By Rick Mullen,
Busline Magazine Associate Editor

The following import/export categories include motor buses, coaches, trolley buses and gyrobuses.

The U.S. Department of Commerce, Economics and Statistics Administration, U.S. Census Bureau trade figures for February 2018 indicated vehicle imports were up in five categories outlined, compared to January 2018.

The United States imported 182 vehicles in February 2018, up 5 percent from 173 vehicles imported in January 2018.

Canada sent 75 vehicles to the United States during February 2018, while Mexico exported 47 and Macedonia shipped 38. During the first two months of 2018, 355 vehicles were imported.

The average price per vehicle for February 2018 was $410,916.18, up 1 percent from the average price for January 2018 of $405,115.76. The average price for the first two months of 2018 was $408,089.49.

Public-Transport Passenger Vehicles For Transport Of 10 Or More Persons With Only Comp-Ign Internal Combustion Piston Engine (Diesel Or Semi-Diesel), Other

The United States received three vehicles from Germany in February 2018, down 88 percent from 26 vehicles for January 2018. During the first two months of 2018, 29 vehicles were imported.

The average price of the vehicles for February 2018 was $41,983, down 27 percent from the average price for January 2018 of $57,236.46. The average price for the first two months of 2018 was $49,609.73.

Public-Transport Type Passenger Motor Vehicles With Comp-Ign Internal Combustion Piston Engine (Diesel Or Semi-Diesel), And Electric Motor Designed For Transport Of 16 Or More Persons

No vehicles in this category were imported during February 2018 or January 2018.

Public-Transport Type Passenger Motor Vehicles For Transport Of 10 Or More Persons With Comp-Ign Internal Combustion Piston Engine (Diesel Or Semi-Diesel), And Electric

No vehicles in this category were imported during February 2018 or January 2018.

Public-Transport Type Passenger Motor Vehicles With Spark Ignition Internal Combustion Piston Engine And Electric Motor For 16 Or More Persons

No vehicles in this category were imported during February 2018 or January 2018.

Public-Transport Type Passenger Motor Vehicles With Both Spark Ignition Internal Combustion Piston Engine and Electric Motor for 10 to 15 Persons

The United States imported one vehicle from Japan during February 2018 at a price of $10,325. There were no vehicles imported during January 2018.

Public-Transport Type Passenger Motor Vehicles With Electric Motor Only, For Transport Of 16 Or More Persons Including Driver

The United States imported one vehicle from China during February 2018 at a price of $210,284. There were no vehicles imported during January 2018.

Public-Transport Type Passenger Motor Vehicles, With Electric Motor Only For Propulsion, NESOI

The United States imported nine vehicles from Japan during February 2018. There were no vehicles imported during January 2018. The average price per vehicle for February 2018 was $6,552.11.

Public-Transport Type Passenger Motor Vehicles For 16 Or More Persons Including Driver, NESOI

The United States imported 132 vehicles during February 2018, up 120 percent from 60 for January 2018. During the first two months of 2018, 192 vehicles were imported

Canada sent 119 vehicles to the United States during February 2018.

Motor Vehicles For The Transport Of 10 To 15 Persons Including Driver, NESOI

The United States imported 74 vehicles during February 2018, down 70 percent from 249 during January 2018. During the first two months of 2018, 323 vehicles were imported.

Canada sent 48 vehicles to the United States during February 2018, while Germany exported 22 vehicles.

The average price per vehicle for February 2018 was $47,763.30, down 3 percent from $49,124.95 for January 2018. The average price for the first two months of 2018 was $48,812.99.

EXPORTS

Export totals for February 2018 were up in four categories, compared to January 2018.

Public-Transport Type Passenger Motor Vehicles With A Compression-Ignition Internal Combustion Piston Engine (Diesel Or Semi-Diesel) Only

The United States exported 615 vehicles during February 2018, up 6 percent from 579 vehicles exported in January 2018. During the first two months of 2018, 1,194 vehicles were exported.

Canada received 309 vehicles during February 2018, while Mexico imported 145.

The average price per vehicle for February 2018 was $77,385.30, down 8 percent from the average price for January 2018 of $83,876.86. The average price for the first two months of 2018 was $80,533.22.

Public-Transport Vehicles With Both Compression-Ignition Internal Combustion Piston Engine (Diesel Or Semi-Diesel) & Electric Motor

The United States shipped six vehicles in February 2018, up 50 percent from four vehicles for January 2018. During the first two months of 2018, 10 vehicles were exported.

The United Kingdom received two vehicles during February 2018, while Nigeria, Arab Emirates, Guatemala and the British Virgin Islands imported one each.

The average price per vehicle for February 2018 was $24,761.67, up 460 percent from the average price for January 2018 of $4,424.50. The average price for the first two months of 2018 was $16,626.80.

Public-Transport Type Passenger Motor Vehicles With Both Spark Ignition Internal Combustion Piston Engine & Electric Motor

The United States exported 11 vehicles in February 2018, up 22 percent from nine vehicles for January 2018. During the first two months of 2018, 20 vehicles were exported.

Mexico received five vehicles during February 2018.

The average price per vehicle for February 2018 was $27,517.82, up 23 percent from the average price for January 2018 of $22,290. The average price for the first two months of 2018 was $25,165.30.

Public-Transport Type Passenger Motor Vehicles With Only Electric Motor For Propulsion

The United States shipped four vehicles to Germany in February 2018, up 300 percent from one vehicle for January 2018. During the first two months of 2018, five vehicles were exported.

The average price of the vehicles for February 2018 was $56,735.75, up 3 percent from the price for January 2018 of $55,000. The average price for the first two months of 2018 was $56,388.60.

Click on statistics to open .pdf file

Prevost Sponsorship Helps Advance Safety Mission

“Prevost announces its recent agreement to sponsor the Bus Industry Safety Council (BISC), in the interest of advancing overall bus safety for all operators and bus and coach passengers,” said the company.

“Under the umbrella of the American Bus Association (ABA), BISC is a collective of safety-minded individuals who embody every role of the bus and coach industry, addressing every safety concern from shop safety, driver training to vehicle technology and regulatory compliance.

“As part of the Volvo Group, Prevost heralds its safety mission as a core value and guiding principle. Building on its legacy, the Volvo 9700 coach continues to set the highest safety standards possible. Advanced systems for driver assistance, high-efficiency brakes, seat belts and world-class protective structures are standard Volvo safety features.”

Zero Accident Vision, Volvo’s goal of its safety initiative, is to ensure no Volvo vehicle is ever involved in an accident.

“We have always put safety first, as do the members of BISC,” said Michael Power, vice president, marketing, Prevost and Nova Bus. “It is in our DNA to plan and design vehicles that lead the industry in safety and protection. Our hope, regarding our sponsorship of BISC, is to help instill all bus and coach operators with a similarly robust safety philosophy.”

ABA’s goal in founding BISC in 1999 was for it to serve as a forum for bus and coach operators, safety directors, maintenance supervisors as well as OEMs, vendors and government agencies to focus on advancements in safe bus and motorcoach operations.

“Speaking for all BISC members, we greatly appreciate the tremendous boost Prevost brings to our efforts through its sponsorship,” said BISC Chairman, Alan Smith, safety director, Greyhound Lines, Dallas, TX. “Not only do we have the backing and support of a truly, quality company that shares our vision, BISC is now in a position to grow and develop from Prevost’s vast safety research and resources.”

“We appreciate the commitment and foresight Prevost brings to this sponsorship,” said ABA President/CEO Peter Pantuso. “Prevost will not only help BISC grow its membership and reach new heights, the company will further establish itself as one of the pre-eminent safety leaders in the motorcoach industry.”

Prevost manufactures intercity touring coaches and produces conversion coaches for high-end motorhome and specialty conversion. For more information, visit www.prevostcar.com.

Pictured left to right are: Assembly Member Brian Dahle, Assembly Member Ed Chau,
Stella Li, Assembly Member Susan Talmantes Eggman, and
Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon. Source: Assembly Democratic Caucus

BYD President Stella Li Honored By California Legislative Caucus

Stella Li, president of BYD Motors, was honored by the California Legislative Women’s Caucus with their Woman of the Year award. Assembly Member Ed Chau nominated Li, a resident of the San Gabriel Valley, as the Woman of the Year for the 49th Assembly District. That district includes the cities and communities of Alhambra, Arcadia, El Monte, Montebello, Monterrey Park, Rosemead, San Gabriel, San Marino, South El Monte, and Temple City.

According to a press release, “The Woman of the Year event was founded in 1987 by Assembly Members Bev Hansen (R) and Sally Tanner (D), who noticed that the California Legislature had no events planned for Women’s History Month. Hansen and Tanner arranged an invitation for one woman from each senate and assembly district to be honored for their accomplishments in a formal ceremony at the Capitol.”

Broward County Transit Has 30 New 2018 MCI Commuter Coaches

Thirty new MCI Commuter Coaches have been added to a fleet, including 14 other MCI Commuter Coaches, purchased in 2014 and 2015, at Broward County Florida’s Express Bus Service.

“Broward County Transit’s (BCT) Express Bus Service, in partnership with the Florida Department of Transportation, runs on a managed lane network via I-95 and I-595 to Miami-Dade County and, coming soon, via I-75 to Miami-Dade County. BCT’s Express Bus Service provides service to the two largest-populated counties in Florida with daily trips from nine Park & Ride locations that are free for Express riders.

“The new coaches were sold to BCT at an approximate price of $18 million, and delivered in December 2017.”

The MCI Commuter Coach features Wi-Fi, forward-facing, high-back seats, LED reading lights, power outlets, pullout bike storage trays and wheelchair lifts. Designed for higher speeds, the Buy-America-compliant, Altoona-tested, MCI Commuter Coach uses a high-floor design that raises passengers and the driver above traffic and features a long-travel suspension for a smooth ride. Safety features include electronic stability control, tire pressure monitoring and fire suppression plus a clean-diesel engine for near-zero emissions.

Broward County Transit serves the area with nearly 40 million rides to customers annually. It operates 44 routes within 410 square miles of Broward County, and provides service to parts of Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties.

For more information about BCT, visit broward.org/BCT, and for information about the MCI Commuter Coach, visit www.mcicoach.com.

Carroll, IA-Based Windstar Continues Adding New Van Hool Coaches To Fleet

Windstar’s newest addition is a 56-passenger, 2018 Van Hool CX45.

“Windstar started with a 1992 Van Hool T-800, its first bus, and now this coach is our bus number 187,” said Scott Greteman, vice president of the Carroll, IA-based coach line. “It has been 23 years since my parents, Mike and Cathy, started the business, and we’ve been dealing with ABC for all 23 of them.”

Leadership of the company has passed to the next generation, with Jeff Greteman as president, teamed with brothers, Scott and Pat, running the company. Their fleet has grown to 112 motorcoaches, operating out of 9 locations throughout the Midwest (www.gowindstar.com).

The new coach features passenger seats with leather headrest inserts, magazine nets and 110-volt outlets. In addition, the passenger cabin has wood grained flooring, a six monitor entertainment system, along with Van Hool’s rear window and passenger window shades.

It is also equipped with Van Hool safety features including 3-point seatbelts, backup camera, lane departure warning, antilock brakes, tire pressure monitoring, fire suppression systems, automatic stability control, daytime running lights, curbside lighting and adaptive static aiming lights.

Pete Bachrach, ABC’s senior account manager, said the coach is symbolic of Windstar’s commitment to its customers.

“They’ve ordered 36 coaches, but are taking delivery of one per month, so their clients get the benefit of a consistently fresh fleet. Their customers and staff can count on a company that thinks long-term and plans for the future."

For more information, contact ABC Companies at 800-222-2875 or visit www.abc-companies.com.

Complete Coach Works Wins Two First Place Awards In APTA’s 2018 Ad Wheel Awards Competition

Complete Coach Works (CCW) was awarded first place in two categories of APTA’s 2018 Ad Wheel Awards Competition. In September 2017, CCW competed against more than 360 entries in 14 advertising categories. All submissions were evaluated by 60 industry experts. CCW was ranked first in two of the 14 categories.

According to a press release, “CCW won the first category, Educational – Print Media, for the print ad, ‘Trusted for Decades,’ that was published in 2017. The ad conveyed the history of the Carson family line, and its dedication to public transportation since 1945.

"The second category was Educational – Social Media. The CCW winner was the photo album of the ‘Creation of the CCW American Bus.’ This gallery begins with a product concept sketch drawn on a piece of paper, and finishes with an authentic photograph displaying the CCW American Bus suspended in mid-air at the 2017 APTA Expo in Atlanta, GA. The album was a unique way of showcasing how CCW comes together as a team in all departments from beginning to end.”

Dale E. Carson, president of CCW, said, “I am so proud of our creative team, from the administrative staff to those working in production. These awards were made possible by the entire company and the employees’ daily efforts to serve CCW customers.”

CCW is a bus remanufacturing and rehabilitation company, and provider of transportation solutions with over 30 years of service to the transportation industry. For more information, visit www.completecoach.com.