Passengers around the world are seeking modern transportation options they can feel good about as traffic congestion, costs and air quality continue to saddle today’s growing cities. That is why New Flyer is engineering innovative mobility solutions through buses, technology, and infrastructure that serves our communities and makes our cities smarter, while safeguarding precious resources. In doing so, we are creating jobs, fortifying North America’s infrastructure and modernizing the industry and the world around us.
New Flyer was founded in 1930 and is now the largest transit bus manufacturer in North America, with fabrication, manufacturing, and service centers in the United States and Canada. We continue building on our 90+ year legacy of innovation to deliver innovative mobility solutions and technology that meets the demands of communities today, and into the future.
New Flyer is a subsidiary of NFI Group Inc. (NFI), one of the world’s largest bus and coach manufacturers. Today, New Flyer offers the most advanced, innovative product line under the Xcelsior® and Xcelsior CHARGE® brands, and also offers infrastructure development through NFI Infrastructure Solutions™, a service dedicated to providing innovative, safe, sustainable, and reliable charging and mobility solutions.
New Flyer actively supports over 35,000 heavy-duty transit buses (New Flyer, NABI, and Orion) currently in service, of which 8,600 are powered by electric motors and battery propulsion and 1,900 are zero-emission.
Leveraging 450 years of combined experience, NFI is leading the electrification of mass mobility around the world. With zero-emission buses and coaches, infrastructure, and technology, NFI meets today’s urban demands for scalable smart mobility solutions. Together, NFI is enabling more livable cities through connected, clean, and sustainable transportation.
NFI EVs have collectively travelled 140 million zero-emissions miles and continue to decrease the carbon footprint of transportation while delivering clean, safe, quiet mobility.
With 8,200 team members in ten countries, NFI is a leading global bus manufacturer of mass mobility solutions under the brands New Flyer® (heavy-duty transit buses), MCI® (motor coaches), Alexander Dennis Limited (single and double-deck buses), Plaxton (motor coaches), ARBOC® (low-floor cutaway and medium-duty buses), and NFI Parts™. NFI currently offers the widest range of sustainable drive systems available, including zero-emission electric (trolley, battery, and fuel cell), natural gas, electric hybrid, and clean diesel. In total, NFI supports its installed base of over 100,000 buses and coaches around the world.
| 1930 | Founded in Winnipeg, Manitoba |
| 1968 | First electric trolley |
| 1990 | First low-floor bus in North America |
| 1993 | First fuel cell transit bus |
| 1999 | First diesel-hybrid bus |
| 2008 | First LED headlights in the industry |
| 2010 | Introduced industry-leading Xcelsior® bus platform |
| 2012 | Introduced first battery-electric bus |
| 2017 | Introduced next-generation battery-electric bus (Xcelsior CHARGE™) |
| 2017 | Opened the Vehicle Innovation Center in Anniston, Alabama |
| 2018 | Delivered 10,000th Xcelsior® |
| 2019 | Launched Connect 360™, New Flyer Infrastructure Solutions™ and New Flyer’s AV Program |
| 2020 | Launched National Community Benefit Framework and Anniston Workforce Development Program |
| 2020 | Announced first automated heavy-duty transit bus deployment in North America (with Connecticut Department of Transportation) |
| 2021 | Unveiled the Xcelsior AV™, North America’s first automated transit bus |
| 2021 | Unveiled the Xcelsior CHARGE NG™, New Flyer’s next-generation, zero-emission, battery-electric bus |
| 2021 | Launched Electrical Technician Training Program |
| 2022 | Launched the New Mobility Bursary in partnership with AROW Global |
| 2022 | Unveiled the Xcelsior CHARGE FC™, New Flyer’s next generation, zero-emission, hydrogen fuel cell-electric transit bus |
Western Auto and Truck Body Works was founded in Winnipeg, Manitoba by John Coval with five employees. They built their first bus for Red River Motor Coach Lines.
Manitoba Motor Transit Ltd. was founded, operating bus routes from Brandon, Manitoba to points throughout Northern and Western Manitoba.
A Western Auto and Truck Body Works bus was on the first regularly-scheduled route into the northern community of Swan River, Manitoba.
Developed 12-passenger sedan for, the-now century-old Brewster Transport Ltd. in Banff, Alberta. Brewster ordered hundreds of buses of various custom designs throughout their expansion era. The open-top buses built by Western Auto and Truck Body Works had Ford chassis. Later, some of the first glass-top buses built by Western were delivered to Brewster.
Western Auto and Truck Body Works introduced the 28-passenger Western Flyer – the first front-engine, intercity bus. These buses had the engine inside the coach body in the front. A variety of engines were offered, primarily the International Red Diamond 450 gasoline engine. One Western Flyer bus for International Transit Ltd. had a British Leyland chassis and diesel engine.
Developed the first Brucks – combination passenger and freight vehicles. Canadian Coachways, Ltd. operated many Brucks in Canada’s far north for several years.
Renamed to Western Flyer Coach Ltd.
Delivered two sightseeing buses to Salt Lake Transportation Co., this is believed to be the first time a Canadian firm had sold to the US.
Built more than 350 buses for troop transportation for the Canadian Department of National Defense and for the US Air Force over a 20-year period. Built C-40 and T-40 for the armed forces and for inter-city and transit bus companies. The International Red Diamond 450 gasoline engines were most commonly used. Buda, Dodge and Ford engines were specified by some Western Flyer customers.
Built three buses for the Department of National Defense. Additional air-intake louvres replaced the destination sign and the bus had one two-leaf folding door. The design was adapted to build one C-33 city bus, the first Western Flyer city bus. It had two bi-fold passenger doors and was in service by Northern Bus Lines, Ltd. in Flin Flon, a rugged northern Manitoba mining center.
Western Flyer introduced the Canuck, an entirely new design that accommodated 33 passengers and had a choice of the International Red Diamond engine or a Cummins diesel engine. It was the first rear-engine bus built by Western Flyer.
Manufactured four “deck-and-a-half” Model T36-40 2L buses for three Manitoba intercity bus companies. Introduced the Canuck P-37 redesigned with new up-to-date styling and technology carrying up to 37 passengers.
Introduced P-41 Canuck, which was larger than the 1953 Canuck, carrying up to 41 passengers and had a Cummins JT6B diesel engine.
Expanded into the new Fort Garry Winnipeg plant due to exceptional growth and in preparation for the expansion into transit bus manufacturing.
Developed the Canuck 500 intercity bus.
Introduced the Canuck 600 for the intercity market.
Introduced Western Flyer Coach’s first transit bus – the D700.
Developed the first 700E electric trolley coach. The first order of the restyled coach was by Toronto Transit Commission, which was part of a 150-bus and trolley bus order.
Renamed to Flyer Industries Ltd.
Delivered 343 E800 trolley coaches to San Francisco Municipal Railway.
Developed D901 with a curved front body and curved glass windshield sections to maximize visibility.
Flyer Industries was acquired by Jan den Oudsten and renamed to New Flyer Industries.
Developed and tested the first low-floor bus in North America. Today, more than 85% of all buses in North America use this technology. This design increased accessibility for physically disabled persons to allow greater independence.
Delivered first low-floor bus to Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
Introduced the first articulated electric trolley.
First manufacturer to implement programmable logic controlled (PLC) multiplexing on all bus models.
Delivered the first compressed natural gas (CNG – and LNG) buses in North America and worked with Ballard Power Systems to develop the world’s first hydrogen fuel cell powered bus.
Introduced the first articulated low-floor bus.
Delivered the first diesel-electric hybrid bus.
First North American bus OEM to receive ISO 9001 certification.
Introduced the first premium low-floor bus, the Invero®. Delivered the first hybrid bus to OCTA.
Introduced the first 60′ articulated diesel-electric hybrid bus in Seattle, Washington. This led to the largest single order for diesel-electric buses in North American transit bus history in 2003.
Partnered with San Bernardino County and ISE to develop the first gasoline-electric hybrid buses.
Acquired by KPS Special Situations Fund and John Marinucci is appointed President and CEO.
Named to Canada’s Top 100 Employers List for the second consecutive year.
Received Inaugural MARTA Effective Partnership in Quality Award.
Launched “Advanced-style” BRT.
Named to Canada’s Top 100 Employers List for the third consecutive year.
Advanced Style BRT Vehicles now in service in Cleveland, Ohio and on EmX green line in Eugene, Oregon.
Completed the first delivery of 60-Foot hybrids with Restyled Design.
World’s first hydrogen fuel cell transit fleet (awarded by BC Transit).
Signed an Exclusive Agreement with Ballard for use of fuel cell modules in shuttle buses.
Named Canada’s top 100 Employers for the fourth consecutive year.
Named one of Canada’s Most Earth-Friendly Employers.
Became first in the transit industry to offer LED headlights.
Named Canada’s top 100 Employers for fifth consecutive year.
Won First Place in the American Public Transportation Association’s 30th Annual AdWheel Awards competition for our Earth Day Awareness Campaign.
Celebrated our 80th Anniversary.
Acquired the assets and business of TCB Industries, LLC (“TCB”) of Elkhart, Indiana.
Named Canada’s Top 100 Employers for the sixth consecutive year.
Named as one of the Top Employers for Canadians Over 40.
Best ever fuel economy recorded at Altoona (40 ft Xcelsior, 2010 with BAE and EMP – 5.88 mpg).
Appointed Girardin to sell and support heavy duty transit buses in Quebec.
Made first bus sale to a Quebec customer in over 40 years.
4000th CNG bus delivered.
Announced Joint Venture with Alexander Dennis to introduce the MiDi®, a North American mid-sized transit bus.
Unveiled first all-electric transit bus prototype.
Announced first order for all-electric transit buses from the Chicago Transit Authority.
In June of 2014 New Flyer announced plans to focus on a single heavy-duty transit and BRT bus platform that features its world-class Xcelsior®.
In October of 2014 New Flyer unveiled the addition of a zero-emission battery-electric propulsion system to its commercially available lineup of Xcelsior® transit bus models at the American Public Transit Association Expo tradeshow in Houston, Texas.
Announced that it is developing the first ever North American designed and built zero-emission 60-foot battery-electric/fuel cell bus.
Demonstrated the all-electric Xcelsior® bus on a southern and eastern US tour.
New Flyer MiDi™ demo bus operated during Canada Winter Games in British Columbia.
Acquired MCI, North America’s leading motor coach manufacturer, parts and service company.
Announced the opening of a new component manufacturing and assembly facility in Jamestown, NY.
Acquired Carlson Engineered Composites Inc.
Announced a $25 million USD investment in its Anniston, Alabama production campus, including the opening of the Vehicle Innovation Center (VIC), America’s first innovation lab dedicated to the advancement of bus and coach technology connecting people to places.
Launched the next generation of its industry leading, battery-electric heavy-duty transit bus: the Xcelsior CHARGE™.
Announced the acquisition of ARBOC Specialty Vehicles, LLC.
Delivered the 10,000th Xcelsior®.
New Flyer’s Paul Cantin and Brydon Owen named Mass Transit’s 40 Under 40 Visionary Transit Leaders.
Became the first bus OEM in the world to sign on to the Shared Mobility Principles for Livable Cities.
New Flyer’s Paul Smith received Canadian Urban Transit Association’s 2018 W.G. Ross Lifetime Achievement Award.
Unveiled SmartRider™ advanced bus kneel and smart leveling.
Unveiled Xcelsior CHARGE H2™, becoming the first to offer two fuel cell electric models eligible for federal funding.
New Flyer’s Stephanie Laubenstein and Ian Macpherson named to Mass Transit’s Top 40 Under 40 for outstanding leadership in advancing North American mobility.
Introduced Connect 360™: a real-time smart analytics reporting platform to enhance battery-electric bus operation, intelligence, and efficiency.
Launched New Flyer Infrastructure Solutions™ dedicated to providing safe, reliable, smart, and sustainable charging and mobility solutions.
New Flyer’s Jennifer McNeill named to Canada’s Clean50 sustainability leaders for 2020.
In partnership with TDC launched the National Community Benefits Framework.
Named as partner of choice by 12 U.S. Transit Agencies awarded FTA’s 2020 Low-No program grants.
Announced New Flyer will deploy the first automated heavy-duty transit bus in North America; supporting Connecticut’s pursuit of integrated mobility.
NFI Group Inc. announced the combination of New Flyer and MCI.
New Flyer’s Lindy Norris and Ben Wood named to Mass Transit’s Top 40 Under 40 list; leading the future of mobility.
Launched the Anniston Workforce Development Program under the Community Benefits Framework.
In partnership with Li-Cycle, completed heavy-duty lithium-ion battery recycling pilot.
Introduced Accelerate Anniston: a scholarship and educational incentive program coming to life under its Anniston Workforce Development Program.
Unveiled Xcelsior AV™ – North America’s first automated transit bus.
Announced Employee Engagement Committee under Anniston Workforce Development Program; strengthens focus on inclusion, engagement, and equity.
Unveiled Xcelsior CHARGE NG™ – New Flyer’s next generation, battery-electric, zero-emission bus.
New Flyer’s Jennifer McNeill named one of 26 Climate Champions across Canada.
Launched Electrical Technician Training Program in continued pursuit of enabling the new mobility era.
Launched the New Mobility Bursary in partnership with AROW Global to support underrepresented individuals in pursuit of education and training to enter the new mobility era.