The bus - the Wrightbus Explorer is the three-axle version of the Wrights Eclipse Gemini introduced into UK bus fleets in 2002/3. It has a very distinctive appearance, and is sometimes referred to as the 'Nokia' bus, it's frontal appearance resembling a mobile phone!.

AVW1, the prototype vehicle, commenced trials with KMB in January 2003. Production examples began entering service in September 2003. The initial order was for 50 buses, but in January 2004, a repeat order, worth £6million, was placed with Ian Pearson MP, the Minister with responsibility for Enterprise, Trade and Investment, saying "This repeat order from KMB, the world’s biggest bus company, is a marvellous endorsement of Wrightbus as a designer and manufacturer of a range of superb vehicles which incorporate advanced technology for both drivers and passengers. Repeat business placed so quickly after just a few weeks of the first introduction of the vehicles by KMB on some of Hong Kong’s busiest routes is a measure of the quality of the buses and of this Northern Ireland company’s highly responsive customer services."

AVW56 was first registered on 19th August 2004 and was retired on 24th November 2021.