The Optare Alero, designed to accommodate mobility-impaired passengers but offering real accessibility benefits for all passengers, has made a big impact on the welfare sector due to its advanced features. These include a one-piece, corrosion-free composite body, full air suspension and climate control, supplied Eberspacher.

The vehicle on display is finished in silver and fitted with 16 seats. The interior layout is highly flexible and capable of accommodating up to three wheelchairs in place of fixed seats.

Wheelchair passengers are able to board from the kerb via a simple fold out ramp thanks to the Alero's exceptionally low flat floor. In this market sector, most competitor vehicles are van-based, with crude suspensions, limited ventilation and high floors which need to be accessed using slow wheelchair lifts.

 "Alero took us, as one of Britain's largest bus makers, into new customer areas and the CV Show will be an opportunity for us to meet still others who may be unaware of the many attributes the Alero has to offer", sais Neil Widdowfield, Optare's Mobility Sales Director. "With its proven mechanical units and recent addition of an automatic transmission option, the Alero is unique in its class", he said.