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Partners Deliver First Full-Size Motorcoach Order. Repowered Electric Passenger Shuttle Vans also available for inspection at ABC NorCal Facility.

WINTER GARDEN, FL, March 16, 2021 – ABC Companies, a leading provider of motorcoach, transit

and specialty passenger transport equipment in the United States and Canada, has delivered its first-ever repowered diesel-to-electric motorcoach to one of Silicon Valley’s largest battery-electric fleet commuter operators.  

Together with its industry-leading partner, Lightning eMotors, the company has achieved a successful proof-of-concept – creating a cost-effective, sustainable path to EV fleet adoption via a proprietary ZEV Repower approach.

“ABC is committed to streamlining the move to EV for customers that are ready to integrate now,” said Roman Cornell, president and chief commercial officer of ABC Companies. “With this successful proof-of-concept in market and in service, we’ve demonstrated the feasibility of lowering EV market cost of entry by bringing a unique solution to extend the value and working life of an existing [...]

  • February 24, 2021
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Winter Garden, FL – Feb 24, 2021: ABC Companies, a leading provider of motorcoach, transit and specialty passenger transport equipment in the USA and Canada, announced that it has entered into a strategic U.S. distribution agreement with Grande West, a leading supplier of electric, CNG, gas and clean diesel buses.

The ABC distributorship supports Grande West’s focus on U.S. expansion as it begins marketing the fully Buy America compliant Vicinity™ heavy duty mid-size bus, the Vicinity Lightning™ EV and Vicinity™ LT light duty models to new and existing customers.

Under the new agreement, ABC will distribute the manufacturer’s Vicinity™ heavy-duty vehicles throughout the Western United States from Texas to California. The Vicinity line fills in key transit and private shuttle markets within the ABC portfolio of new vehicles for these locations, enhancing the offering to current customers while expanding to other sectors.

“As we continue to expand our portfolio offering, our main goal is to [...]

Exclusive EV OEM and EV REPOWER KITS provide options, accessibility to EV Market Entry –

Bolt on Technology Supports Enhanced Driver, Passenger Experience and Fleet Performance.

WINTER GARDEN, FL, January 13, 2021 – ABC Companies, a leading provider of motorcoach and transit equipment in the USA and Canada has officially launched a new business division, SVT (Specialty Vehicles and Technologies). Under the SVT banner, the company will distribute a wide range of new products and services that will leverage emerging technology, applications and advances that impact the motorcoach and related industries. “Our SVT division functions as a launchpad for next level innovation”, said Roman Cornell, ABC President and Chief Commercial Officer. “It’s much more than a new commercial sales division, and is essentially the incubator and innovation think-tank where we actively search for new technologies and applications that can help advance our customer base and the industry overall”. With so many changes impacting the travel [...]

  • October 30, 2020
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Motorcoach-specific EV Repower Kits Designed to Streamline EV Market Entry – Available from ABC Companies

WINTER GARDEN, Fla, Oct., 30, 2020 – ABC Companies, a leading provider to the motorcoach, transit and specialty passenger transportation market in the United States and Canada, will soon be the first to offer a motorcoach-diesel-to-electric-repower program for North American operators.

Together with Lightning eMotors, formerly known as Lightning Systems, the partners have created a five-step process for identifying, assessing and converting a wide range of “donor” diesel coach models that fit the criteria for fast-track battery electric conversion. The repower kits are engineered by Lightning eMotors and will be installed by ABC technicians. The program will launch under ABC Companies SVT (Specialty Vehicles and Technologies) division, underscoring the company’s focus on lowering EV market cost of entry barriers for coach operators.

“ABC Companies has a very long history of repower and refurbishment expertise, making conversions to battery electric power [...]

With the popularity of ABC Companies’ CLEANS disinfectant and sanitization solutions, many customers are beginning to market the benefits of this program with their passengers. To assist their efforts, ABC has produced this video highlighting several of the items available through CLEANS, so that operators can use to demonstrate their preparation with current and potential customers. Operator tagged and custom versions of the video will soon be available for purchase by ABC customers using all or a portion of the CLEANS products and services.

#abccompanies #cleans

On behalf of the OEMs and operators who have volunteered their staff, resources and funds to make “Motorcoaches Rolling for Awareness” (MR4A) in Washington, D.C. on May 13th a reality, the event committee has agreed to launch a “GoFundMe” campaign. The campaign is designed to receive support that has been offered by numerous suppliers and industry advocates to offset the incremental costs incurred to make this a no-cost event for operator participants.

Overwhelming positive response from industry operators, mushroomed the scope of the not-for-profit event quickly beyond what the all-volunteer committee team could finalize within a two-week window leading up to the May 13th rally, prompting the committee to secure a third-party media relations organization to augment efforts of all stakeholders including ABA and UMA. To date, thousands of dollars and man-hours have been generously donated by the self-formed planning committee. Additionally, a collective, herculean media relations outreach has focused on local, state and national media [...]

  • May 11, 2020
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Drivers Meet Up at Regional ABC Locations.

Independent motorcoach operators are meeting up at ABC Companies’ regional locations in Minnesota and Florida this week to caravan toward Washington, D.C. They will join over 500 motorcoach operators from all 50 states on May 13 for a rolling rally around the U.S. Capitol and National Mall to remind Members of Congress and the Trump Administration that the industry needs directed federal assistance.

In a show of rolling unity, independent motorcoach operators began banding together today to move out in unison as they trek toward the nation’s capital. In St. Paul, Minnesota, a caravan of 18 buses kick-started the event with a “drive-by” of the Minnesota State Capitol to create awareness with state and local representatives. Regional operators will also assemble at ABC Companies’ Winter Garden, FL facility, Tuesday May 12th at 5:30am, where the local police department will escort 20+ buses onto Florida’s turnpike. The caravan, led [...]

After seeing and listening to so many small business owners devasted by the COVID pandemic, ABC Companies was inspired to create a concept that would help them have a big voice with government. What initially began as a proposal shared with ABA and UMA, later married up with a very similar vision shared by the Ohio Motorcoach Association and the MR4A (Motorcoaches Rolling for Awareness) movement was born. Other key contributors including DATTCO and DC Trails quickly jumped onboard and helped to formulate ideas and strategize how bring the biggest industry social media “meet up” in history to life.

“The event coordination is being led by an all-volunteer group of individuals from multiple disciplines within the industry”, said Thom Peebles, Vice President, Marketing, ABC Companies. “When Roman Cornell (ABC President and Chief Commercial Officer) and I first developed the concept, it was simply to help our industry get back on the road. ABC and the [...]

  • May 1, 2020
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  • Comments Off on Motorcoaches will loop past U.S. Capitol with Rolling Awareness Campaign to showcase ways bus industry moves America

Hundreds of motorcoaches representing 3,000 motorcoach companies across the United States and their 100,000 employees will be rolling into the nation’s capital on May 13 to support awareness of the industry’s role as a critical component of the country’s infrastructure. Motorcoaches do everything from evacuating victims of hurricanes and wildfires to
transporting thousands America’s military troops all around the nation. Under the banner, Motorcoach Rolling for Awareness, these vehicles will circle Washington, D.C. as a moving rally, bearing messages that explain the importance of the industry and ask Congress and the White House to extend economic relief to motorcoach companies. The event is jointly organized by the American Bus Association and the United Motorcoach Association.

This is a positive event showcasing how the nation’s motorcoaches move America.

“Our ask is simple,” Jeff Polzien of Red Carpet Charters said. “The U.S motorcoach industry is requesting Congress put motorcoaches back on the road by making available $10 billion [...]

Introducing CLEANS Sanitization, Disinfection and Contact Limitation Products — Now Available.

As thousands of operators were forced off the roads in mid-March, ABC Companies turned its focus to shaping solutions that navigate the “how” of operating in this new reality. Putting effective safeguards and protocols in place designed to ensure the comfort and security of drivers and passengers will be paramount in the post-COVID environment. With the introduction of its new CLEANS (Contact Limitation & Eradication of Airborne Noxious Systems) program, ABC offers fleet owners a variety of products and services designed to thoroughly disinfect coaches and optimize cabin air quality while providing driver and passenger shielding and personal hygiene stations onboard fleet vehicles.

“As the economy restarts, demonstrating how operators can protect drivers and passengers will be a top priority in restoring traveler confidence”, says Thom Peebles, ABC Vice President of Marketing. “The new CLEANS suite of products and services gives fleet owners the [...]

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