REV Group Bus Division – Collins Bus – Introduces First-to-Market Low-Floor School Bus

REV Group (NYSE:REVG), a $2.4 billion manufacturer of industry-leading specialty vehicle brands and leading provider of parts and services, announced today that Collins Bus launched the first-in-its-class low-floor school bus at the School Transportation News Conference & Trade Show in Reno, Nevada July 7 – 12.

This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170725005323/en/

Collins Low Floor School Bus (Photo: Business Wire)

Collins Low Floor School Bus (Photo: Business Wire)

Celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year and legacy of 50 years of innovation, the new Collins Bus low-floor design delivers unparalleled benefits with respect to safety and equal accessibility. It changes the landscape and culture of transporting students with disabilities and special needs.

Industry first features include:

  • No Lift…No Multiple Steps – empowers students to board on their own through the same door as all the other students . . . at the front of the bus. The absence of a lift also means less opportunities for a ‘down bus’ due to mechanical issues with a lift. Additionally, passengers that utilize a support device (i.e. walker) can now board on their own.
  • Time is Money – with the flip of a switch, the bus driver can deploy the low-profile ramp in SECONDS versus minutes it takes to deploy and re-stow a lift. When not in use, the ramp is hidden in the floor and becomes the only step necessary to board the bus . . . only 9” from the ground.
  • Multiple Floor Plans – a bus designed with maximum flexibility as needs change. Additional seats can be added or more space freed up to accommodate more wheel chairs.
  • Front-Wheel Drive – bus drivers want to be in control and with the fuel-efficient, front-wheel driver RAM ProMaster, they now have better control on snow and ice including a tighter turning radius with a car-like feel.
  • As always, SAFETY – with 50 years of innovation and a legacy of safety, Collins Bus will be there today, tomorrow and in the future, protecting what counts, your students.

Collins Bus General Manager Matt Scheuler commented, “The new Collins Bus low-floor product is a continuation of our commitment to developing innovative solutions for the school bus industry that increase student and driver safety. As the leader in Type A school buses, we are proud to offer a solution that provides equal accessibility to all passengers. It is simply the right thing to do for the industry."

John Walsh, President of the REV Group Bus Division further emphasized, “Ever since the low-floor design was conceptualized internally we have been looking forward to this day. The enthusiasm and acceptance it has generated over the past week has been overwhelming from every segment of the industry from every corner of North America. As we move into full-scale production later this year, we will continue to fine tune our design with the welcomed feedback we have received. We told the industry, `This is your bus – tell us what you need!' and they have responded . . . it has been a very collaborative venture.”

Collins Bus offers a complete line of buses, including School Buses, MFSABs, Commercial Buses, DayCare Buses as well as MPV (Multi-Purpose Vehicles as replacements for Vans and SUVs).

About REV Group

REV (REVG) is a leading designer, manufacturer and distributor of specialty vehicles and related aftermarket parts and services. REV serves a diversified customer base primarily in the United States through three segments: Fire & Emergency, Commercial and Recreation. REV provides customized vehicle solutions for applications including: essential needs (ambulances, fire apparatus, school buses, mobility vans and municipal transit buses), industrial and commercial (terminal trucks, cut-away buses and street sweepers) and consumer leisure (recreational vehicles (“RVs”) and luxury buses). REV’s brand portfolio consists of 29 well-established principal vehicle brands including many of the most recognizable names within our served markets. Several of REV’s brands pioneered their specialty vehicle product categories and date back more than 50 years. Investors-REVG