DATA, STATISTICS AND TRENDS


percent of the Type C figure. Type D’s have historically accounted for 10- to 15-percent of the number of Type Cs produced each year. Another big winner? Diesel rebounded to nearly 27,000 units, similar to pre-COVID-19 levels. That could be largely due to a hiatus in the five-year, $5-billion Clean School Bus Program that has heavily favored electric school bus awards. (Word is funds will start up again in 2026.) Additionally, uncertainty has centered on the status of the pending federal greenhouse gas emission rule and a rollback of California requirements. Two years ago, the conversation was that the


industry might be facing a large amount of pre-buy orders as districts looked to delay the inevitable cost increase associated with more strict diesel emissions equipment and software. Those fears have subsided as the EPA is in the process of publishing updated rulemaking to pare back a lot of those requirements. OEMs led by Daimler Trucks North America are suing the California Air Resources Board over its rules,


40,345*


U.S. School Buses Manufactured (Nov. 1, 2024-Oct. 31, 2025)


arguing they are incompatible with the rollbacks from Washington, D.C. For the larger commercial sector, Tam said ACT Research removed the prospect of fuel buys entirely from its forecast. Electric school bus output was flat. Meanwhile, Blue Bird and Micro Bird remain the


lone propane suppliers to the market, courtesy of the ROUSH CleanTech autogas injection system, which accounts for another year of reduced numbers. Its gasoline cousin remained consistent at over 10,000 units produced. Interest is only ramping up as Cummins’ new octane engine enters the marketplace this year. IC Bus and Thomas Built Buses are already set to offer models. As for tariffs? They certainly hit the school bus


industry. Unsurprisingly, few OEMs chose to publicly weigh in on their impact to manufacturing costs and purchasing. But two respondents said they indeed had to pass along increased supplier and parts costs to customers, with one of them adding the tariffs forced layoffs of company workers. ●


7.2%


Increase in School Bus Production (Compared to 2023-2024 cycle)


SCHOOL BUS PRODUCTION BY FUEL TYPE* Diesel ...........................................................................................................................26,677 Gasoline ......................................................................................................................10,326 Electric .........................................................................................................................2,906 Propane ...........................................................................................................................1,617


CNG ......................................................................................................................................6 *Figures based on OEM reporting of chassis and bodies, Total may not equal school bus production figure. Does not include MFSABs.


OEMs Surveyed


Blue Bird Collins Bus Endera* GreenPower Motor Company IC Bus


14


Micro Bird RIDE Thomas Built Buses Trans Tech* Van-Con, Inc.


*No data to report


School Transportation News Magazine | Buyer’s Guide 2026


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112  |  Page 113  |  Page 114  |  Page 115  |  Page 116