NTL Record

Title Entry and Competition in the United States Transit Bus Manufacturing Industry
Record ID 50334
Personal Name
Creator
Weiers, Bruce J.; Rossetti, Michael A.
Source 92p. in various pagings
Corporate Creator John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (U.S.); United States. Department of Transportation. Research and Special Programs Administration. Transportation Systems Center
Corporate
Contributor
United States. Department of Transportation. Urban Mass Transportation Administration. Office of Bus and Paratransit Systems
Publisher United States. Department of Transportation. Urban Mass Transportation Administration
Publication Date 19820301
Language English
Abstract This report is an analytic paper addressing the trend toward entry into the U.S. transit bus market by new foreign manufacturers. The purpose of this study is to provide an explanation, and outline the implications of why so many companies are interested in entering the U.S. bus manufacturing industry, when there is excess capacity, and the established manufacturers are not prospering. The study is concerned primarily with the industry that builds standard and large-capacity transit buses. Builders of other types of buses are mentioned only in relation to their bus activities. Since 1980, the industry has had two new producers of standard-size buses (Gillig and Neoplan) and two new producers of articulated buses (Crown Coach and M.A.N.) enter the market. The explanation developed for the emerging interest in the U.S. bus manufacturing industry consists of three categories of causes: opportunity, impetus, and contributing factors. Regarding impetus, the explanation developed examined prospect in 3 related bus manufacturing industries: school bus, intercity bus, and international trucks and buses. The report discusses the responses of established manufacturers (GMC and Grumman Flxible) to the new entrants, namely, with new product offerings. The authors state that the competitive direction of the new entrants appear to be planning on expanding their model ranges so as to reduce the risk of specializing too narrowly. In summary, the new entrants have brought articulated and modern utility bus design to the transit bus market. The result is a far more segmented market, with utility and premium, articulated and standard buses available.
Rosap ID dot:11725
Rosap URL https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/11725
TRT Terms Articulated buses; Buses; Competition; Industries; Procurement; Standardization; Technology; Vehicle design; School buses; Intercity bus lines
General Subjects Bus Manufacturing Market; Foreign Bus Manufacturers; Bus Builder; International Truck and Bus; Standard-size bus
Classification NTL - PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION - Bus Transportation;
NTL - PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION - PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION;
NTL - PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION - Transit Economics and Finances;
NTL - PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION - Transit Law and Regulation
Geographical
Coverage
United States
TRIS Online
Accession No
00455088
Report Number DOT-TSC-UMTA-82-39; UMTA-MA-06-0120-82-2; PB83-118992
Resource type Tech Report
URL https://ntlrepository.blob.core.windows.net/lib/50000/50300/50334/UMTA_MA_06_0120_82_82_02.pdf
Format PDF
Database NTL Digital Repository