Industry Bus manufacturing Products school buses Headquarters Saint-Jérôme | Area served North America Services Bus manufacturing Founded 2011 | |
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Key people Marc Bédard and Camile Chartrand Owner Marc Bédard and Camile Chartrand | ||
Lion Bus (in French, Autobus Lion) is a Canadian-based bus manufacturer. Founded in 2008, the company is headquartered in Saint-Jérôme, Quebec. in Canada. Currently the smallest manufacturer in its segment, Lion produces yellow school buses.
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Overview
The first school bus manufacturer founded in North America in the 21st century, Autobus Lion/Lion Bus is also the first manufacturer of full-size school buses in Canada since the closure of Les Enterprises Michel Corbeil in 2007. Lion Bus was created in 2008 by former Corbeil executives Marc Bédard and Camile Chartrand (serving as Lion President and COO, respectively). [1]
In 2011, the company introduced its first bus, the 360, a cowled-chassis (conventional style) school bus. In a partnership with Spartan Chassis, Inc. (a subsidiary of Spartan Motors, former parent company of Carpenter), the 360 is the first school bus to be produced with a 102-inch wide body, allowing for a wider center aisle or the use of 3-point seat belts. In the interest of lengthened service life, a key focus of the 360 was corrosion resistance; the steel sheetmetal traditionally seen on full-size school buses was replaced by composite body panels.
Products
Autobus Lion/Lion Bus produces two bus models: The Lion Bus 360°, a Type C (conventional-style) school bus and the eLion electric bus. In contrast to other manufacturers, relatively few configurations of the 360 are produced, with only two seating capacities available (65/66 passengers and 71/72 passengers); a wheelchair lift is also an option to accommodate handicapped riders. Other options include underfloor luggage compartments and an MFSAB (activity bus) configuration.
During 2015, two additional powertrains joined the standard Cummins ISB6.7 diesel. The eLion is a battery-powered fully electric school bus and until 2017 has manufactured more than 50 buses to school districts and private contractors. In May 2015, Lion became the first school bus manufacturer to offer a conventional-style school bus powered by a CNG-fueled engine (powered by a NGV Motori version of the International DT466 engine).