Kinetic expands in Northern Tasmania with acquisition of Crawn Motors

Credit: Kinetic

In a recent development, Kinetic, Tasmania’s largest private transport operator, has announced its acquisition of Crawn Motors, a longstanding family-operated bus company based in Burnie. This strategic move aims to increase Kinetic’s presence in northern Tasmania, particularly in Burnie, the region’s third-largest population hub.

Upon completion of the acquisition, Kinetic will integrate Crawn Motors’ operations, including two depots and a fleet of 29 buses that currently service 19 government-contracted school bus routes. This expansion is set to enhance Kinetic’s service coverage from Burnie through to Wynyard, complementing its existing network that primarily serves Devonport and surrounding areas.

Michael Sewards, Co-CEO of Kinetic, said: “We’re thrilled to have the Crawn Motors team on-board and we look forward to expanding our commitment to Tasmania and our partnership with the Department of State Growth. As we do this, we’d like to congratulate Royce Crawn on the business he has built and acknowledge the great work the Crawn team have done to date, and we will continue to provide industry leading services that are safe and reliable which have a positive social impact on the community in Burnie.”

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Crawn Motors’s Founder Royce Crawn said: “We’re really proud of the work we’ve done over the past 60 years for our local community, and we’re looking forward to continuing this commitment with a company that shares our community values and will continue to invest in improving these services for Burnie.”

Graham Smith, Executive General Manager overseeing Tasmania, Victoria, and New South Wales, said: “Buses are an essential part of Tasmania’s public transport network, and we’re a team of genuine and passionate people working in collaboration with government and community stakeholders to keep these networks moving.”

The transaction, subject to regulatory approvals, is anticipated to finalize in the near future. This acquisition marks a significant step for Kinetic in expanding its operational footprint and service capabilities in Tasmania, underscoring its ongoing commitment to enhancing public transport infrastructure and connectivity across the region.