Metro Cammell Weymann (MCW) | |
Fate: | Sold by the Laird Group; some bus designs sold to Optare |
Predecessors: | Metro Cammell Weymann Motor Bodies |
Foundation: | 1932 |
Defunct: | 1989 |
Location: | Washwood Heath, Birmingham, England Elmdon, Solihull, England (1944–1969)[1] |
Industry: | Manufacturing |
Products: | Bus bodywork Integral buses and coaches |
Owner: | Laird Group |
Metro Cammell Weymann Ltd. (MCW) was a British bus manufacturer and bus body builder based at Washwood Heath in Birmingham, England. MCW was established in 1932 by Metro-Cammell's bus bodybuilding division and Weymann Motor Bodies to produce bus bodies.
MCW bus bodies were built in Metro-Cammell's and Weymann's factories until 1966 when Weymann's factory in Addlestone was closed (the Metro-Cammell and Weymann brand names were discontinued in the same year). From 1977 onward, MCW also built bus chassis.
In 1989 the Laird Group decided to sell its bus and rail divisions. No buyer for all of the subdivisions could be found so each product was sold separately to various companies interested in its assets. The Metrorider was bought by Optare who relaunched it as the MetroRider; the Metrobus design was bought by DAF (chassis) and Optare (body), who jointly reworked it into the Optare Spectra. The Metroliner design was acquired by Optare though not pursued. The Metrocab was bought by Reliant. Metro-Cammell's rail division and the Washwood Heath factory went to GEC Alsthom.