Motor Coach Industries
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Motor Coach Industries International Inc. (MCI) is a Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada-based bus manufacturer. The company was incorporated in 1932 as Fort Garry Motor Body and Paint Works Limited. In 1948 Greyhound Lines of Canada, at that time MCI's major customer, became a majority shareholder. MCI was purchased outright by Greyhound Lines in 1958. In 1962 a new plant was opened in Pembina, North Dakota to increase capacity as Greyhound widened its markets 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.
In December 1986, Greyhound was split, with Greyhound Lines being sold to an investor group, and Greyhound Lines of Canada, MCI and Transportation Manufacturing Corporation remaining part of Greyhound Corporation, which was renamed Dial, Inc. in 1991.
In 1987, Greyhound Corporation bought the bus manufacturing operations of General Motors, and production of the RTS was transferred to Transportation Manufacturing Corporation. TMC ceased production of MCI vehicles in 1990 to concentrate on RTS production.
In 1993 MCI became an independent corporation, Motor Coach Industries International Inc.
In 1994 MCI merged with DINA S.A. of Mexico, and over the course of the next couple of years developed the Viaggio 1000 DOT for production and sale to the U.S and Canada. In late 1999/2000 the G4100, G4500 and F3500 models were released to the U.S. and Canadian markets under the new MCI Mexico structure Mexico.
Transportation Manufacturing Corporation, including production rights for the RTS, was sold to NovaBus in 1994.
In June 1999, DINA S.A. sold its holding in MCII to a private investment company.
After a period of falling demand, increased competition and lay-offs in the early 2000s, production at MCI plants in Winnipeg and Pembina, North Dakota increased in 2006, and 130 employees were added.
During the early 2000s crisis, MCI opened its contract with its unionized workers, threatening to move all Canadian operations unless its workers agreed to a seven year contract providing for no raises for four years, followed by a meager C$ 0.40 raise per year, drawing the ire of many employees.
The buses, especially the older MC-8 and workhorse MC-9 models of the 1980's 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 have survived millions of miles of commercial use to be later used as church buses, RV's, and other uses.
Contents |
[edit] Products
[edit] Current
All current models are 102 inches wide.
| Model | Length | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| D4000CL | 40 | Public sector commuter coach, square headlights. Formerly the D4000 and 102D(W)3. |
| D4000CT | 40 | Public sector commuter coach with redesigned nose (similar to the picture at the top of this page) |
| D4500CL | 45 | Public sector commuter coach, square headlights. Formerly the D4500 and the 102DL(W)3. |
| D4500CT | 45 | Public sector commuter coach with redesigned nose (The picture at the top of this page is a D4500CT.) |
| D4000ISTV | 40 | Inmate transporter |
| D4005 | 40 | Private sector D series bus |
| D4505 | 45 | Private sector D series bus |
| E4500 | 45 | |
| J4500 | 45 |
[edit] Past
| Model | Length | Width | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| D4000H | 40 | 102 | Diesel electric hybrid prototype buses, only 4 units produced, all for New Jersey Transit |
| D4000N | 40 | 96 | Only 11 units produced, eight for Pace and 3 for New Jersey Transit. |
| F3500 | 35 | 102 | Two axle coach |
| 102-DWA3 CNG | 40 | 102 | Compressed Natural Gas fueled bus. Ordered by New Jersey Transit only, one is shown to the right of this table. |
| 102-C3 | 40 | 102 | Coach available with optional Stainless Steel panels in 1989 and nosecap in 1992 |
| 102-B3 | 40 | 102 | Coach available with optional Stainless Steel panels and nosecap in 1992 |
| 102-A(W)3 | 40 | 102 | Built from 1986-1990. |
| 96-A(W)3 | 40 | 96 | Built from 1985-1990. |
| 102-A(W)2 | 40 | 102 | Two axle version of the A3. |
| 96-A(W)2 | 40 | 96 | Two axle version of the A3. |
| MC-12 | 40 | 96 | Built exclusively for Greyhound from 1991-1998 |
| MC-9 | 40 | 96 | Also the Crusader II. Built from 1979-1990. |
| MC-8 | 40 | 96 | Also the Crusader. Built from 1974-1978. |
| MC-7 | 40 | 96 | Built from Greyhound Lines from 1968-1974. |
| MC-6 | 40 | 102 | Made only for Greyhound. |
| MC-5(A,B,C) | 35 | 96 | |
| Classic TC40-102N or TC40-102A | 40 | 102 | Transit and suburban style bus, built by MCI from 1987-1993. It was sold to Nova Bus in 1994. |
| Classic TC60-102N | 60 | 102 | Transit style articulated bus. Only 9 were built by MCI, for Metro Transit in Halifax and Réseau de transport de la Capitale in Quebec City. |
| RTS-06 or -08 (Wide Front Doors) | 30, 35, or 40 | 96 or 102 | Transit and suburban style bus, built during the same period as the Classic before being sold to Nova Bus in 1994. Some transit agencies use alternative fuel sources like CNG, LNG, Methanol, Diesel-Hybrid and dual CNG and diesel engines. |
[edit] See also
- Ontario Bus Industries
- Prevost Car
- General Motors Diesel Division Buses
- Flxible
- New Flyer Industries
