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 July 2019 indicated vehicle imports were up in four categories outlined, compared to July 2018. For the first seven months of 2019, vehicles imports were up in seven categories, compared to the first seven months of 2018.

The United States imported 219 vehicles in July 2019, down 8 percent from 238 vehicles imported in July 2018. For the first seven months of 2019, the United States imported 1,541 vehicles, up 12 percent from 1,377 for the first seven months of 2018.

Canada sent 833 vehicles to the United States during the first seven months of 2019, while Mexico exported 343 and North Macedonia shipped 263.

The average price per vehicle for July 2019 was $326,188.17, down 16 percent from the average price for July 2018 of $386,962.88. The average price per vehicle for the first seven months of 2019 was $321,717.81, down 20 percent from $403,204.74 for the first seven months of 2018.

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 67 vehicles in July 2019, down 80 percent from 338 vehicles for July 2018. For the first seven months of 2019, the United States imported 1,156 vehicles, up 39 percent from 830 vehicles for the first seven months of 2018.

The United States imported 1,142 vehicles from Germany during the first seven months of 2019.

The average price of the vehicles for July 2019 was $50,086.59, up 19 percent from $41,968.69 for July 2018. The average price per vehicle for the first seven months of 2019 was $41,764.52, down 5 percent from $43,842.71 for the first seven months of 2018.

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

The United States imported one vehicle during July 2019, the same as for July 2018. During the first seven months of 2019, 170 vehicles were imported, up significantly from five vehicles for the first seven months of 2018.

All the vehicles imported came from Canada.

The average price for July 2019 was $240,184, down 76 percent from $1 million for July 2018. The average price for the first seven months of 2019 was $228,430.22, down 55 percent from $509,146.80 for the first seven months of 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 2018 and thus far in 2019.

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 received by the United States in July 2019 or July 2018. Two vehicles were imported during the first seven months of 2019. No vehicles were imported during the first seven months of 2018.

The United States imported two vehicles from Canada during the first seven months of 2019, at an average price of $15,200.

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 no vehicles in this category during July 2019 or July 2018. During the first seven months 2019, no vehicles in this category have been received, compared to one vehicle during the first seven months of 2018, at a price of $10,325.

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

The United States imported 32 vehicles during July 2019, compared to one vehicle for July 2018. During the first seven months of 2019, 307 vehicles were received, compared to 13 for the first seven months of 2018.

Canada shipped 234 vehicles during the first seven months of 2019.

The average price per vehicle for July 2019 was $165,104.21, down 11 percent from $185,250 for July 2018. The average price for the first seven months of 2019 was $122,565.41, down 41 percent from $209,145.15 for the first seven months of 2018.

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

The United States imported 14 vehicles during July 2019, up 56 percent from nine vehicles for July 2018. During the first seven months of 2019, 77 vehicles were imported, up 45 percent from 53 vehicles for the first seven months of 2018.

China sent all of the vehicles during the first seven months of 2019.

The average price per vehicle for July 2019 was $7,803.71, down 17 percent from $9,373.44 for July 2018. The average price per vehicle for the first seven months of 2019 was $7,936.68, down 2 percent from $8,107.98 for the first seven months of 2018.

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

The United States imported 181 vehicles during July 2019, up 83 percent from 99 for July 2018. During the first seven months of 2019, 834 vehicles were received, up 22 percent from 681 for the first seven months of 2018.

Canada sent 812 vehicles to the United States during the first seven months of 2019.

The average price per vehicle for July 2019 was $98,056.87, up 36 percent from $72,317.40 for July 2018. The average price for the first seven months of 2019 was $74,842.90, down 4 percent from $78,102.84 for the first seven months of 2018.

The United States imported 143 vehicles during July 2019, up 15 percent from 124 during July 2018. During the first seven months of 2019, 912 vehicles were received, down 7 percent from 979 for the first seven months of 2018.

Canada sent 838 vehicles to the United States during the first seven months of 2019.

The average price per vehicle for July 2019 was $42,862.57, down 8 percent from $46,339.12 for July 2018. The average price for the first seven months of 2019 was $41,904.72, also down 8 percent from $45,400.32 for the first seven months of 2018.

EXPORTS

Export totals for July 2019 were up in two categories, compared to July 2018. For the first seven months of 2019, three categories also reported increases.

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

The United States exported 821 vehicles during July 2019, down 9 percent from 899 vehicles exported in July 2018. During the first seven months of 2019, 4,228 were sent, down 15 percent from 4,969 for the first seven months of 2018.

Canada received 2,643 vehicles during the first seven months of 2019.

The average price per vehicle for July 2019 was $67,738.08, down 9 percent from the average price for July 2018 of $74,811.55. The average price for the first seven months of 2019 was $68,181.40, down 11 percent from $76,896.95 for the first seven months of 2018.

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

The United States shipped 49 vehicles in July 2019, up 32 percent from 37 vehicles for July 2018. During the first seven months of 2019, 2,131 vehicles were exported, compared to 290 for the first seven months of 2018.

Canada received 1,966 vehicles during the first seven months of 2019.

The average price per vehicle for July 2019 was $21,427.89, up 99 percent from the average price for July 2018 of $10,751.73. The average price for the first seven months of 2019 was $27,976.15, up 12 percent from $24,950.34 for the first seven months of 2018.

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

The United States exported 31 vehicles in July 2019, down 21 percent from 39 vehicles for July 2018. During the first seven months of 2019, 191 vehicles were shipped, up 14 percent from 168 vehicles for the first seven months of 2018.

Mexico received 76 vehicles during the first seven months of 2019, while Venezuela imported 36 vehicles.

The average price per vehicle for July 2019 was $25,088.22, down 37 percent from the average price for July 2018 of $39,635. The average price for the first seven months of 2019 was $32,455.51, down 7 percent from $35,045.64 for the first seven months of 2018.

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

The United States shipped 55 vehicles in July 2019, compared to two vehicles for July 2018. During the first seven months of 2019, 404 vehicles were exported, compared to 39 vehicles for the first seven months of 2018.

Canada received 388 vehicles during the first seven months of 2019.

The average price for July 2019 was $31,358, up 24 percent from $25,250 for July 2018. The average price for the first seven months of 2019 was $29,741.59, down 82 percent from $166,074.08 for the first seven months of 2018.

Click on statistics to open .pdf file

Vapor Bus International to Represent Stemmann-Technik Sales and Service in North America

“Vapor Bus International, the principal passenger door supplier to the North American bus industry, will represent Stemmann-Technik in the fast-growing electric bus and commercial vehicle charging infrastructure segment,” said John Condon, Vapor Vice president of sales, North America.

“The addition of the Stemmann-Technik product line to our Vapor sales and service team will enable us to more effectively support innovation and expansion of e-bus and vehicle charging infrastructure in North America,” said Condon. “Our goal is to provide interoperable charging solutions with the most responsive support possible throughout the product life cycle and ensure your product satisfaction.”

“Stemmann-Technik, a Wabtec Company located in Schuttorf, Germany, is a global leader in power collection and transfer systems including bus and commercial vehicle fleet opportunity charging solutions. The ChargingPANTO® system, the first to meet the OppCharge® standard, provides the fastest e-bus recharge available with an inverted pantograph installed in a charging station and a set of roof rails mounted on the vehicle roof. The ChargingREEL base depot solution is the first intelligent cable management system flexible enough to fit all operating conditions in fleet and depot charging areas with optimal power transfer time for buses, trucks and cars,” according to a press release.

For over 57 years Vapor Bus International has served as the major door equipment supplier to North American bus builders and transit agencies. Vapor Bus International designs and manufactures equipment for transit and commuter buses, intercity and tour coaches, shuttles, and utility vehicles. Vapor products include complete automatic door systems as well as individual components, such as actuators, operator controls, door panels, passenger and obstruction sensing devices, door seals, and accessories.

Vapor Bus International and Stemmann-Technik are divisions of Wabtec Corporation, a Fortune 500 company, and part of Wabtec Bus Solutions, a group representing product manufacturers in each category that includes Vapor, Stemmann-Technik, TransTech, Ricon, Graham-White, Annax, Faiveley Transport, and Microphor.

For more information call 866-375-4126 or visit VaporDoors.com.

Cline Tours Adds Six New MCIJ3500s

“Motor Coach Industries (MCI), a U.S. subsidiary of NFI Group Inc., is helping Mississippi-based Cline Tours grow with a total of six new J3500s – MCI’s new 35-foot luxury model – and a new bestselling J4500,” according to a press release.

“The Ridgeland, MS-based tour and charter company has been an MCI customer since 1996 when owner John McCommon acquired Cline Tours and its one MCI coach. Today, Cline operates a diverse fleet of nearly 190 coaches, mini-buses and sleeper coaches, along with more than 120 MCI J-Series coaches operating from nine locations throughout the Southeast. Cline continues to be one of the top operators with the largest fleet of newer J-Series coaches in North America.”

McCommon’s earlier experience with 40-passenger buses led him to the major investment in MCI’s new 35-foot model. “We experimented with 40-seat cutaway buses, but it got to the point where we wanted to step up and get something that would live up to our expectations,” he said. “When we learned MCI would be building a J3500 model, we knew it would meet our passenger comfort and operational requirements.”

According to MCI, Cline’s new J3500 coaches are built to the exact specifications as its J4500 models. They feature industry-leading legroom in a 40-seat capacity, lavatories, best-in-class interiors, the RGB variable lighting package offering programable interior color options and the optional next-generation ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System). The system integrates a radar, camera and braking system, providing always-on collision mitigation with Stationary Vehicle Braking (SVB) as well as adaptive cruise control with braking, Lane Departure Warning (LDW) and traffic sign recognition.

“Anything safety-related, I will gladly spend the money on to keep our drivers and passengers as safe as we can,” said McCommon, who highlights his coaches’ safety features to customers in personal presentations and during the MCI J4500 Safety Systems video the company features on YouTube as well as its website.

McCommon added that a team of 300 safety-dedicated employees and Cline’s insistence on a young fleet, with the newest passenger protection systems, are the mainstays of the company’s success.

MCI said he also applies those standards to potential acquisition targets. When purchasing other operators, as Cline has done recently, McCommon buys those names, puts them in the vault, and rebrands the businesses under the Cline moniker.

“Our reputation is very good, and when you have as many buses as we do, people take notice,” said McCommon.

For more information, visit MCIcoach.com.

MobilityTRANS Announces Major New Products

MobilityTRANS, a Michigan-based paratransit van and small bus manufacturer, announces two new products. The SafeTbus line of shuttles and small buses for 2020 includes 20 standard safety features and another 14 safety options.

“We believe that we offer a very safe, high quality and cost-efficient choice for passenger transportation,” said Company President Dave Brown. “Many of these safety features are exclusive. Among the safety options are a new floor system called EzSafe, incorporating electric wheelchair securements which store a record of proper use, and alert the driver if a securement is released during transport.”

For more information, visit www.mobilitytrans.com.

CCW To Supply Refurbished Buses To Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority

Complete Coach Works (CCW) has been awarded a contract from Chattanooga (TN) Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) to supply four refurbished 35-foot Gillig diesel buses.

To enhance fleet reliability, the buses will be equipped with Cummins ReCon ISL engines and rebuilt Voith transmissions. Other CCW upgrades include interior/exterior LED lighting, new driver seats, new flooring, and ADA compliant wheelchair ramps.

Additional work includes new brakes and suspensions, steering components, and LED destination signs. Once work is completed, new paint and decals will provide the finishing touches.

Upon completion of the comprehensive refurbishment process, CARTA will utilize the buses, along with its current fleet, to service the city of Chattanooga, Hamilton County and surrounding areas.

“We are very excited about this contract and the opportunity to work with the Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority,” said Jay Raber, CCW regional sales manager. “We believe these buses will be a great addition to its fleet.”

CCW has over 30 years in the transportation industry.

For more information, contact sales@completecoach.com.

Roy Furo Assists Prevost Pre-Owned Coach Sales Team

“As Prevost continues to expand and enhance its pre-owned coach division, the company has called on Roy Furo, national sales manager for the Volvo 9700, to also handle pre-owned coach sales in the northeast region,” said Prevost.

Furo joined the Prevost team in 2017, and has 16 years of industry sales experience.

“In addition to helping grow Volvo 9700 sales in North America over the past two and one-half years, I am excited to take on an additional role as pre-owned sales manager in the northeast,” said Furo. “I have worked in the northeast region for over 16 years, and I am eager to assist in moving some of Prevost’s pre-owned inventory.”

Furo added, “The pre-owned coach market is an excellent source operators can draw from to adjust collective fleet-age. Most end-user customers will not notice a significant difference between a 2019 coach, and a well-kept 2015 model.”

“We believe Roy’s experience and knowledge of the industry will prove invaluable in assisting our team,” said pre-owned coach sales director, Guillaume Charron. “I believe he will help us grow sales in the U.S. northeast region while providing excellent support to our customers.”

Prevost manufactures premium intercity touring coaches, and produces conversion coaches for high-end motorhome and specialty conversion. Prevost’s main manufacturing facilities are in Sainte-Claire, Quebec, Canada, with 16 parts and service centers located throughout the United States and Canada. 

For more information, visit www.prevostcar.com.

New BYD eBus Fleet For Jerusalem

Egged, Israel’s largest public transport operator, has taken delivery of 10 new 12-metre BYD single-deck eBuses with 100 percent emissions-free, pure-electric mobility.

BYD 12-metre pure-electric bus in Jerusalem, Israel

The fleet of 10, two-door, low-floor eBuses follows previous deliveries of BYD vehicles to Egged, in Haifa, in 2017.

“These latest deliveries also provide evidence of BYD’s eBus performance capabilities with its customers across a full range of climates – from hot, arid conditions in Israel, to cold, wintry conditions often found in Scandinavia,” said the company.

“The BYD eBus fleet is growing in Jerusalem as public transport in the city starts moving toward 100 percent emissions-free, electric mobility,” according to a press release. “The existing fleet of BYD single decks – delivered in 2017 – have performed extremely reliably, delivering high levels of productivity for Egged, and offering great appeal to passengers. This latest, larger fleet of BYD eBuses will make Jerusalem even cleaner, and other local authorities will be paying close attention to the continuing success of BYD eBuses in operation.”

For more information, visit www.byd.com.