Meridian Specialty Vehicles Inc., a Mercedes-Benz MasterUpfitter announced the expansion of its growing product line with the addition of its new 4x4 Sprinter Shuttle Bus.
In recent years Meridian has reported steadily increasing sales thanks to state of the art production techniques, design innovations, and one of a kind features that deliver best-in-class quality, safety and manufacturing consistency.
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“While our standard two wheel drive buses have demonstrated strong sales, our customers and dealers have been consistently asking for a 4x4 option to increase safety for commercial operations, particularly in snowy and icy environments,” said David Ronsen, president/CEO of Meridian Specialty Vehicles, “…after more than a year of planning, Meridian is very proud to offer the only shuttle bus in the market with factory four wheel drive.”
The Sprinter 4x4 factory option has been available for many years in Europe but only debuted in North America with late availability in the 2015 model year. So far, it has been extremely well received due to its excellent performance in harsh driving conditions and relatively low cost (under $6,500).
Meridian’s 4x4 buses started shipping in September and Meridian now stocks both 4x2 and 4x4 chassis for immediate conversion.
The region’s fixed-route system finished out the year with a total of 373.5 million rides. Adding 12.3 million rides over 2024 represents an increase that is equal to the annual transit ridership of Kansas City.
The service is a flexible, reservation-based transit service designed to close the first- and last-mile gaps and connect riders to employment for just $5 per day.
The upgraded system, which went live earlier this month, supports METRO’s METRONow vision to enhance the customer experience, improve service reliability, and strengthen long-term regional mobility.
The agreement provides competitive wages and reflects strong labor-management collaboration, positive working relationships, and a shared commitment to building a world-class transit system for the community, said RTA CEO Lona Edwards Hankins.
The priorities are outlined in the 2026 Board and CEO Initiatives and Action Plan, which serves as a roadmap to guide the agency’s work throughout the year and ensure continued progress and accountability on voter-approved transportation investments and essential mobility services.