GILLIG Launches Engineering Center In Colorado, Subsidiary Acquires Select Assets From Lightning eMotors And Lightning Systems

The acquisition will mark the launch of GILLIG’s new Colorado Technology Center, which will serve as an engineering hub for the company. (Photo courtesy of GILLIG)

GILLIG, a manufacturer of heavy-duty transit buses in the U.S., has announced that GERCO LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the company, has acquired select assets from Lightning eMotors and Lightning Systems (collectively, “Lightning”) through a receivership sale, and has hired a number of former engineering employees of Lightning. In line with this expansion of GILLIG’s existing expertise and engineering capacity, the acquisition will also mark the launch of GILLIG’s new Colorado Technology Center, which will serve as an engineering hub for the company.

“Based in Loveland, CO, Lightning specialized in repowering commercial vehicles and developing electric powertrains and analytics capabilities. GERCO was selected as the purchaser from a court appointed receiver, and the acquisition of assets was approved by the court,” according to a press release. “Lightning discontinued its business operations prior to GERCO’s purchase, including the sale and servicing of commercial vehicles. Lightning’s business operations were not acquired and will not be resumed by GERCO or GILLIG. With this acquisition, GILLIG aims to expand its electric powertrain engineering capacity as the demand for zero-emission transit solutions continues to increase.”

“This exciting acquisition focuses on a talented team of former Lightning employees and the tools they need to support GILLIG’s roadmap,” GILLIG President and CEO Derek Maunus said. “GILLIG’s mission to design, build, and support America’s safest, most reliable heavy-duty transit buses has not changed. This acquisition allows us greater engineering capacity to integrate quickly evolving zero-emission technologies.

“As we look to the future generations of GILLIG’s celebrated Battery Electric bus, these additional engineering and technological resources will accelerate GILLIG’s leadership in zero-emission buses by increasing our powertrain expertise, forging even greater capacity to innovate and execute with excellence.”

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