Jobs at risk as bus maker cut loose by parent company

The Adelaide-based firm that makes the city’s buses has gone into administration, putting 100 jobs at risk.

Custom Coaches, based at Royal Park in the western suburbs, was cut loose by its parent company overnight.

Scottish-based ADL bought the company in 2012, but it has been making substantial losses.

The future of 100 workers now rests on whether the company can find a new buyer.

The administrator is checking the books and will meet workers again next Tuesday.

“Then I suppose we’ll know if we get paid but it doesn’t look too good at the moment,” employee Clyde Lawson said.

Custom Coaches has a contract to build buses for Adelaide’s public transport network.

Even if no buyer is found, the government said there will be no delay in the supply of buses, but they will be assembled elsewhere.

The state government was criticised in 2012 when Custom Coaches axed staff after a lucrative contract was awarded offshore.