Alexander Dennis has appointed Big Rig Manufacturing as its North American build partner to deliver forthcoming Enviro500 bus orders.
This contract aims to help meet resurging interest from operators in North America for the Enviro500 double-decker models.
Big Rig Manufacturing is a subsidiary of Big Rig Collision Group. From next year, it will follow Alexander Dennis’ designs, specifications and processes to assemble clean diesel Enviro500 double-decker buses and zero-emission Enviro500EV CHARGE electric buses at a new facility in Las Vegas, Nevada.
This arrangement replicates successful low-capital intensity partnerships that Alexander Dennis has in the Asia-Pacific region with contract manufacturers in China and New Zealand.
Throughout the contract, Alexander Dennis engineering and production staff will be located permanently on-site at the new facility in Las Vegas to support chassis production, major sub-assembly and full production of the bus bodies.
Stephen Walsh, Vice-President and General Manager of Alexander Dennis in North America, said:We’re excited about this new opportunity with Big Rig Manufacturing which provides an elegant and efficient solution to restarting double-deck production in North America. Their intimate knowledge of our bus construction and design processes will help Big Rig Manufacturing to ensure smooth production of the Enviro500.
The Enviro500’s combination of high seating capacity on a compact road footprint is proven by its ongoing popularity and an active fleet of more than 1,000 Alexander Dennis double-deckers across the continent. Many of our long-standing customers have older vehicles coming up for replacement and this production agreement allows us to support their fleet investment.
Prior to this recent surge in demand, Alexander Dennis previously closed its Enviro500 production facilities in Toronto, Ontario and Nappanee, Indiana when the COVID-19 pandemic delayed orders.
