Falkirk-based global bus manufacturer Alexander Dennis Limited (ADL) has announced that Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG) has exercised options for 198 Enviro500 double deck buses to be delivered to the German capital by the end of 2022.

Options for a further 230 Enviro500 double deckers remain in the contract.

Alexander Dennis is now a subsidiary of Toronto-listed NFI Group Inc.

Souter Investments, the family investment office of Stagecoach Group founder Brian Souter, sold Alexander Dennis to NFI Group for about £320 million in May 2019.

“ADL delivered the first two Enviro500 double deckers to BVG in October 2020 as part of a multi-year framework contract signed in 2018,” said Alexander Dennis.

“Following the successful completion of a testing programme with this initial pair of vehicles, BVG’s supervisory board approved the conversion of options for another 198 buses into firm orders, taking the fleet to 200.

“Options for a further 230 Enviro500 double deckers remain in the contract.

“Berlin’s new generation of iconic yellow double deck buses is the first to have been designed in Britain by ADL, the world’s leading supplier of double deck buses.”

ADL managing director Paul Davies said: “This fantastic news is testament to the incredible efforts of the hugely talented team that we have here at ADL, who have yet again demonstrated that they can innovate and execute on highly complex product development projects.

“The successful results of BVG’s testing programme and the award of this milestone contract are yet another ringing endorsement of our global double deck expertise and customer focus.

“We are delighted to confirm that we will build these buses in Britain to help underpin our skilled jobs and apprenticeships.”