Flyer Industries

Flyer Industries Limited was a bus manufacturer based in Manitoba. It was founded by John Coval in 1930 as the Western Auto and Truck Body Works Ltd.—later changing its name in 1948 to Western Flyer Coach. Previously making intercity vehicles, it first entered the urban transit market in 1968 when it developed its first prototype urban transit bus. The company was acquired by the Manitoba Development Corporation, a provincial agency, in 1971, and changed its name to Flyer Industries Limited.

In 1971, Flyer entered into an agreement with US-based AM General (owned by American Motors) for bus sales to the American market. Flyer would provide them with shells, and final assembly would be done at AM Generals's Mishawaka, Indiana plant.

By 1985, the Manitoba government was looking to divest itself of Flyer Industries. It was anticipated that the manufacturer would have had to cease operation in the near future without a significant investment from the government. An agreement was reached with Den Oudsten Bussen BV of Holland who would pay $1 million for Flyer Industries's common shares and invest $2,065,000 in the company. The deal closed on July 15, 1986. Flyer Industries changed its name to New Flyer Industries and continues to operate to this day.

Models

Transit

• D700A (1969-1973)
• D800 (1974-77, based on the AM General Metropolitan which itself was a updated version of the D700)
• D800B (1977-81)
• D900 (1980)
• D901/D901A (1980-86)
• D902 (1984, for San Francisco)

Electric Trolley Bus

• E700A (1970-1973)
• E800 (1974-1979)
• E800B (1978, for the Hamilton Street Railway)
• E901A (1981, for Vancouver)
• E902 (1982-84, for Vancouver)