OKLAHOMA CITY – For David Bakare, owner of Executive Coach Builders (ECB), the value of his vehicles goes beyond affordability and operational efficiency. While those are key selling points, some customers are drawn to his buses for another reason. They turn heads.
At the recent UMA Motorcoach EXPO in Oklahoma City, Kim Halstead, Compliance Officer with TranSouth Motorcoach in Warner Robins, Georgia, shared why she was immediately captivated by the Supercoach XL on display.
“I was dreaming of one, and I got it. And all the customers love it,” Halstead said. “It’s a sexy vehicle. I call it our VIP. It’s got leather seats. It’s black. People specifically request it.”
But beyond its striking appearance, the Supercoach XL proved to be a smart business investment.
“It paid for itself,” she added. “It covered insurance and started making a profit almost immediately.”
The demand was so high that some customers paid a premium price for the service.
“When we first got it, customers would stop the drivers and ask, ‘Can I go inside and look at it?’” she recalled. “It was selling itself.”
Simpler maintenance
Stories like Halstead’s are familiar to Bakare. Since taking over the company in 1993 at just 21 years old, he has expanded ECB from luxury limousines into the motorcoach manufacturing market, making waves with vehicles that are stylish and practical.
“ECB has been committed to building luxury vehicles that don’t just look great but make financial sense for operators,” Bakare said.
One of ECB’s standout innovations is using interchangeable parts across different models.
“Our parts are interchangeable – windows, doors, everything – so service and maintenance are seamless,” Bakare explained. “That’s a game-changer for operators.”
ECB’s lineup is designed to meet a variety of transportation demands, from large 57-passenger coaches to smaller 13-passenger vehicles.
“People think you can just buy one type of bus and be done,” Bakare said. “But we offer multiple sizes, and the best part is, whether you’re running a 57-passenger super coach or a 28-passenger coach, our parts are the same. That means lower maintenance costs and less downtime.”
Style plus profit
Affordability, long-term cost savings and excellent residual value are key selling points of ECB’s buses.
“Our customers aren’t just buying because the price is right,” Bakare said. “They’re buying because the return on investment is higher. The buses don’t break down as often, and when they do, they’re easy to fix because there are countless service facilities from coast to coast that can work on them. That means more time on the road and more revenue.”
Fuel efficiency is another advantage, offering operators savings over traditional motorcoaches.
With manufacturing plants in Springfield, Missouri, and Riverside, California, ECB continues to refine its production process to meet the needs of its customers.
Beyond cost savings and luxury, Bakare emphasizes the driving experience.
“When it comes to driving, it’s a joy,” he said. “It’s safer for the drivers because of the front engine design, which provides added protection.”
Bakare says customer feedback helps drive ECB’s growth and product evolution.
“I can’t take all the credit,” he admitted. “A lot of our innovations come from listening to customers. They tell us what they need, and we build it.”
Ultimately, Bakare has one goal: making ECB the go-to brand for motorcoach operators.
“How do we get to the point where customers say, ‘No matter how many buses I own, I want an ECB bus?’ That’s what sells our product.”
Photos and video by Shandra Martinez
