Neoplan USA

This article is about the defunct US bus builder. For the German bus builder, see Neoplan.

Neoplan USA

Industry	Transit
Fate	Bankruptcy/liquidation
Founded	1981 (Lamar, Colorado), as a subsidiary of Neoplan
Defunct	2006
Headquarters	Denver, Colorado
Products	Buses
Employees	625

A CNG-powered AN440A standard-floor of LACMTA in Los Angeles, California

A Diesel-powered AN460 standard-floor of WMATA Metrobus in Silver Spring, Maryland

A Trackless Trolley bus AN440LF low-floor of MBTA in Boston, Massachusetts

A Diesel-powered AN440LF low-floor of MTA Maryland in Annapolis, Maryland

A Ultra Low-Sulfur Diesel-powered AN460LF low-floor of RTC Transit in Las Vegas, Nevada

Neoplan USA was a major transit bus manufacturing company based in Denver, Colorado, which was entirely separate from the German corporation, Neoplan, licensing its designs from the German company of the same name. The company was founded in 1981 and folded in 2006. It was originally a subsidiary of Neoplan, but later became an independent licensee. Its main factory was located in Lamar, Colorado.^[1] Its headquarters was also in Lamar, until moving to Denver in 2004.^[2] At one time, it also had production facilities in Honey Brook, Pennsylvania, and Brownsville, Texas.

Neoplan manufactured standard-floor buses, low-floor buses, and articulated buses. In 2003–2006 it also built 28 40-foot (12 m) electric trolley buses and 32 articulated dual-mode buses for Boston's MBTA.^[1] Neoplan had 625 employees and revenue of $810 million before it ceased operations in January 2006.

Neoplan USA filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in August 2006,^[3] listing assets of $13.7 million and debts of $59 million, after closing its manufacturing plant in 2006.

In its last few months of operation, Neoplan had fallen on hard times, such as warranty issues with San Francisco's MUNI and cash-flow problems after Boston's MBTA canceled an order over late bus deliveries.^{[4][dead link]}

The company still technically continued to exist until selling its parts-supply division, Neopart. Once Neopart was sold, in October 2007,^[5][6] Neoplan USA ceased to exist.

Models

• Metroliner models (over the road transit coach buses)

Powered by Detroit Diesel Series 60 diesel engine

*AN340 (40-foot model) (12-metre)

*AN345 (45-foot)

• Transliner models (transit buses)

Powered by Detroit Diesel Series 6V92TA/ 50 / 60, Cummins, CAT diesel or CNG engines

*AN435 (35-foot, high-floor model)

*AN435LF (35-footer, low-floor)

*AN440 (40-foot, high-floor)

*AN440LF (40-foot, low-floor)

*AN440TLF (40-foot, true low-floor)

*AN445TLF (45-foot, true low-floor)

• Articulated models (transit buses)

Powered by Detroit Diesel Series 6V92TA/ 50 / 60, Cummins, CAT diesel or CNG engines

*AN460 (60-foot, high-floor) (18-metre)

*AN460RC (59-foot, high-floor model, made only for NJ Transit)

*AN460LF (60-foot, low-floor)

• Neoplan USA licensed Neoplan Bus Germany's luxury coach lineup

Powered by Detroit Diesel Series 60 engine

*Starliner AN516/3 (45-foot model)

*Cityliner AN116/3 (40- or 45-foot)

*Skyliner AN122/3 (40-foot, double-decker tour/coach bus)

*Spaceliner AN117/3 (40- or 45-foot, double-decker motor home bus)

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Trolleybus Magazine No. 268 (July-August 2006), p. 92. National Trolleybus Association (UK). ISSN 0266-7452.
2. ^ "Neoplan USA to Move Headquarters to Denver". Passenger Transport (APTA). August 9, 2004. ISSN 0364-345X. http://www.apta.com/passengertransport/Documents/archive_762.htm. Retrieved February 18, 2011. 
3. ^ "Neoplan USA Files for Bankruptcy; Cites Debt Load". Passenger Transport (APTA). September 4, 2006. http://www.apta.com/passengertransport/Documents/archive_3157.htm. Retrieved February 18, 2011. 
4. ^ Page expired - MSN Money
5. ^ "Let us share our supply-chain insight". Neopart, LLC. December 2009. http://www.neopart.com/2009/12/07/welcome/. Retrieved February 18, 2011. 
6. ^ "Pinon Purchases Neopart LLC". Passenger Transport (APTA). October 29, 2007. http://www.apta.com/passengertransport/Documents/archive_4388.htm. Retrieved February 18, 2011. 

External links

• BUSRide article on Neoplan's closing^{[dead link]}
• Neoplan USA Reports Manufacturing Plant Shutdown (American Public Transportation Association article, December 5, 2005)