Allied Specialty Vehicles (ASV) announced the creation of a new bus division just weeks after it acquired Thor Industries Inc., which added seven prominent brands to its slate. Combining these new businesses with Collins Bus Corporation, ASV is poised to become one of the largest producers of buses in North America.
The company appointed Kent Tyler (pictured below), former president of Collins Bus Corporation, as president and CEO of the new division.
“The formation of the new Bus Division will help make the transition into the ASV family as smooth as possible for not only these companies, but also their dealers and customers,” said Jim Meyer, COO of ASV. “We are excited to have these outstanding brands under the leadership of Kent Tyler.”
The new ASV Bus Division will encompass leading brands such as Collins Bus, Mid Bus, Corbeil, Champion Bus Inc., General Coach America Inc. Goshen Coach Inc., Krystal Coach, Federal Coach, El Dorado National California Inc., and El Dorado National Kansas Inc.
“I’m thrilled and honored to be leading this new division within ASV. I look forward to working with all the bus companies and their respective dealer organizations and customers,” said Tyler. He added that it is critical the ASV Bus Division be synonymous with providing innovative products, excellent customer service and a comprehensive distribution network.
Tyler succeeds Andrew Imanse, group president of the Eldorado, Champion and Goshen Bus Companies, who recently retired from Thor Industries, the former owner of the bus companies. For more than two decades, Imanse has been a prominent figure in the bus industry. Prior to this, he spent 20 years in the recreational vehicle industry as president of several companies.
Imanse has agreed to serve as the chairman of the Bus Division Advisory Board and will continue to support the bus operations through an extended transition period.
Most recently, Tyler was the president and CEO of E-ONE, which manufactures fire equipment. Before that, Tyler spent 15 years with Collins Industries, the last five as president of the Bus Division. He will be based out of the ASV corporate offices in Orlando, Fla.
In addition to providing buses to the transit, shuttle, courtesy, luxury and school bus markets, ASV also manufactures commercial, recreational, and fire and emergency vehicles.
