The first newly designed Collins NEXBUS rolled off the assembly line at the company’s South Hutchinson, Kan., manufacturing facility, where company employees commemorated the event.
“Our employees have done an incredible job in getting the plant converted for the new design and were justifiably proud to see the first driven out of the lot,” said Collins Bus Corp. President Kent Tyler.
Board of director members of the National School Transportation Association, who were visiting the Collins facility, also participated in the event.
After the commemorative event, the NEXBUS was delivered to Collins dealer Gorman Enterprises of Elma, N.Y.
Collins in March announced the redesign of its Type A school bus. Company officials said the design is a culmination of several years of research and development, and the South Hutchinson facility even underwent an overhaul to produce the new NEXBUS.
The bus is marketed under the Collins, Mid Bus and Corbeil brands and is available as a propane or hybrid-electric version. A CNG version will be available later this summer, according to the company.
