NFI’s Alexander Dennis Opens Las Vegas Manufacturing Facility

Alexander Dennis and NFI officials recently celebrated the official opening of the Las Vegas manufacturing facility. (Photo courtesy of NFI)

Alexander Dennis, a subsidiary of NFI Group Inc. (NFI), recently celebrated the official opening of its U.S. manufacturing facility in Las Vegas. To commemorate the facility’s launch it handed over the first two of 10 new Enviro500 double-deck buses to the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC).

According to a press release, “The opening of the new manufacturing facility is a significant milestone for Alexander Dennis as it will lead the development and production of double-deck buses for the North American market and support Southern Nevada’s transportation and manufacturing industry. It is the only facility making double-deck buses in the United States, making Las Vegas a hub for cutting-edge transit solutions.”

Among the first buses to be completed at the facility are 10 Enviro500 for the area’s transit agency, RTC. NFI President and Chief Executive Officer Paul Soubry and Alexander Dennis President and Managing Director Paul Davies worked directly with RTC’s CEO MJ Maynard-Carey, and her team, to transition the first two vehicles in the fleet. The new buses will boost RTC’s transit fleet on its Deuce on The Strip route.

The release added, “The new Las Vegas assembly facility is owned and directly operated by Alexander Dennis Inc. (ADI), the manufacturer’s legal entity in the United States. The company’s investment of $15.3 million represents not only a commitment to innovation but is also testament to the strong partnerships Alexander Dennis builds with its local communities and the economic value it creates. The buses are Buy America compliant, which means more than 70% of the materials and components are sourced from U.S.-based suppliers. In Southern Nevada, ADI spent over $5.5 million directly with local suppliers over the past 12 months.

“Double-decker production is currently one bus per week. This is expected to ramp up to one and a half buses per week through 2026, allowing ADI to manufacture 75 vehicles per year. As demand grows, there is opportunity to increase capacity within the existing facility with further investments and workforce development, which could increase employment from over 115 local jobs initially. The roles support Nevada’s economy while opening new career paths in manufacturing and transit.”

The new Enviro500 buses for RTC Transit are 42’ 5’’ (12.9m) long and 13’ 6’’ (4.115m) tall and have capacity for 100 passengers. The 51 seats on the upper deck are accessed via two staircases, while the lower deck offers 15 more fixed seats, 7 tip-up seats, and spaces for two wheelchair users.

These 10 new double-deckers, built in Las Vegas, join 40 already in the RTC fleet that were manufactured in 2020 at Alexander Dennis’ former manufacturing facility. Another 10 Enviro500 are now on order for delivery next year and will again be built locally in Southern Nevada. Visit www.alexander-dennis.com.