Prevost(/ˈpreɪvoʊ/,French pronunciation:[pʁevo]), formally known asPrevost Car,is a Canadian manufacturer of touringcoachesand bus shells for high-end motorhomes and specialty conversions. The company is a subsidiary of theVolvo Busesdivision of theVolvo Group.[1]
 | |
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Manufacturing |
| Founded | 1924 |
| Headquarters | Sainte-Claire, Quebec,Canada |
| Products | Coaches RV (Conversion Shells) |
| Parent | Volvo Buses(1995–present) |
| Website | prevostcar |
History
editThis Historyreads likea press releaseora news articleand may belargely based onroutine coverage.(July 2021) |
Early years (1924–1969)
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Prevost Car in 1924 byEugène Prévost(1898–1965), a cabinet maker specializing in church pews and school furniture, who in 1924 was asked to build a custom bus body for a newREOtruck chassis.Les Ateliers Prévost,as the company was then called, received several repeat orders. Between 1937 and 1939, Prevost Car's first bus manufacturing plant was built. Initially the vehicles were built around a wooden frame. In 1945 this changed, and bodies were made of metal.
The company was acquired by Paul Normand in 1957. In 1969, two American businessmen formed a partnership with André Normand, then President of Prevost, to become the company's owners. These three men, in turn, sold Prevost to Volvo Bus Corporation in 1995.[2]
Current era (2000–present)
editFor 2006, the XL-II was revised to become the X3-45. The H-Series received a newsound system,plusGPSanddestination signoptions.[citation needed]
For the 2008 model year, Prevost introduced the Volvo D13 engine from their parent company as a replacement for the then-current Detroit Diesel Series 60 offering. TheVolvo I-Shiftsemi-automatic transmission was introduced as an alternative to theAllisonB500R transmission. A set of new interior color schemes was also introduced.
In 2009, Prevost became distributor of theVolvo 9700coach in Canada and the United States.
Beginning in 2011, the Prevost X3-45 was made available in a transit-style configuration as a commuter coach. TheNew York City Transit Authoritywas the launch customer for this configuration. Previously, 20 transit-style buses in the LeMirage predecessor model had been built forGO Transitin the late 1990s.
In 2019, the X3-45 was redesigned, getting a new headlight setup and a new rear end. It continues to be available in intercity and transit configurations.
As of June 2019, Prevost operates 15 parts and service centers in North America, nine of them in the United States.[3]
For the 2024 Model Year, the H3-45 was redesigned with a new front end and interior facelift.
Models
editCurrent
edit| Photo | Model | Production | Length(s) | Configuration(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 H3-45 (3rd Generation)
|
H-Series[4] [user-generated source] |
1985–present
|
|
Intercity Coach | Also available as a conversion shell |
 X3-45 (2nd Generation)
|
X3-45 | 2005–present | 45 feet | Intercity Coach
Transit Coach |
2nd generation model introduced in 2019 Also available as a conversion shell |
 Volvo 9700 (North American Model)
|
Volvo 9700[5] [user-generated source] |
2009–present | Intercity Coach | Assembled in Mexico byVolvo |
Former
edit- LeMirage Series: 40-45 ft motorcoach series produced from 1976–2005, replaced by X3-45
- 50-PI-33 passenger coach
- 19-S transit bus manufactured from 1961 to 1967
- 33-S 33 to 37 passenger motorcoach manufactured in the 1960s
- Champion 41 to 50 passenger intercity coach manufactured from 1967 to 1981
- Marathon 47 to 53 passenger intercity motorcoach
- Prestige 41 to 50 passenger sightseeing/passenger motor coach manufactured from 1968 to 1981
- Panoramique 41 to 49 passenger intercity motorcoach manufactured from the 1960s
- Le Normand intercity passenger coach manufactured from 1957 to 1960
- Prévocar intercity motorcoach manufactured in 1953
- Skycruiser motorcoach manufactured from 1948 to 1949
- V48-S motorcoach first manufactured in 1965
- Citadin 33 to 37 transit bus manufactured in the 1950s
- 1924 motorbus
- 1939 suburban motor coach
Ground Force One
editGround Force Oneis the nickname given to two heavily modified X3-45 VIP conversion coach owned by theUnited States Secret Serviceand used by thePresident of the United Statesand other high-ranking politicians or dignitaries.[6]Prevost built the coach as a conversion shell, theHemphill Brothers Coach Companyfitted out the interiors of the coach, and it is assumed that other features, like armor plating, were added by the Secret Service.[7]
Notes
edit- ^"Prevost – Passenger coaches and bus shells manufacturer".Archived fromthe originalon 2009-05-16.Retrieved2009-03-03.
- ^"Prevost – Passenger coaches and bus shells manufacturer".Archived fromthe originalon 2007-09-20.Retrieved2009-03-03.
- ^Prevost Parts & Service Centers(accessed 20 June 2019)
- ^"Prevost Car H-Series – CPTDB Wiki".cptdb.ca.Retrieved2017-02-02.
- ^"Volvo Buses 9700 – CPTDB Wiki".cptdb.ca.Retrieved2017-02-02.
- ^CP (17 August 2011)."Obama's Made In Canada Bus, 'Ground Force One', Gets President Criticized".Retrieved19 April2018– via Huff Post.
- ^"Canucklehead Obama bus-ted! (PHOTOS)".nypost.17 August 2011.Retrieved19 April2018.
External links
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