Greenpower Motor Co, based in Vancouver, British Columbia, has launched a Type A battery electric school bus named Nano BEAST (Battery Electric Automotive School Transportation) for the US market. The firm claims the Nano BEAST is the only purpose-built zero-emission Type A school bus on the market. In addition, GreenPower claims that the vehicle will feature the largest standard battery pack for a Type A school bus on the market, providing up to 150 miles of range.

The Czech manufacturing plant of Turin, Italy-based Iveco Bus, located in Vysoké Mýto, has produced its 150,000th bus. Located around 150km east of Prague, the plant has been producing vehicles since 1895, previously for historical Czech companies Sodomka and Karosa.

Lightning eMotors Corp, based in Loveland, Colorado, has completed the expansion of its manufacturing facility to more than 226,000sq-ft, doubling its production capacity. The firm expects the investment of more than USD5 million to support an annual production capacity of up to 1,500 zero emission vehicles and powertrain systems by the end of 2022.

HVAC systems supplier for bus and coach and rail, Hispacold SA has opened a climate testing laboratory at its headquarters in Seville. The new purpose-built facility has two separate climate chambers, one for bus and one for rail. Hispacold says it has invested close to EUR1million in the centre, with initial plans first drawn up as far back as 2010.

BYD Inc, the US subsidiary of Shenzhen-based BYD Auto Co Ltd, headquartered in Los Angeles, California, has announced the launch of its Type A electric school bus for the North American market.

Sentient Labs demonstrated a 9-metre hydrogen fuel cell bus, providing a range of 450 kilometres while utilising 30 kg of hydrogen.

Tata Motors has delivered 60 Ultra Urban 9/9 AC electric buses to Ahmedabad for operation throughout the city's BRTS corridor, and is now also installing charging infrastructure and support systems.

Domestic sales of buses (7.5t gvw and above) increased by a massie 110.8% in the third quarter (Q3: October to December) of the financial year 2021-22 to register 3,624 units, up from 1,719 units in Q3/2020-21.

Sales of light duty vehicles (7.5t & below) rose by 26.2% to register 3,535 units in Q3 (October to December) of FY 2021/22 from 2,801 units in Q3 of FY2020/21.

Faurecia of Nanterre, France has acquired a controlling interest (79.5%) in family-owned automotive electrical lighting specialist, Hella GmbH & Co. KGaA of Lippstadt, Germany.

Daimler Truck is to sell its Sprinter-producing Dortmund minibus plant to industrial group Aequita.

The new 'Sigma' range of integral buses will be offered in six lengths - two of which (7m and 10m) are immediately available to order. Mellor claims they have achieved significant reductions in cost and energy usage by employing lightweight materials throughout.