 | |
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Bus manufacturing |
| Founded | 1933; 93 years ago (1933) |
| Founder | Harry Zoltok |
| Headquarters | Des Plaines, Illinois |
Key people | Paul Soubry (President and CEO)[1] Chris Stoddart (Vice President)[2] |
| Products | Motorcoaches |
Number of employees | 2,300 |
| Parent | NFI Group (2015~present) |
| Website | mcicoach |
Motor Coach Industries (MCI) is an American multinationalbus manufacturer, specializing in production ofmotorcoaches. Best known for coaches produced forintercity transit andcommuter buses, MCI produces coaches for a variety of applications, ranging fromtour buses toprison buses.
Currently, MCI is headquartered inDes Plaines, Illinois. Since 2015, it has been a subsidiary of holding companyNew Flyer Industries.
The company was incorporated in 1933 by Harry Zoltok as Fort Garry Motor Body and Paint Works Limited, inWinnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.[3] In 1948,Greyhound Lines of Canada, at that time MCI's major customer, became a majority shareholder when it purchased 65 percent of the company. MCI was purchased outright byGreyhound Lines in 1958. In 1963 a new plant was opened inPembina, North Dakota, to increase capacity as MCI began to expand into the U.S. market, while Greyhound widened its operations and switched increasingly fromGMC to its own in-house products. In 1974 another plant was opened inRoswell, New Mexico, under the titleTransportation Manufacturing Corporation (TMC).[citation needed]
In December 1986, Greyhound was split, with Greyhound Lines being sold to an investor group, and Greyhound Lines of Canada, MCI and TMC remaining part ofThe Greyhound Corporation, which was renamed Dial, Inc. in 1991.
In 1987, Greyhound Corporation bought the transit bus manufacturing operations ofGeneral Motors Diesel Division (GMC), which was based in Canada. (GM phased out intercity and transit bus construction at the large GMC Coach and Truck plant inPontiac, Michigan, shifting medium duty school bus chassis production toJanesville, Wisconsin.)[citation needed]
MCI also took over production of GM's RTS model, transferring production to TMC. MCI also purchased the GM bus assembly plant inSaint-Eustache, Quebec, which then produced GM's Canadian transit bus model, theClassic. TMC ceased production of the older MCI vehicles in 1990 to concentrate on manufacturing the RTS, and on the A-Series intercity coaches.[citation needed]
In 1993 MCI became an independent corporation, Motor Coach Industries International Inc.[citation needed]
In 1994, MCI stocks were purchased by MexicanDINA S.A.,[4][5] which had a long history of bus building and developed their HTQ proprietary technology[6][7][8] (valued at 70 million dollars)[9] that culminated with the creation of the Viaggio Confort Bus Line. MCI reproduced its Viaggio 1000 DOT for sale to the United States and Canada, and in late 1999/2000 the G4100, G4500 and F3500 models were released to the United States and to the Canadian markets. Production of the G4500 later moved to Winnipeg, after the G4100 was discontinued. Poor reliability of the G4500 resulted in very low sales afterGreyhound Lines filed a lawsuit against MCI over the various issues with the bus. Greyhound took delivery of very few Winnipeg-built G4500s; these were later retired and sold. Related to a major contract cancellation[10] byWestern Star,[11] DINA S.A. sold a great portion of its previously acquired MCI shares toJoseph Littlejohn & Levy.[12]
In 1994 TMC, including production rights for the RTS, was sold toNovaBus. In 1997 MCI purchased the rights from the bankruptFlxible to produce the Flxible Metro and all related parts for it. After a period of waning product demand, increased competition and lay-offs in the early 2000s, production at MCI plants in Winnipeg and Pembina increased in 2006, and 130 employees were added.
During the late 1990s and early 2000s, MCI consolidated its operations, the Winnipeg site was expanded and modernized.DINA S.A. purchased North American Symix[13] and opened an assembly plant[9] inBuenos Aires,Argentina[14] and the DIMEX[15] and DINAIR companies.[16] A new coach finishing and paint facility and customer delivery centre were constructed on the site. At the same time, a seven-year contract was signed with theIAM union local. This agreement contained cost improvements and production operations flexibility to improve the productivity and competitiveness of the manufacturing and assembly operations.
The older buses, especially the MC-8, MC-9, and 102A3/B3/C3 workhouse models of the 1980s, became the standard for interstate travel for so many bus companies. Those particular buses featured metal frames and roof supports, metal panels on the sides and were extremely durable and reliable. Many of the buses, having survived millions of miles of commercial use, had a second career serving churches or other organizations, while the MCI/TMC coaches were popular "conversion shells", used for motorhomes.
Motor Coach Industries Inc. announced on September 15, 2008, the company had filed forChapter 11 bankruptcy protection as part of a restructuring the company said would "help shed hundreds of millions of dollars of debt".[17]
On April 17, 2009, Motor Coach Industries Inc. emerged from its voluntary Chapter 11 reorganization. MCI and its subsidiaries became wholly owned byKPS Capital Partners, LP. KPS Capital Partners, LP is the Manager of the KPS Special Situations Funds, a family ofprivate equity limited partnerships with over $2.6 billion of committed capital focused on constructive investing in restructurings, turnarounds, and other special situations.[18][19]
Motor Coach Industries announced on April 25, 2012, that it had reached a deal with German vehicle manufacturerDaimler AG to distribute itsSetra brand of motorcoaches for the North American market. The agreement came as Daimler reconfigured its commercial bus operations in North America, also selling off itsOrion brand of transit buses toNew Flyer Industries.
Under the agreement, Setra would build its S407 and S417 motorcoaches in Germany and ship them to North America, where MCI would sell and service the coaches using its existing dealer network. In exchange, Daimler would purchase a 10 percent share in Motor Coach Industries.
The relationship between competitors was less than ideal. Daimler complained that MCI focused on its own motorcoaches, and did not allow for sufficient attention to the Setra brand.[20]
The deal came to an end on January 4, 2018, with Daimler signing a new distribution rights agreement withREV Group, a U.S.-based specialty vehicle manufacturer. Sales of new motorcoaches transferred immediately, followed by the service agreement in mid-2018.[21]
On November 10, 2015, it was announced that Canadian bus manufacturerNew Flyer Industries had agreed to acquire Motor Coach Industries, Inc. forC$604 million (approximatelyUS$459 million). The deal closed in December 2015.[22]
In late 2022, the factory inPembina, North Dakota was planned to be shut down;[23] this decision was later reversed, and the facility has since remained open.[24] The U.S. assembly line was moved to the NFI group facility inCrookston, Minnesota.[25]
After theCourier andMC model name schemes, MCI adopted an alphanumerical system for naming the different series of coaches. Two different systems have been used:
| Series | Nominal Length | Generation | Options |
|---|---|---|---|
| D E F G J | 35 = 35 ft (11 m) 40 = 40 ft (12 m) 41 = 41 ft (12 m) 45 = 45 ft (14 m) | 00 = 1st 05 = 2nd 20 = 3rd | CL = "classic" styling CT = "contemporary" styling CNG = compressed natural gas fueled H = hybrid-electric ISTV = inmate security transportation vehicle N = 96-inch (2.4 m) narrow body CRT = NextGen Commuter Coach CRT LE = NextGen Commuter Coach with low floor section for wheelchairs CHARGE = battery-electric |
| Width | Series | Options | Axles | Body option |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 96 = 96 inches (2.4 m) 102 = 102 inches (2.6 m) | A | W = wheelchair lift-equipped | 2 3 | — |
| B | — | SS = stainless steel | ||
| C | ||||
| D | L = 45 ft 7 in (13.89 m) length W = wheelchair lift-equipped | |||
| E | L = 45 ft 7 in (13.89 m) length | — |
For Example, a wheelchair-lift equipped, 45-foot, diesel powered, D-Series with fluted stainless steel sides from 1997 would be designated a 102-DLW3SS. A 45-foot, battery-electric powered J-Series from 2020 would be designated a J4500 CHARGE. Not all possible combinations of models, lengths, and powertrains are made.
Motor Coach Industries currently produces two different product lines. All current models are 102 inches (2.59 m) wide, exclusive of mirrors.
| Series | Models | Length | Photo | Introduced | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D | D4020 ISTV | 40 ft (12.19 m) |  | 2022 |
|
| 45 ft (13.72 m) | .jpg) D45 CRT LE | 2017 |
| |
| J |
| 35 ft (10.67 m) | | 2018 |
|
| 45 ft (13.72 m) |  J4500 (Post-Facelift) | 2001 |
|
| Series | Models | Length | Width | Photo | Introduced | Discontinued | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A |
| 40 ft (12.19 m) | 96 in (2.44 m) |  102-A2 | 1985 | 1991 |
|
| 102 in (2.59 m) | 1986 | |||||
| B | 96-B3 | 40 ft (12.19 m) | 96 in (2.44 m) |  102-B3 | 1991 | 1994 |
|
| 102-B3 | 102 in (2.59 m) | 1993 | |||||
| C | 102-C3 | 40 ft (12.19 m) | 102 in (2.59 m) |  102-C3 | 1988 | 1993 |
|
| D |
| 40 ft 6 in (12.34 m) | 102 in (2.59 m) | _MCI_102DL3_70918.JPG) 102-DL3  D4000 | 1994 | 2005 |
|
| 45 ft 7 in (13.89 m) | 1992 | 2005 |
| |||
| D4000N | 40 ft 6 in (12.34 m) | 96 in (2.44 m) | 2002 | 2004 |
| ||
| 40 ft 6 in (12.34 m) | 102 in (2.59 m) |  D4500CT  D4500CT (updated headlights) | 2006 | 2022 |
| |
| 45 ft 7 in (13.89 m) | 2005 | |||||
| E |
| 45.58 ft (13.89 m) | 102 in (2.59 m) |  102-EL3 | 1998 | 2013 |
|
| F |
| 35 ft 5.5 in (10.81 m) | 102 in (2.59 m) |  F3500 | 2000 | 2003 |
|
| G | G4100 | 41 ft 7 in (12.67 m) | 102 in (2.59 m) |  G4500 | 1998 | 2001 |
|
| G4500 | 45 ft 7 in (13.89 m) | 2000 | 2005 |
These models bore the MC-number designation.
| Series | Models | Length | Width | Photo | Introduced | Discontinued | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MC-1 |
| 35 ft (10.67 m) | 96 in (2.44 m) | | 1959 | 1961 |
|
| MC-2 |
| 35 ft (10.67 m) | 96 in (2.44 m) | | 1960 | 1961 |
|
| MC-3 |
| 35 ft (10.67 m) | 96 in (2.44 m) | | 1961 | 1963 |
|
| MC-4 |
| 35 ft (10.67 m) | 96 in (2.44 m) | | 1963 | 1963 | |
| MC-5 |
| 35 ft (10.67 m) | 96 in (2.44 m) | .jpg) MC-5B | 1963 | 1964 |
|
| 1964 | 1970 |
| ||||
| 1971 | 1977 |
| ||||
| 1978 | 1980 |
| ||||
| MC-6 |
| 40 ft (12.19 m) | 102 in (2.59 m) |  MC-6 | 1968 | 1969 |
|
| MC-7 |
| 40 ft (12.19 m) | 96 in (2.44 m) |  MC-7 | 1968 | 1973 |
|
| MC-8 |
| 40 ft (12.19 m) | 96 in (2.44 m) | .jpg) MC-8 | 1973 | 1978 |
|
| MC-9 |
| 40 ft (12.19 m) | 96 in (2.44 m) |  MC-9  MC-9B | 1978 | 1991 |
|
| MC-12 |
| 40 ft (12.19 m) | 96 in (2.44 m) |  MC-12 | 1991 | 1998 |
|
| Series | Models | Photo | Introduced | Discontinued | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 |
| | 1946 | 1949 | |
| 200 |
| | 1947 | 1950 | |
| 85 |
| | 1950 | 1953 | |
| 50 |
| | 1950 | 1955 | |
| 95 |
| .jpg) Courier 95 Skyview | 1953 | 1960 |
|
| 90 |
| | 1953 | 1960 |
|
| 96 |
| | 1955 | 1960 | |
| 97 |
| | 1956 |
| |
| Series | Models | Length | Width | Photo | Introduced | Discontinued | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 150 |
| | 1939 |
| |||
| 40TRY |
| | 1942 |
| |||
| Classic |
| 40 ft (12.19 m) | 102 in (2.59 m) |  TC40-102N | 1987 | 1993 |
|
| 60 ft (18.29 m) | 102 in (2.59 m) |  TC60-102N | 1992 | 1993 |
| |
| Citycruiser |
| 30 ft (9.144 m) | 96 in (2.44 m) |  T-30 | 1979 | 1982 |
|
| RTS |
| 30 ft (9.144 m) 35 ft (10.67 m) 40 ft (12.19 m) | 96 in (2.44 m) 102 in (2.59 m) |  RTS-06 | 1987 | 1995 |
|
Media related toMCI buses at Wikimedia Commons
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| National | |
