Heuliez Bus
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Bus manufacturing |
| Founded | 1979 |
| Fate | Subsidiary of Iveco |
| Headquarters | Rorthais , France |
Area served | France, international (as Irisbus/Iveco) |
| Products | Buses and coaches |
| Owner | Iveco |
Number of employees | 450 (2008) |
| Parent | Iveco |
| Website | www |
Heuliez Bus is a French corporation founded in 1979, currently operating as a subsidiary of Iveco, with a focus on the production of buses and coaches.
History
Heuliez Bus has engineered a range of public transport vehicles, including adaptations of the Mercedes-Benz O305 rigid and O305G articulated buses. Approximately 600 of these units were in service across France between 1975 and 1995.
In 1982, the company introduced the GX 17, a minibus model built on the Renault Master platform. Throughout the 1980s, Heuliez partnered with Renault Bus to manufacture several models such as the GX 107, GX 187, and the GX 44 for Nantes’ transit system, alongside the GX 113 designed for Marseille.
Together with Renault, Heuliez developed the "Mégabus" (Heuliez GX237), a bi-articulated high-floor bus derived from the Renault PR180.2 chassis. A total of ten units were produced in 1989 for Bordeaux's network until its tramway commenced operations in 2004.
In 1991, both Renault and Volvo acquired equal shares of 37.5% each in Heuliez Bus. The company launched the GX 77H midibus in 1990, followed by the debut of the low-floor GX 317 on a Renault chassis in 1994. From 1995 to 2001, collaboration with Volvo resulted in the development of the GX 217 and GX 417 models.
The GX 117 midibus replaced the GX 77H in 1999; by 2012, it had undergone redesign and was marketed as the GX 327. The company also worked on models like the GX 127 and its variant, the GX 127L.
The newest vehicle tailored for Clermont-Ferrand is the articulated GX 427, essentially a twin configuration of the Irisbus Citelis 18; however, its compressed natural gas (CNG) version was not developed further.
Within France, products are branded under "Heuliez Bus," while internationally they are sold under the "Irisbus" name. Between 1985 and 2006, Heuliez manufactured roughly buses.
Starting in 2002, Heuliez has been producing both the Irisbus Civis and Irisbus Cristalis models for Iveco Bus’s division.
In fiscal year 2008, Heuliez Bus reported revenues of €118.1 million and employed about 450 staff at its Rorthais plant.
After brand consolidations into Irisbus and Iveco Bus, "Heuliez" branding continues primarily within French-speaking regions. Models such as the GX 337 and GX 447 are marketed globally as Iveco E-Way by Heuliez.
External links
- Heuliez Bus — official website
- Heuliez — official website
- Heuliez-Mia — archived official website
- Paris 2008: Heuliez Friendly