Optare is one of the UK's foremost bus building companies and have over a century of expertise in using the latest technologies in bus design and manufacturing. Their parent company, Ashok Leyland, part of the Hinduja Group, is ranked within the top four global bus manufacturers. Optare's head office and manufacturing plant are based near Leeds in Yorkshire, which was opened in 2011.
Although Optare itself was formed in 1985, the origins of the company can be traced back to the early part of the twentieth century. In 2012 they produced their 10,000th vehicle and in 2016 saw the launch of the fully-electric Metrodecker EV, pointing the way to the future for public transport.
They currently design, manufacture and sell advanced single deck and double deck buses for a global market place and they have developed a range of low-carbon buses using enhanced diesel technology and alternative fuel options. They have set the benchmark for fuel economy and CO2 reduction with reduced weight designs and optimised drive systems.