Collins Industries
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Bus manufacturing |
| Founded | 1967 |
| Founder | Don Collins Sr. |
| Headquarters | South Hutchinson, Kansas , United States |
Area served | North America |
| Products | School buses, ambulances, terminal tractors, street sweepers |
| Owner | Forest River |
| Parent | Forest River |
Collins Industries is a U.S.-based bus manufacturer located in South Hutchinson, Kansas. Focusing primarily on school bus production, Collins engineers all bus bodies designed for cutaway van chassis platforms.
The company was founded in 1967 by Don Collins Sr. under the name E-CON-O Conversion, initially creating school buses derived from the Ford Econoline van chassis. In 1971, the business was renamed Collins Industries and broadened its product line to include ambulances, relocating its operations to Hutchinson, Kansas the following year. Presently, Collins functions as a fully owned subsidiary of the manufacturing enterprise Forest River, with all manufacturing centralized within its 94,000-square-foot facility in South Hutchinson.
1970s
Don Collins Sr. launched E-CON-O Conversion in 1967 in Kansas City, Missouri, pioneering early school buses based on van platforms. Moving beyond simple utility vehicle conversions to purpose-built van chassis designs allowed Collins to establish a strong market position. The transition to the name Collins Industries in 1971 corresponded with diversification into ambulance production and laid the groundwork for future expansion. The shift of headquarters to Hutchinson, Kansas in 1972 consolidated company operations at its current site.
1980s
In 1982, Collins debuted its initial bus equipped with a wheelchair lift and transitioned from modifying vans to manufacturing on cutaway van chassis, introducing the enduring "Bantam" series. Mid-decade diversification included acquiring Wheeled Coach Industries in 1984, known for modular ambulances, and Capacity of Texas in 1985, a producer of terminal tractors.
1990s
During the 1990s, Collins Industries emerged as the leading U.S. manufacturer of Type A small school buses. The acquisition of Mid Bus in 1998, its largest rival, significantly increased Collins’ market presence. To enter the transit bus arena, Collins purchased World Trans, Inc., which built vehicles on cutaway and rear-engine chassis platforms. In 2000, Waldon Manufacturing was acquired and integrated as Lay-Mor street sweepers under the Collins umbrella.
2000s
Throughout the early 2000s, Collins evolved from an independent entity into a subsidiary within a broader transportation group. By this period, it offered the most extensive range of products among American bus manufacturers, including three Bantam variants. Publicly traded since 1983, Collins became privately owned in October 2006 when BNS Holding Inc acquired an 80% stake alongside American Industrial Partners holding the remaining 20%. In 2007, Collins purchased assets from Quebec-based Les Enterprises Michel Corbeil following bankruptcy proceedings; production was relocated to Kansas while marketing the Corbeil Quantum alongside Mid Bus Guide models using Bantam body designs for Canadian customers.
2010s
In 2010, American Industrial Partners consolidated four transportation businesses—including Collins and its subsidiaries—into Allied Specialty Vehicles (ASV), forming one of North America’s foremost specialty vehicle manufacturers. ASV’s portfolio encompassed fire and emergency apparatus, recreational vehicles, transit and school buses, as well as industrial vehicles. The company rebranded as the REV Group in 2015 and went public in 2017, marking a significant phase of growth and market expansion.
On March 29, 2012, Collins unveiled the Nexbus line to succeed the long-standing Bantam series; production commenced on May 16, 2012. The Nexbus combined the former Guide and Quantum models under a single brand identity. By 2014, Nexbus production incorporated the Ford Transit 350/350HD chassis. By 2016, Mid Bus and Corbeil brands were phased out as operations consolidated under the Collins name across North America.
In 2018, Collins launched a Low Floor Nexbus variant based on the Ram ProMaster chassis. This model features a flat floor design with a folding wheelchair ramp to improve accessibility and broaden its offerings within the school bus segment.
2020s
In January 2024, REV Group declared its departure from the bus manufacturing industry by divesting Collins to Forest River for $303 million. During 2023, Collins introduced a fully electric school bus model constructed on the Ford E-Transit platform, designed to seat 25 passengers and featuring an optional wheelchair lift to enhance accessibility.
Products
| Product Name | Manufacturing Period | Base Chassis | Vehicle Classification | Additional Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bantam series (1982–2011) | ||||
| Bantam | 1982–2011 | Ford E-Series, Chevrolet/GMC G30, Chevrolet Express/GMC Savana | School bus (MFSAB) | Equipped with single rear wheels |
| Super Bantam | circa 1992–2011 | Ford E-Series, Chevrolet Express/GMC Savana | School bus (MFSAB) | Features dual rear wheels |
| Grand Bantam | circa 1992–2011 | Ford E-Series, Chevrolet Express/GMC Savana | School bus (MFSAB) | Dual rear wheels and flat floor design |
| Bantam XL | 2003–circa 2005 | GMT560 (Topkick/Kodiak) | School bus (MFSAB) | Dual rear wheels; design originated by Mid Bus |
| Nexbus series (2011–present) | ||||
| Nexbus | 2012–present | Ford E-Series, Ford Transit, Chevrolet Express/GMC Savana | School bus (MFSAB) | Offered with single (SRW) and dual rear-wheel (DRW) configurations; supports diverse alternative fuel options including hybrid technology (in partnership with Azure Dynamics), propane systems (with Clean Fuel USA), electric powertrains (on Ford E450 chassis via Motiv Power Systems), and compressed natural gas setups on both Ford and GM platforms |
| Low Floor | 2018–present | Ram ProMaster 3500 | School bus | Pioneering low-floor school bus model; single rear wheel; employs a wheelchair ramp instead of a lift mechanism |