The bus manufacturer Optare, formerly "Charles H. Roe Ltd", also had a factory on Manston Lane before it also closed in 2011 when they moved to Sherburn in Elmet, and the haulage company J Long & Sons are based on Sandleas Way.
As at December 2012 (before the depot fire in May 2013) the fleet consisted of 97 buses, including 32 Mercedes-Benz step-entrance and 40 Optare low floor midibuses, most of which have coach seats.
Optare Solo | Optare Excel | Optare Versa | Optare Vecta | Optare MetroRider | Optare | Optare Tempo | Optare Spectra | Optare Delta |
An Optare Delta in all-over red livery is featured as a driveable vehicle in the PlayStation 2 game The Getaway, and its sequel The Getaway: Black Monday.
New Zealand based bus company Reesbys Buses imported a few Optare Solos from the UK to operate in Rotorua, New Zealand.
Four Optare Tempos were also purchased by Swansea City Council in South Wales for use on a new park and ride service from the city centre to Fforestfach.
•
One left hand drive Optare Tempo was exported to Kiel, Germany in 2007, but it was taken out of service shortly afterwards.