Grande West Transportation Group Inc., a Canadian manufacturer of mid-sized multi-purpose transit vehicles for sale in Canada and the U.S., have launched the medium-duty Vicinity LT — a medium-duty bus, designed alongside customers, set to “revolutionize the cutaway bus market.”

The company will begin marketing the Vicinity LT immediately for delivery in January 2020 to Canadian customers and private operators in the U.S. Grande West believes that this monocoque body, rear-engine, low floor medium-duty transit vehicle is a game changer. The medium-duty concept bus was previously unveiled in October 2017, and after receiving customer input on the design, has now moved to commercial production of the buses.

The company has engineered the 26-foot vehicle to accommodate up to 23 seated passengers, with two wheelchair positions, it is fully accessible for all passengers in need of extra assistance and wheelchair accessibility. The vehicle, powered by a gas engine and Allison transmission, raises the bar for serviceability, maintainability, and reliability typically found in transit vehicles with similar powertrains.

The new category of “Crossover” vehicles will provide an option to current cutaway offerings available to the market today. The Vicinity LT, with its monocoque design, true low floor, and accessibility, provides new opportunities in a medium-duty market of over 5,000 units sold per year.