NFI Subsidiary Alexander Dennis Appoints Big Rig Manufacturing As Enviro500 Build Partner For North America

NFI Group Inc. (NFI or the Company), an independent bus and coach manufacturer and provider of electric mass mobility solutions, recently announced its subsidiary, Alexander Dennis Limited (Alexander Dennis), has appointed Big Rig Manufacturing as contract manufacturing partner to meet resurging interest in the Enviro500 double decker in North America.

Big Rig Manufacturing is a subsidiary of Big Rig Collision Group, a provider of truck, bus and motorcoach accident repairs in Canada and the United States. Starting next year, it will assemble clean diesel Enviro500 double deck buses and the zero-emission Enviro500EV CHARGE to Alexander Dennis’ designs, specifications, and processes at a new facility in Las Vegas, NV.

“The new arrangement replicates the highly successful, low-capital intensity partnerships Alexander Dennis has in the Asia-Pacific region with contract manufacturers in China and New Zealand. With NFI’s North American bus and coach production facilities responding to the group’s record backlog and order book, cooperation with Big Rig Manufacturing allows Alexander Dennis to meet North American demand for its double deck range with Buy America-compliant arrangements,” according to a press release.

Alexander Dennis’ engineering and production staff will be located permanently on site at the facility in Las Vegas, supporting chassis production, major sub-assembly, and full production of the bus body.

Alexander Dennis North America Vice President and General Manager Stephen Walsh said: “We’re excited about this new opportunity with Big Rig Manufacturing, which provides an elegant and efficient solution to restarting double deck production in North America. I’m pleased that we have been able to team up with a familiar partner for many of our current double deck customers who have previously selected Big Rig Collision Group to complete comprehensive mid-life overhauls on their buses. Their intimate knowledge of our bus construction and design processes will help Big Rig Manufacturing to ensure a smooth production of the Enviro500.”

Big Rig Manufacturing President Kenton Schultz added: “We are very proud to be working with such a historic and prominent leader in transit bus innovation as NFI Group and Alexander Dennis. Big Rig Manufacturing will provide a depth of experience and expertise to streamline this manufacturing process and lean on our long-established knowledge in the heavy-duty and large vehicle repair markets. Our long running partnerships with transit and public transportation service providers throughout Canada and the U.S. in refurbishments, overhauls and collision repair via Big Rig Collision Group further strengthen this partnership and will fuel long-term growth.”

Alexander Dennis closed its previous Enviro500 production facilities in Toronto, Ontario, and Nappanee, IN, when the COVID-19 pandemic delayed orders.

“The longer-term order book has remained solid with orders from new and existing customers in the pipeline,” the release added.

Further information is available at www.alexander-dennis.com.