Alexander Dennis

Notes:

Traced origins to Walter Alexander, 1879-1959, who first established a bus service before 1914. By 1922 had 15 buses. Incorporated 1924 as W Alexander & Son Ltd. Quickly emerged as substantial operators. 1929 acquired by Scottish Motor Traction Ltd, owned by London Midland & Scottish Railway Co and London & North Eastern Railway Co. In 1924 Alexanders had initiated a bus body building business at Falkirk, later at Stirling, and later returning to Falkirk. This developed rapidly from the 1930s as the SMT business, which was its main customer, grew. In 1948 bus operation was nationalised as part of Scottish Omnibuses Group, later Scottish Bus Group. Bus building operations not nationalised but continued as Walter Alexander & Co (Coachbuilders) Ltd. These in 1990 were acquired by Spotlaunch Ltd and bought by management 1992. 1995 subsumed into Mayflower Corp Plc which acquired Dennis Group chassis building business in 1998. Mayflower in administration in 2004 when the bus building operations acquired by newly formed Alexander Dennis. Plaxton Ltd acquired in 2007. By now a major bus building business. 2019 acquired by NFI Group. 2024 continuing as a major bus building operation with extensive international interests [2024]