Alexander Dennis, a subsidiary of NFI Group Inc., has formally opened its new manufacturing facility in Las Vegas, Nevada. The launch was marked by the delivery of the first two locally built Enviro500 double-deck buses to the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC).
The facility, operated by Alexander Dennis, represents a 15.3 million USD investment. It is currently the only location in the United States producing double-deck buses.
Production has begun at an initial rate of one vehicle per week, with plans to increase to 1.5 per week during 2026. At full capacity, the plant is expected to manufacture up to 75 vehicles annually.
The first batch of vehicles produced includes 10 Enviro500 buses for RTC Transit. The initial two buses were handed over during the opening ceremony and will be deployed on RTC’s Deuce on The Strip service. These vehicles are 12.9 metres (42 feet 5 inches) in length and 4.115 metres (13 feet 6 inches) high. Each can accommodate up to 100 passengers, with 51 seats on the upper deck and 15 fixed seats, seven tip-up seats, and two wheelchair spaces on the lower deck.
The facility’s operations are compliant with Buy America requirements, with over 70% of components sourced domestically. In the past year alone, Alexander Dennis reports it has spent more than 5.5 million USD with suppliers based in Southern Nevada.
MJ Maynard-Carey, CEO of the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada said:The grand opening of the Alexander Dennis manufacturing facility is a proud moment for Southern Nevada and a testament to the power of strategic partnerships. As the only site in the country building double-decker buses, this facility not only supports the RTC’s mission to provide safe, efficient, and innovative transit solutions, but it also brings quality jobs and economic investment to our region. We’re thrilled to celebrate this milestone and the continued collaboration that helps keep Southern Nevada moving forward.
This new plant builds on a longstanding relationship between Alexander Dennis and the RTC, which was the first US transit agency to introduce double-deck buses in 2005. The 10 new buses join a fleet of 40 existing Enviro500s delivered in 2020, which were built at a previous Alexander Dennis facility. A further 10 buses are on order for 2026.
The Las Vegas site currently employs over 115 people, with the potential to increase workforce numbers if production scales up. The facility also offers opportunities for local skills development in the fields of manufacturing and transit technology.
Alexander Dennis President & Managing Director, Paul Davies, said:The opening of our new manufacturing facility secures the future of double-deck bus manufacturing in North America as we build on the Enviro500’s success and respond to growing interest in this high-capacity transit solution. Alexander Dennis introduced the first double-deck buses to North America in 2000 and over 1,300 have been sold to transit agencies and tour operators since then.
Today also marks the continuation and expansion of our great partnership with the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada. The RTC was the first US transit agency to introduce double-deck buses in 2005. With our new manufacturing facility here in Las Vegas, we’re now giving back to the local economy and creating value in Southern Nevada. We’re very grateful for the support we have received, including the help of Big Rig Manufacturing in setting up this facility and its initial operations.
Since first introducing double-deck buses to North America in 2000, Alexander Dennis has supplied over 1,300 units to transit operators and tour companies across the continent. The new Las Vegas site is positioned to support further market demand.
