We catch up with Michelle Nelson from Pelican Bus & Coach to find out more about their brand and exhibiting at Euro Bus Expo, on stand V16.
Tell us a bit about your company?
Pelican Engineering is a fourth-generation, family-owned business with more than a century of experience in the commercial vehicle industry. Founded in 1919 by Ernest Crump following his service as a dispatch rider during the First World War, the company began by converting surplus military trucks for civilian use. The Pelican name was inspired by Ernest’s regimental mascot and has remained with the business ever since.
In 2014, Pelican was appointed the sole UK and Ireland importer and distributor for Yutong buses and coaches, beginning a partnership that has grown significantly over the past decade. Today, thousands of Yutong vehicles operate across the UK and Ireland, supported by Pelican’s established engineering expertise and commitment to customer service.
The partnership combines the strengths of two businesses with a shared focus on quality, innovation and long-term customer support. Yutong is the world’s largest bus and coach manufacturer and a global leader in zero-emission vehicle technology, while Pelican provides the local knowledge, infrastructure and support required by UK and Irish operators.
Pelican has continued to invest significantly in the Yutong partnership, developing dedicated facilities, technical expertise, training and comprehensive parts and aftersales support. This ensures operators are supported throughout the complete life of their vehicles, from initial consultation and specification through to delivery, servicing, parts and technical assistance.
More than 100 years after Pelican was founded, the business remains family-owned, with three generations of the Crump family actively involved today. Together, Pelican and Yutong combine global manufacturing and innovation with over a century of UK commercial vehicle experience, creating a partnership built around reliable vehicles, exceptional customer support and the changing needs of operators.
Tell us about your latest product(s), service(s), promotions or launches visitors can hope to see on your stand?
The past year has been an exciting period of development for Pelican Bus + Coach and Yutong, with continued growth across both our bus and coach ranges and further investment in the UK market.
Zero-emission buses remain a major part of our growth. Since becoming Yutong’s UK and Ireland distributor in 2014, we have helped operators across the country transition to electric, with more than 1,000 zero-emission Yutong vehicles now in service. Our electric bus range includes the E9L, E10 and E12 single-deck models alongside the U11DD electric double-decker, providing solutions for a wide variety of routes and operating requirements.
Recent milestones include significant fleet orders from some of the UK’s largest operators, demonstrating the continued confidence in Yutong electric technology and Pelican’s UK-based sales, engineering and aftersales support.
Alongside this growth in bus, our coach range has undergone significant development. In 2025, we launched the GT14 tri-axle coach, followed by the extensively reworked next-generation TC9. Most recently, in August 2026, major updates were introduced to the GT12 and GT14, including refreshed interiors and redesigned front ends.
Looking ahead, we are preparing to introduce the latest evolution of the U11DD to the UK, with further details to be announced.
Visitors to our stand can expect to see some of these latest developments first-hand, with vehicles from across the Yutong bus and coach range on display and the Pelican team on hand to discuss the latest updates, technology and solutions available to UK operators.
These developments reflect our continued commitment to working closely with Yutong to develop vehicles specifically suited to UK operators, while investing in the infrastructure, parts, technical expertise and aftersales support needed throughout their operational life.
Why is exhibiting at Euro Bus Expo 2026 an unmissable opportunity for you?
For Pelican Bus + Coach, Euro Bus Expo is an unmissable opportunity because it brings the industry together under one roof. While we work closely with operators throughout the year, there is real value in having customers, suppliers, manufacturers and industry professionals all in one place.
The relationships we have with our customers are incredibly important to us. As a fourth-generation family business, that personal approach has always been central to Pelican, and Euro Bus Expo gives our wider team the opportunity to spend time with the people who operate and work with our vehicles every day.
There is also something unique about being able to welcome people onto the stand and let them experience the vehicles for themselves. Visitors can explore the vehicles, speak directly with our sales and technical teams, ask questions and get a much better understanding of both the products and the support behind them.
Ultimately, Euro Bus Expo is about people and relationships. It gives us the chance to catch up with long-standing customers, meet operators we may not have worked with before and have meaningful conversations about the future of passenger transport. For Pelican, that makes being part of the show incredibly valuable.