[1][2] The first production examples entered service with Preston Bus in September 2006 on Scania N94UB chassis.

[6][7] The first few examples of the Esteem only had new front and rear ends, the sides still being of the older Myllennium design.

Production of the Optare Esteem ceased in 2009, with the last being 40 built on Alexander Dennis Enviro200 Dart chassis for Go-Ahead London.

[8] It was also planned for an open top version of the Esteem to be launched alongside, named the Panaire.

[9] This version of the bus never attracted any orders and was removed from the product list during the reverse takeover.