Pelican Bus + Coach has commenced construction of a new purpose-built National Parts Distribution Centre designed to expand aftermarket support for Yutong bus and coach operators across the UK and Ireland, as reported by Bus-News. The facility will provide 40,000 square feet of warehouse space and is expected to hold more than £7.5 million (€8.7 million) worth of Yutong parts when it opens, with capacity to increase stock levels as the fleet grows.

The 12-metre-high building has been designed to achieve BREEAM Excellent environmental certification, placing it among the higher-performing warehouse facilities by sustainability standard in the UK market. The development also includes a large vehicle yard, Yutong-branded architectural features and space for future expansion, with the project forming part of Pelican's wider investment strategy to expand UK-based infrastructure and strengthen long-term customer support.

More than 2,500 Yutong vehicles are currently in service across the UK and Ireland, with the fleet growing at a rate of approximately 1,000 units per year. The new distribution centre has also been designed to accommodate future demand from the introduction of Yutong electric trucks, extending the facility's operational relevance beyond its initial opening scope.

Chris Waine, head of Aftermarket Parts at Pelican Bus + Coach, said: "This investment represents a major step forward in strengthening our aftersales operation and our commitment to delivering exceptional service for our customers. Our new warehouse will significantly increase our parts capacity and allow us to respond even faster to our customers' requirements. With more than 2,500 buses and coaches currently in service and increasing at a rate of 1,000 per year before we take into account the arrival of the Yutong electric truck, this new PDC will future proof our parts operation, strengthen operational excellence and ensure we can continue to deliver the high levels of support and responsiveness our customers expect."

The project is expected to create additional skilled roles across warehouse operations, logistics, inventory management and customer support on completion.

The construction of purpose-built distribution infrastructure to BREEAM Excellent standard reflects a broader trend among fleet operators and aftermarket service providers investing in owned logistics facilities, driven by the need for greater supply chain resilience, faster parts turnaround times and alignment with corporate sustainability commitments. For contractors delivering industrial and warehouse builds across the UK, operator-led investment of this kind continues to underpin activity in the logistics and distribution construction segment.