The company behind ABC Companies battery-electric buses is expanding its manufacturing presence in the United States.
Vicinity Motor Corp. (VMC), formerly Grande West Transportation Group, began construction in July on its first U.S. assembly plant.
The Ferndale, Washington property is located near the company’s Aldergrove, British Columbia, Canada, headquarters with easy access to port, rail, truck shipping, and receiving facilities.
The Canadian-based company manufactures electric, CNG, gas and clean diesel vehicles. VMC is also a supplier of ABC Companies’ low-floor transit buses, including the upcoming Vicinity Lighting battery-electric bus.
ABC Companies supplier breaks ground
The new facility, which is expected to open in 2022, will be VMC’s first U.S. assembly plant for the company’s growing line of electric, CNG, gas, and clean diesel vehicles. Operations at the facility will include Buy America-compliant assembly, pre-delivery inspections, research and development, as well as general technical work and servicing.
VMC CEO William Trainer led the facility’s July 9 groundbreaking event. The ceremony includes ABC Companies President Roman Cornell and Washington Gov. Jay Inslee.
“Support from the state of Washington and the local community has been instrumental to this launch, and we are honored to be celebrating the occasion with the governor of Washington, Jay Inslee. With their support, we are privileged to expand our workforce in the United States by adding an expected 30 new jobs to start with, and the ability to increase personnel as demand grows,” Trainer said.
ABC Companies is mainly known as the North American distributor for Van Hool motorcoaches. In March, the Florida-based company announced its partnership with Vicinity, which at the time was Grande West Transportation Group.
“As Vicinity’s U.S. distributor and close partner, we are excited to attend the ceremony, and to offer the exceptional Vicinity product line to our customers throughout the United States,” Cornell said. “Infrastructure, transportation, and clean energy have never been more important, and the vehicles rolling off this production line and into the fleets of ABC Companies’ valued customers will play a key role in shaping the future of public transit.”
For more information about the companies, visit vicinitymotorcorp.com and abc-companies.com.
