Passenger Bus, Rail and Motorcoach Industry News

Move to Alpharetta, Ga., allows a quicker response to the production and service needs of its customers in North America, as well as meeting “Buy America” compliance.

The bus unit’s operating income was 4.6% of sales in 2011, compared with trucks’ 9.1%, construction equipment’s 10.2% and boat engine maker Penta’s 8.8%. The bus unit continued to trail the other divisions in the quarter ended June, when it posted a 3.4% operating margin.

Industry experts estimate that 18,000 metric tons of steel girder rail will be needed over the next three years to meet the demand of streetcar projects being planned and built in the U.S. That amount is expected to expand to upwards of 33,000 metric tons over the coming decade.

Company is one-third owner of Ohio Castings, which provides access to railcar castings at a favorable price, according to the company.

Since the plant opened in 2001 and through the end of October, the facility will have built more than 73,000 buses. While some of the vehicles built at the Tulsa facility are commercial buses, the majority are school buses.