Biz Briefs: Vicinity, Alexander Dennis, and More

Vicinity Motor Corp., Alexander Dennis, and Webasto recently announced news from their respective companies.

Vicinity Motor Corp. Secures Order from La Québécoise

Vicinity Motor Corp. announced the receipt of a follow-on purchase order from Autobus La Québécoise for 12 Vicinity Classic buses to service the cities of La Prairie, Candiac, Saint-Philippe, Delson, Saint-Constant, and Sainte-Catherine in Quebec.

Per the terms of the supply agreement, Autobus La Québécoise has ordered an additional 12 of the Company's 32-foot Vicinity Classic clean-diesel buses for delivery in 2025. 

Autobus La Québécoise is part of Groupe La Québécoise, which consists of approximately 20 companies offering various types of transportation services, including school bus, municipal, paratransit, shuttle, intercity, charter, helicopter, residual materials pick-up, executive aircraft charter, regional airline service, and aeromedical evacuation. 

The business operates primarily in Quebec, but its service extends into other parts of Canada as well as the United States.

Sound Transit Orders Electric Double-Deckers for Stride BRT

Alexander Dennis announced that it will introduce its next-generation electric bus technology to North America following its successful launch in the UK and the Asia-Pacific region.

Sound Transit, which provides regional transit in the Seattle metropolitan area, has placed a firm order for 33 zero-emission Enviro500EV buses. 

The double-deckers are scheduled for delivery in 2026 by Alexander Dennis Inc., the U.S. subsidiary of Alexander Dennis, and will be built in the U.S. by Alexander Dennis’s partner Big Rig Manufacturing.

The electric buses will serve the new Stride bus rapid transit (BRT) which Sound Transit is developing along Interstate 405 to link communities north, east, and south of Lake Washington to one another and to light-rail connections.

Webasto Reaches Agreement with Transom Capital Group

Transom Capital Group will acquire a majority stake in the charging solutions business of Webasto. Webasto announced it will remain a minority shareholder in the division. The two companies signed a corresponding purchase agreement on Feb. 7. 

"I am pleased that we have gained a partner that will continue the success story of our Charging solutions business while continuing to offer development opportunities to the many highly qualified colleagues who are part of the business,” said Webasto Chief Technology Officer Marcel Bartling. “At the same time, this move allows Webasto to concentrate on its core business areas.”

Webasto said it is in close dialogue with the affected employees. The sites in Planegg (Germany), Monrovia (USA), and Guanajuato (Mexico) will be retained by the charging business after the sale.