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Revamped, expanded Jersey City, NJ location supports future growth in New York Metro Area and Northeast Corridor.

ABC Companies, exclusive distributor of Van Hool motorcoaches in North America and leader in motorcoach sales, service and technical support announced that improvements to its strategically located Jersey City, NJ facility are ahead of schedule. Originally slated for completion in late Spring of 2020, site upgrades are now projected to be finalized by mid-Winter 2020 in order to accommodate a diverse range of customer needs throughout the New York Metro area and Northeast Corridor spanning Northern Virginia to Maine.

After conducting a comprehensive business assessment in 2019 which identified the Jersey City, NJ facility as a “customer preferred” location, ABC moved quickly to improve and expand the centrally-located operation. “It makes good business sense to target expansion into areas where customer demand is highest”, said Roman Cornell, President and Chief Commercial Officer, ABC Companies. “The Northeast Corridor and [...]

Craftsmanship, Innovation and Style Abound on Electrified Version of Industry-Leading CX Series.

With seating for up to 56 passengers, the advanced All Electric Van Hool CX45E brings the reliability and performance of the sales-leading Van Hool CX series to a zero-emissions platform. For operators who are looking to expand their fleets with EV, the Van Hool CX45E All Electric coach delivers the full feature/functionality of a premium motorcoach that has been purpose built to eliminate carbon emissions and fuel and oil-related costs while providing an extraordinarily quiet, smooth transport experience. By design, the new CX45E is ready to integrate with existing ICE Van Hool and mixed fleets with the added bonus of extensive components interchangeability for operators currently running Van Hool CX Series models.

“As EV adoption becomes increasingly popular in the motorcoach sector, ABC is prepared and proud to help operators smoothly transition EV into their fleets,” said Mr. Roman Cornell, President and Chief [...]

  • January 21, 2020
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  • Comments Off on ABC Companies and Van Hool Partner with Beat The Street for American Debut of Double-Deck Specialty Music Tour Coaches.

Winter Garden, FL, January 21, 2020 — Following a recent announcement to the global music touring industry, “Beat The Street” will be debuting a line of double deck Van Hool motorcoaches for use as 16/14 bunk crew and band buses in America. Beat The Street, a European based specialty music tour bus provider, has built a global reputation for serving the touring music industry which is now expanding to the US market. “American clients have been asking us for many years to run our buses in the States”, said Joerg Philipp, Managing Director and owner of Beat The Street. “Double-deckers are not yet used in the States for touring, but their additional capacity is well known to those U.S. tour managers who use them with us in Europe and the U.K.” The Beat The Street U.S. team, headed by Tim King, who recently relocated from the UK to set up a new U.S. office, has already secured several [...]

  • January 21, 2020
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  • Comments Off on ABC Partners with Global Zero-emission Developer, Lightning Systems – Announces Diesel to Electric Coach Repower Program.
New Partnership Offers Next Level Sustainability to Fleet Operations.

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Jan. 21, 2020 – ABC Companies has finalized an agreement with Lightning Systems, a Loveland, Colorado-based global developer of zero-emission drivetrains for commercial vehicle fleets. Under the new agreement, the two companies will launch their first joint project – an electric powertrain repower of off-lease Van Hool models including a T2145 highline touring coach and a TDX high-capacity double-deck coach.

The electric repower option for converting from diesel to electric offers a unique opportunity to fleet operators who are ready to integrate EV vehicles within their fleets. “Adding zero-emission capability to late model coaches is a solution that is good for operations, the environment and the bottom line for many customers,” said Roman Cornell, president and chief commercial officer, ABC Companies. “By converting from diesel to electric, we can extend the operational life of a quality motorcoach, while allowing customers to leverage their [...]

2020 Van Hool CX Series Models on Display at Booth #200

ABC is excited to present its new 2020 Van Hool coach models during the UMA Expo in Nashville, TN.

The retooled Van Hool CX 45 and CX 35 coach models on display at ABC Booth #200 feature high-quality interior fit and finish details that integrate a wide variety of passenger comforts and amenities, including a restyled passenger entry, cabin and restroom, as well as a fully redesigned driver’s area with new digital dash display. “Passengers are more sophisticated and so are their expectations”, said Mr. Roman Cornell, ABC President and Chief Commercial Officer. “Our 2020 models offer an elevated product that reflects market demands, and is also designed to put more confidence and control into the driver’s hands”.

“The beauty of our Van Hool CX Series, is the versatility it delivers to operators”, said Mr. Thom Peebles, Vice President, Marketing at ABC. “These vehicles [...]

Visitors Welcome at Why I Drive Kiosk – ABC Booth #200.

As driver shortages continue to be an epidemic impacting the motorcoach industry, the United Motorcoach Association is launching a unique program to assist its members and the industry build awareness for a career as a motorcoach driver.  UMA and its program sponsor, ABC Companies, has developed a social media platform, “Why I Drive” to raise awareness within and outside of the motorcoach industry to identify the next generation of drivers.  “Our goal is to reach beyond our industry and share the opportunities the motorcoach industry can provide to quality candidates looking for their next career,” said Stacy Tetschner, President and Chief Executive Officer, United Motorcoach Association. “The shrinking driver pool continues to present a major hurdle to operators”, said Thom Peebles, Vice President Marketing, ABC Companies, “the Why I Drive initiative offers a platform where influencers can speak openly and directly to peers, often [...]

A team of ABC technicians recently visited the Van Hool factory in Belgium for preliminary training and product knowledge transfer to support the forthcoming Van Hool CX45E All Electric bus release. Together with ABC and Proterra, Van Hool continues to make preparations for the innovative new model introduction planned for North American unveiling at UMA Expo 2020 in Nashville, TN.

“Together with our partners Van Hool and Proterra, ABC is leveraging deep expertise to bring advanced electric technology to the motorcoach segment”, said Mr. Roman Cornell, President and Chief Commercial Officer at ABC Companies. “We are pleased to migrate the benefits and utility of electric vehicle technology enjoyed in the automotive and transit segments to our customer base”, said Cornell.

In 2020 operators can also expect to see enhanced interior designs onboard the CX series (including the new CX45E model) which integrates a restyled passenger entry, cabin and restroom, as well as a fully [...]

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Developed, Designed and Built Exclusively for North American Operations.

Attendees at Busworld Europe 2019 enjoyed a first look at the brand new ALL Electric Van Hool CX45E in October. Along with an impressive lineup of fuel cell, low-floor trambus and diesel-powered vehicles designed for the European market, the first-ever ALL Electric Van Hool CX45E was introduced, with the elite distinction as the only model exclusively designed and built for the North American market. The zero-emission vehicle utilizes Proterra’s battery system which features a compact, robust design enabling industry-leading energy density, by volume and mass. Efficient energy storage enables improved range capabilities and thermally controlled batteries keep the temperature consistent to maximize lifetime in operating climates.

The new 56-passenger Van Hool CX45 features many passenger amenities including comfortable passenger seats with USB and 110V outlets, [...]

ABC Supports New Ownership with Hands-on Sales and After Sales Support.

National Trails, Inc., of Southfield, MI has taken delivery of a new Van Hool CX45 motorcoach. The regional charter and tour operation currently runs several Van Hool T2100 coaches in the fleet, and this delivery represents the first transaction between ABC and the company’s new owner, Mr. Austin Arksey, who recently acquired the business from the Frank family. The company has provided charter bus rental services in Southeast Michigan for over 35 years, and under the leadership of Mr. Arksey, looks forward to continued growth and market expansion.

The new 56-passenger Van Hool CX45 features many passenger amenities including comfortable passenger seats with USB and 110V outlets, REI Elite HDMI System with six 15.6” monitors, and woodgrain flooring throughout. The new CX45 will be [...]

  • July 9, 2019
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  • Comments Off on ABC Companies Extends Fleet Life for Major Washington, D.C. Area Transit Authority with Recently Completed Fleet Restoration Project.

ABC Companies, a recognized leader in the sales, service and support of advanced transport solutions has recently completed a major bus overhaul contract for OmniRide headquartered in Woodbridge, Virginia, about 25 miles southwest of Washington, D.C.  OmniRide is the operating name for the mobility services offered by the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission (PRTC). OmniRide’s goal is to provide safe, reliable and flexible transportation options while helping to reduce congestion and pollution in one of the region’s fastest growing areas. OmniRide operates Express and Local bus services in neighborhoods surrounded by the busy I-95 and I-66 corridors, and in 2018, had more than 150 buses in its active fleet making over 2.5 million passenger trips. ABC Companies completed an earlier contract with the company, having successfully restored 65 vehicles for OmniRide/PRTC in 2015.

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