AN engine maker known for powering distinctive London buses is helping a manufacturer improve services on crowded Latin American streets, The Northern Echo can reveal.

Cummins’ engines are being used in a new Alexander Dennis fleet destined for Mexico City.

Bosses at the business, based in Darlington, say the distinctive red double-decker buses will use Cummins’ nine-litre engine and help reduce congestion and pollution as they travel along the Paseo de la Reforma, regarded as Mexico City’s answer to The Mall.

Cummins has vast experience of supporting bus operators, with its order book including a flagship deal to supply hundreds of engines, designed to cut emissions, for London-based Routemasters.

The business also previously sent cleaner engines to Germany, Belgium and Finland.

However, according to its latest deal, the firm’s power apparatus will now go to Mexico after Alexander Dennis secured a £44m finance deal to sell double-deckers in the country.

A Cummins spokesman told the Echo that the business was delighted to be supporting the manufacturer, saying it was well placed to meet companies’ requirements.

He said: “Alexander Dennis has a growing business in the US and the buses for Mexico are a very similar design.

“Its export business continues to expand in markets worldwide and Cummins Darlington is able to support these initiatives with our engineering teams able to configure engines to meet different operating requirements and varying emissions regulations globally.

“Such ability is a key capability for export business.”

Alexander Dennis’ Mexico deal comes after the Government put forward a £1.7bn package of taxpayer-funded support to help more than 130 firms expand and secure overseas contracts.

Referring to its success, Colin Robertson, Alexander Dennis chief executive, said: “It is hugely exciting to know that our signature red double-decker buses will soon be transporting Mexico City’s residents in style and comfort.

“As a global double-decker leader with fleets of our vehicles across the world, we see the positive impact these vehicles can have in improving the transport infrastructure, congestion and air quality in the world’s busiest cities.”