of different skills in a selection of trades such as coach-builders, auto electricians, welders, mechanics and paint-sprayers.

Our main manufacturing site is in Sherburn in Elmet, Leeds, Yorkshire, and we have also established several service centres and product support locations across the country. 

News
Major Optare Solo order for Dubai
about 3 hours ago

Optare Group Limited
Registered Office: Hurricane Way South, Sherburn in Elmet, Leeds, LS25 6PT
t: +44 (0) 1977 687 200
f: +44 (0) 8434 873 201

Registered in England No. 1818255
An Ashok Leyland Company

Company Information

Gender Pay Gap Reporting
Modern Slavery Act Transparency Statement
Investors
Advisors
Sales Network
Careers

Parts Portal
CA14931-01.jpg
Design by David Cliff