From a small Manitoba workshop to the forefront of North American transit bus innovation

Countries & Cities · Published 15 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: New Flyer began in 1930 as a modest Canadian bus manufacturer. Today, it stands as a major industry leader, having pioneered low-floor designs, hydrogen fuel cell technology, and large-scale hybrid bus adoption. Its evolution from a struggling local firm to a global subsidiary reveals the complex history of modern transit.

Founded in 1930 by John Coval as Western Auto and Truck Body Works Ltd., the company initially focused on bus sales in Western Canada. By 1937, it began manufacturing its own vehicles, eventually rebranding as Western Flyer Coach in 1948. The company faced significant financial turbulence in the 1960s, leading to a 1971 government takeover by the Manitoba Development Corporation. During this period, the entity was renamed Flyer Industries Limited, a move that sparked political debate regarding state ownership versus private enterprise.

A pivotal shift occurred in 1986 when Jan den Oudsten, a descendant of a Dutch bus manufacturing family, acquired the company and renamed it New Flyer Industries Limited. Under his leadership, the firm became a hotbed for transit innovation. In 1988, it designed North America's first low-floor bus, delivering the D40LF model in 1991. The company continued to push boundaries throughout the 1990s, introducing the continent's first compressed natural gas bus and the world's first hydrogen fuel cell-powered transit vehicle in 1994, followed by the first low-floor articulated bus in 1995.

The 21st century brought rapid corporate restructuring. KPS Capital Partners purchased the firm in 2002 for $44 million, initiating a turnaround that culminated in a 2005 public offering on the Toronto Stock Exchange. Now a subsidiary of the NFI Group, New Flyer maintains manufacturing plants across Canada and the United States, including facilities in Winnipeg, Anniston, Crookston, St. Cloud, and Jamestown. The company has consistently adapted its strategy, from pioneering hybrid fleets for Seattle in 2003 to developing electric battery-powered buses in 2012, ensuring its continued relevance in the evolving landscape of public transportation.

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