(30 Jul 2014, 9:52 pm)Kuyoyo wrote But what demand - Volvo's main UK customer was First, and they've gone to ADL. National Express's bus fleets have likewise. Arriva also have gone back to ADL from VDL/Wright. Most of Volvo's market has gone - mainly due to problems at Euro4 with weight (hence the lack of B9TLs in London pre-2008).
The simple fact is this - unless the minority that want a B8TL is large enough to recover costs, there won't be a B8TL. End of the day, this is business and Volvo won't spend millions re-working a chassis for a engine when only 1 or 2 companies will buy it from them.
Which is exactly what I've said.
Each business defines what sufficient demand is based on numerous factors, but the top and bottom of it in this case would normally be demand for enough units to cover development, production, overheads, and to make a profit in line with group targets on top of that.