WARWICK, NY — Trans Tech Bus, Inc., the industry-leading Type A school bus manufacturer and pioneer of all-electric school buses, announced today that it has signed a definitive agreement to be acquired by Forest River Bus, LLC., a subsidiary of Forest River, Inc. and the nation’s leading manufacturer of shuttle buses, school buses and vans.
“We are extremely proud of our team, the company we’ve built and the industry-leading school buses we manufacture, but the time has come to pass the baton to an organization that can take our products to an even greater level,” said John Coe, owner of Trans Tech Bus. “We are pleased to announce the sale of Trans Tech Bus to Forest River, a company that, like Trans Tech Bus, is focused on building school buses for the people who ride and drive them every day.”
“I am honored to take over the management of such a proven and respected company,” said David Wright, president of Forest River Bus. “I look forward to continuing Trans Tech Bus’ pioneering tradition and ensuring school districts and contractors continue to receive safe, efficient and durable school buses.”
The acquisition of TransTech Buses, combined with Forest Rivers’ manufacturing capabilities, will increase the number of industry-leading products TransTech can offer its customers and the acquisition will enable the company to expand its presence in the Type A market.
Forest River’s management team will work closely with the Trans Tech Bus team over the next few months to begin the transfer of knowledge necessary for a smooth transition of manufacturing processes. Under the new ownership, Trans Tech Bus will maintain its strong dealer relationships across the country and will continue to fulfill responsibility for customer support and product order fulfillment.
“Forest River shares our passion for building buses for bus drivers and our commitment to innovation with customer input, ensuring the brand will continue to produce Type A school buses with unmatched versatility and the durability of a large bus,” said John Planer, president of Trans Tech Bus. “Our success over the past 30 years is the result of our team’s commitment to building the best Type A school buses on the road, our customers who have helped us drive innovation and improve quality, and the dedication of our dealers who have worked tirelessly to sell, service and support Trans Tech Bus products.”
Trans Tech Bus attributes a large part of its success to the dedicated team that manufactures its products and will be offering the team incentives to remain with the company during the transition process. Manufacturing will continue under current management at the Trans Tech Bus facility in Warwick, New York, until the end of August 2024, after which Trans Tech Bus manufacturing operations will be relocated to Forest River’s main bus facility in Goshen, Indiana.
Transtech Bus Co., Ltd.
Trans Tech Bus, Inc. manufactures industry-leading Type A school buses, multi-function school activity buses, and Altoona-tested commercial buses. With a unique aerodynamic design, Trans Tech offers the industry’s only narrow-body dual-wheel, along with a family of single and dual-wheel models. The company is known for its innovative near-zero and zero-emission conversion school buses. An industry pioneer, Trans Tech Bus launched the first production electric school bus in 2011. Trans Tech meets ever-changing customer demands with its Versa Track seating system, which can accommodate 9 to 30 passengers. Trans Tech buses are rugged and designed with safety in mind, with panform floors and bolted-down safety cages. Designed for the everyday user, Trans Tech buses offer superior maneuverability, visibility, headroom and comfort. www.transtechbus.com
About Forest River, Inc.
Founded in 1996 by Pete Liegl with the goal of helping more people experience the joys of the outdoors, Forest River, Inc. has grown to become North America’s largest manufacturer of recreational vehicles, cargo trailers, pontoon boats, buses, vans and commercial vehicles. The recreation portfolio includes market share leadership in towable and motorized RVs, cargo trailers and pontoon boats. The company is the largest commercial vehicle supplier in the United States and the largest U.S. manufacturer of buses and vans for the private and public sectors. Headquartered in Elkhart, Indiana, Forest River employs more than 14,000 people in over 100 facilities in more than six states. With a commitment to excellence and focus on customer satisfaction, Forest River is proud to be a Berkshire Hathaway company. www.forestriverbus.com
