New Zealand Motor Bodies NZMB bodied
Volvo B10M REL with
Carrosserie Hess bodywork built under licence by NZMB New Zealand Motor Bodies (NZMB) was established in 1926 as Munt, Cottrell, Nielsen and Company Limited when Munt, Cottrell & Co of
Wellington and Neilsen's Body Works of
Dannevirke merged. NZMB operated from the corner of Hutt Road and Jackson Street in
Petone building metal frame bus and coach bodies and other commercial bodies, hoists and other truck equipment. It bodied over 1,000
Bedford SBs for the
New Zealand Railways Department. A new factory building in Keith Street
Palmerston North was opened on 3 July 1977. The new plant covered 18,000 square metres.
Coachwork International In 1983 NZMB merged with competitor
Hawke Coachwork to form Coachwork International. Owned by Moller Corporation and
Newmans, in 1987 it held an 80% share of the New Zealand bus bodying market. Production continued at the Palmerston North plant, while Hawke's plant in
Takanini was retained, specialising in building and repairing buses for city authorities. In 1988, Coachwork International was purchased by
Jaguar Rover Australia. After Jaguar Rover Australia was placed in administration, and with the impending end of tariff protection.
Deloitte & Touche received no offers to purchase the business with operations ceasing in June 1993. ==Products==