The bus - the Daimler DMS was designed and developed for London Transport as the first purpose built one man operated double deck bus. After the trials in London of the Park Royal bodied XA Atlanteans and XF Fleetlines, it was the Daimler Fleetlines that were preferred. Over 2,600 of these vehicles were built, mostly with MCW bodies, but they were subject to many problems in service. The stop-start driving conditions in London made them unreliable and this, combined with driver stress, made the vehicles unpopular. Within 2 years of entering service , London Transport started to sell off these buses, and being still very new, they were in great demand. They soon began to appear all over the UK, in colourful liveries, and many went overseas. China Motor Bus were quick to take advantage of the situation and purchased a total of 207, which were painted into their blue and cream livery.

XF1 was new to London Transport in 1972 and was acquired by China Motor Bus in 1980, being withdrawn in 1990.