Motor Coach Industries (MCI) is a North American multinational bus manufacturer, specializing in production of motorcoaches. Best known for coaches produced for intercity transit and commuter buses, MCI produces coaches for a variety of applications, ranging from tour buses to prison buses.
 | |
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Bus manufacturing |
| Founded | 1933 |
| Founder | Harry Zoltok |
| Headquarters | Des Plaines, Illinois |
| Products | Motorcoaches |
Number of employees | 2,300 |
| Parent | NFI Group (2015~present) |
| Website | mcicoach |
Currently, MCI is headquartered in Des Plaines, Illinois. Since 2015, it has been a subsidiary of Canadian bus manufacturer NFI Group, the parent company of New Flyer Industries.
History
editThe company was incorporated in 1933 by Harry Zoltok as Fort Garry Motor Body and Paint Works Limited, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.[1] In 1948, Greyhound Lines of Canada, at that time MCI's major customer, became a majority shareholder when it purchased 65 percent of the company. MCI was purchased outright by Greyhound Lines in 1958. In 1963 a new plant was opened in Pembina, North Dakota, to increase capacity as MCI began to expand into the U.S. market, while Greyhound widened its operations and switched increasingly from GMC to its own in-house products. In 1974 another plant was opened in Roswell, New Mexico, under the title Transportation Manufacturing Corporation (TMC).[citation needed]
In December 1986, Greyhound was split, with Greyhound Lines being sold to an investor group, and Greyhound Lines of Canada, MCI and TMC remaining part of The Greyhound Corporation, which was renamed Dial, Inc. in 1991.
In 1987, Greyhound Corporation bought the transit bus manufacturing operations of General Motors Diesel Division (GMC), which was based in Canada. (GM phased out intercity and transit bus construction at the large GMC Coach and Truck plant in Pontiac, Michigan, shifting medium duty school bus chassis production to Janesville, Wisconsin.)[citation needed]
MCI also took over production of GM's RTS model, transferring production to TMC. MCI also purchased the GM bus assembly plant in Saint-Eustache, Quebec, which then produced GM's Canadian transit bus model, the Classic. TMC ceased production of the older MCI vehicles in 1990 to concentrate on manufacturing the RTS, and on the A-Series intercity coaches.[citation needed]
In 1993 MCI became an independent corporation, Motor Coach Industries International Inc.[citation needed]
1994 acquisition
editIn 1994, MCI stocks were purchased by Mexican DINA S.A.,[2][3] which had a long history of bus building and developed their HTQ proprietary technology[4][5][6] (valued at 70 million dollars)[7] that culminated with the creation of the Viaggio Confort Bus Line. MCI reproduced its Viaggio 1000 DOT for sale to the United States and Canada, and in late 1999/2000 the G4100, G4500 and F3500 models were released to the United States and to the Canadian markets. Production of the G4500 later moved to Winnipeg, after the G4100 was discontinued. Poor reliability of the G4500 resulted in very low sales after Greyhound Lines filed a lawsuit against MCI over the various issues with the bus. Greyhound took delivery of very few Winnipeg-built G4500s; these were later retired and sold. Related to a major contract cancellation[8] by Western Star,[9] DINA S.A. sold a great portion of its previously acquired MCI shares to Joseph Littlejohn & Levy.[10]
In 1994 TMC, including production rights for the RTS, was sold to NovaBus. In 1997 MCI purchased the rights from the bankrupt Flxible to produce the Flxible Metro and all related parts for it. After a period of waning product demand, increased competition and lay-offs in the early 2000s, production at MCI plants in Winnipeg and Pembina increased in 2006, and 130 employees were added.
During the late 1990s and early 2000s, MCI consolidated its operations, the Winnipeg site was expanded and modernized. DINA S.A. purchased North American Symix[11] and opened an assembly plant[7] in Buenos Aires, Argentina[12] and the DIMEX[13] and DINAIR companies.[14] A new coach finishing and paint facility and customer delivery centre were constructed on the site. At the same time, a seven-year contract was signed with the IAM union local. This agreement contained cost improvements and production operations flexibility to improve the productivity and competitiveness of the manufacturing and assembly operations.
The buses, especially the older MC-8 and workhorse MC-9 models of the 1980s, became the standard for interstate travel for many bus companies. Those particular buses featured metal frames and roof supports, metal panels on the sides and were extremely durable and reliable. Many of the buses, having survived millions of miles of commercial use, had a second career serving churches or other organizations, while the MCI/TMC coaches were popular "conversion shells", used for motorhomes.
2008 bankruptcy
editMotor Coach Industries Inc. announced on September 15, 2008, the company had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection as part of a restructuring the company said would "help shed hundreds of millions of dollars of debt".[15]
On April 17, 2009, Motor Coach Industries Inc. emerged from its voluntary Chapter 11 reorganization. MCI and its subsidiaries became wholly owned by KPS Capital Partners, LP. KPS Capital Partners, LP is the Manager of the KPS Special Situations Funds, a family of private equity limited partnerships with over $2.6 billion of committed capital focused on constructive investing in restructurings, turnarounds, and other special situations.[16][17]
Partnership with Daimler AG
editMotor Coach Industries announced on April 25, 2012, that it had reached a deal with German vehicle manufacturer Daimler AG to distribute its Setra brand of motorcoaches for the North American market. The agreement came as Daimler reconfigured its commercial bus operations in North America, also selling off its Orion brand of transit buses to New Flyer Industries.
Under the agreement, Setra would build its S407 and S417 motorcoaches in Germany and ship them to North America, where MCI would sell and service the coaches using its existing dealer network. In exchange, Daimler would purchase a 10 percent share in Motor Coach Industries.
The relationship between competitors was less than ideal. Daimler complained that MCI focused on its own motorcoaches, and did not allow for sufficient attention to the Setra brand.[18]
The deal came to an end on January 4, 2018, with Daimler signing a new distribution rights agreement with REV Group, a U.S.-based specialty vehicle manufacturer. Sales of new motorcoaches transferred immediately, followed by the service agreement in mid-2018.[19]
2015 acquisition
editOn November 10, 2015, it was announced that Canadian bus manufacturer New Flyer Industries had agreed to acquire Motor Coach Industries, Inc. for C$604 million (approximately US$459 million). The deal closed in December 2015.[20]
In late 2022, the factory in Pembina, North Dakota was planned to be shut down;[21] this decision was later reversed, and the facility has since remained open.[22] The U.S. assembly line was moved to the NFI group facility in Crookston, Minnesota.[23]
Operating subsidiaries
edit- Motor Coach Industries, Ltd. – Canadian manufacturing facility, located in Winnipeg, Manitoba
- Motor Coach Industries, Inc. – U.S. manufacturing facility, located in Pembina, North Dakota[22]
- Motor Coach Industries, Inc. – U.S. headquarters in Des Plaines, Illinois
- MCI Sales and Service, Inc. – U.S. new and used coach sales division
- MCI Service Parts – aftermarket parts sales division of the company, based in Des Plaines, Illinois, with its distribution center located in Louisville, Kentucky, with close access to the international UPS distribution center
- MCI Financial Services – coach financing division, based in Dallas, Texas
Models
editAfter the Courier and MC model name schemes, MCI adopted an alphanumerical system for naming the different series of coaches. Two different systems have been used:
| Series | Nominal Length | Generation | Options |
|---|---|---|---|
| D E F G J |
35 = 35 ft (11 m) 40 = 40 ft (12 m) 41 = 41 ft (12 m) 45 = 45 ft (14 m) |
00 = 1st 05 = 2nd 20 = 3rd |
CL = "classic" styling CT = "contemporary" styling CNG = compressed natural gas fueled H = hybrid-electric ISTV = inmate security transportation vehicle N = 96-inch (2.4 m) narrow body CRT = NextGen Commuter Coach CRT LE = NextGen Commuter Coach with low floor section for wheelchairs CHARGE = battery-electric |
| Width | Series | Options | Axles | Body option |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 96 = 96 inches (2.4 m) 102 = 102 inches (2.6 m) |
A | W = wheelchair lift-equipped | 2 3 |
— |
| B | — | SS = stainless steel | ||
| C | ||||
| D | L = 45 ft 7 in (13.89 m) length W = wheelchair lift-equipped | |||
| E | L = 45 ft 7 in (13.89 m) length | — |
For Example, a wheelchair-lift equipped, 45-foot, diesel powered, D-Series with fluted stainless steel sides from 1997 would be designated a 102-DLW3SS. A 45-foot, battery-electric powered J-Series from 2020 would be designated a J4500 CHARGE. Not all possible combinations of models, lengths, and powertrains are made.
Current
editMotor Coach Industries currently produces two different product lines. All current models are 102 inches (2.59 m) wide, exclusive of mirrors.
| Series | Models | Length | Photo | Introduced | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D | D4020 ISTV | 40 ft (12.19 m) |  |
2022 |
|
|
45 ft (13.72 m) | .jpg) D45 CRT LE
|
2017 |
| |
| J |
|
35 ft (10.67 m) | |
2018 |
|
|
45 ft (13.72 m) |  J4500 (Post-Facelift)
|
2001 |
|
Past
editLetter series (post-1985)
edit| Series | Models | Length | Width | Photo | Introduced | Discontinued | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A |
|
40 ft (12.19 m) | 96 in (2.44 m) |  102-A2
|
1985 | 1991 |
|
|
102 in (2.59 m) | 1986 | |||||
| B | 96-B3 | 40 ft (12.19 m) | 96 in (2.44 m) |  102-B3
|
1991 | 1994 |
|
| 102-B3 | 102 in (2.59 m) | 1993 | |||||
| C | 102-C3 | 40 ft (12.19 m) | 102 in (2.59 m) |  102-C3
|
1988 | 1993 |
|
| D |
|
40 ft 6 in (12.34 m) | 102 in (2.59 m) | _MCI_102DL3_70918.JPG) 102-DL3
|
1994 | 2005 |
|
|
45 ft 7 in (13.89 m) | 1992 | 2005 |
| |||
| D4000N | 40 ft 6 in (12.34 m) | 96 in (2.44 m) | 2002 | 2004 |
| ||
|
40 ft 6 in (12.34 m) | 102 in (2.59 m) |  D4500CT
|
2006 | 2022 |
| |
|
45 ft 7 in (13.89 m) | 2005 | |||||
| E |
|
45.58 ft (13.89 m) | 102 in (2.59 m) |  102-EL3
|
1998 | 2013 |
|
| F |
|
35 ft 5.5 in (10.81 m) | 102 in (2.59 m) |  F3500
|
2000 | 2003 |
|
| G | G4100 | 41 ft 7 in (12.67 m) | 102 in (2.59 m) |  G4500
|
1998 | 2001 |
|
| G4500 | 45 ft 7 in (13.89 m) | 2000 | 2005 |
MC series (1958–1998)
editThese models bore the MC-number designation.
| Series | Models | Length | Width | Photo | Introduced | Discontinued | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MC-1 |
|
35 ft (10.67 m) | 96 in (2.44 m) | |
1959 | 1961 |
|
| MC-2 |
|
35 ft (10.67 m) | 96 in (2.44 m) | |
1960 | 1961 |
|
| MC-3 |
|
35 ft (10.67 m) | 96 in (2.44 m) | |
1961 | 1963 |
|
| MC-4 |
|
35 ft (10.67 m) | 96 in (2.44 m) | |
1963 | 1963 | |
| MC-5 |
|
35 ft (10.67 m) | 96 in (2.44 m) | .jpg) MC-5B
|
1963 | 1964 |
|
|
1964 | 1970 |
| ||||
|
1971 | 1977 |
| ||||
|
1978 | 1980 |
| ||||
| MC-6 |
|
40 ft (12.19 m) | 102 in (2.59 m) |  MC-6
|
1968 | 1969 |
|
| MC-7 |
|
40 ft (12.19 m) | 96 in (2.44 m) |  MC-7
|
1968 | 1973 |
|
| MC-8 |
|
40 ft (12.19 m) | 96 in (2.44 m) | .jpg) MC-8
|
1973 | 1978 |
|
| MC-9 |
|
40 ft (12.19 m) | 96 in (2.44 m) |  MC-9
|
1978 | 1991 |
|
| MC-12 |
|
40 ft (12.19 m) | 96 in (2.44 m) |  MC-12
|
1991 | 1998 |
|
Courier series (pre-1960)
edit| Series | Models | Photo | Introduced | Discontinued | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 |
|
|
1946 | 1949 | |
| 200 |
|
|
1947 | 1950 | |
| 85 |
|
|
1950 | 1953 | |
| 50 |
|
|
1950 | 1955 | |
| 95 |
|
.jpg) Courier 95 Skyview
|
1953 | 1960 |
|
| 90 |
|
|
1953 | 1960 |
|
| 96 |
|
|
1955 | 1960 | |
| 97 |
|
|
1956 |
| |
Transit (all discontinued)
edit| Series | Models | Length | Width | Photo | Introduced | Discontinued | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 150 |
|
|
1939 |
| |||
| 40TRY |
|
|
1942 |
| |||
| Classic |
|
40 ft (12.19 m) | 102 in (2.59 m) |  TC40-102N
|
1987 | 1993 |
|
|
60 ft (18.29 m) | 102 in (2.59 m) |  TC60-102N
|
1992 | 1993 |
| |
| Citycruiser |
|
30 ft (9.144 m) | 96 in (2.44 m) |  T-30
|
1979 | 1982 |
|
| RTS |
|
30 ft (9.144 m) 35 ft (10.67 m) 40 ft (12.19 m) |
96 in (2.44 m) 102 in (2.59 m) |
 RTS-06
|
1987 | 1995 |
|
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ "A Rich Heritage in Coach Building Excellence". MCI. Archived from the original on February 27, 2021. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
- ^ Company News; Boards Approve Grupo Dina-Motor Coach Merger. The New York Times (May 19, 1994). Retrieved on October 17, 2011.
- ^ HighBeam[dead link]
- ^ Industry Today – The World of Manufacturing Archived July 17, 2011, at the Wayback Machine. Usitoday.com. Retrieved on October 17, 2011.
- ^ Grupo Dina Unveils Its HTQ Series. Theautochannel.com. Retrieved on October 17, 2011.
- ^ Grupo Dina Unveils Its HTQ Series Launching a New Era in Global Truck Technology | Business Wire. (September 24, 1998). Retrieved on October 17, 2011.
- ^ a b History Archived May 13, 2011, at the Wayback Machine. Dina.com.mx. Retrieved on October 17, 2011.
- ^ International Business; Mexican Truck Maker May Lose Order. The New York Times (September 28, 2000). Retrieved on October 17, 2011.
- ^ Union Postpones Strike at Grupo DINA Plant. Theautochannel.com. Retrieved on October 17, 2011.
- ^ Company News; Grupo DINA Plants to Sell 61% Stake in Motor Coach Unit. The New York Times (June 16, 1999). Retrieved on October 17, 2011.
- ^ Market-Leading Motor Coach & Truck Manufacturer Expands SYMIX Software Across 11-Site Operation. – Free Online Library Archived October 23, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. Thefreelibrary.com (October 19, 1998). Retrieved on October 17, 2011.
- ^ Presentó Grupo Dina sus Camiones HTQ en Argentina Archived May 14, 2011, at the Wayback Machine. Truckinginfo.com. Retrieved on October 17, 2011.
- ^ "DIMEX home". DIMEX. Archived from the original on February 2, 2011.
- ^ DINA S.A. Maquinas de Compresion de Gases. Compresoresdina.com. Retrieved on October 17, 2011.
- ^ MacPherson, James. Motor Coach files for bankruptcy protection[permanent dead link], Grand Forks Herald, September 15, 2008. Accessed September 17, 2008.
- ^ Motor Coach Industries Emerges from Chapter 11 Archived February 29, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. Pr-inside.com. Retrieved on October 17, 2011.
- ^ KPS Capital Partners, LP. Kpsfund.com. Retrieved on October 17, 2011.
- ^ "MCI to cease distributing Daimler's Setra coaches". www.metro-magazine.com. January 4, 2018. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
- ^ "MCI To Cease Distributing Daimler's Setra Coaches". MCI. Archived from the original on March 10, 2018. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
- ^ "New Flyer buys Motor Coach Industries for $604M Cdn". CBC. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
- ^ "Winnipeg bus maker closing factory in Pembina, N.D., as part of cost-cutting plan". CBC. May 20, 2022. Retrieved September 7, 2022.
- ^ a b "Motor Coach Industries to keep Pembina facility open". Grand Forks Herald. November 16, 2023. Retrieved December 3, 2023.
- ^ Bailey, Ann (April 17, 2021). "Motor Coach Industries' plans draw concern from employee at Pembina, N.D., factory". Grand Forks Herald. Archived from the original on September 29, 2023. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
- ^ "MCI Models A-J National Bus Trader" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on October 6, 2014. Retrieved November 20, 2014.
- ^ "MCI unveils two heart-racing models amid a wedding at UMA EXPO 2005". Archived from the original on July 4, 2008. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
- ^ "MCI Celebrates 80 Years of Bus Production - National Bus Trader". busmag.com. Archived from the original on March 31, 2019. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
External links
edit
Media related to MCI buses at Wikimedia Commons- Official website
