LANCASTER, CA—Construction has begun on a solar energy project at BYD’s Coach & Bus assembly plant here. When fully operational, the project is expected to save the factory more than $100,000 per year in electricity costs.

Although being part of an international conglomerate has its advantages (such as extensive financial resources and access to cutting-edge technologies), a company still must make good products to establish and expand its customer base. This statement definitely applies to Canadian bus manufacturer Nova Bus Inc., which began in 1993 and has been part of Volvo Bus Corp.—the world’s largest motorcoach and transit bus manufacturer—since 1998.

FORT VALLEY, GA—Blue Bird Corp. is adding a second shift for the spring and summer at its school bus assembly plant here, generating 200 new jobs.

LANCASTER, CA—The first electric buses have rolled out of BYD Motors’ assembly plant here. The factory, which has about 60 employees, hopes to increase its workforce and have the capacity to produce 1,000 buses a year within two decades.

LISLE, IL—Navistar International is increasing production rates at its heavy truck assembly plant in Escobedo, Mexico, and its bus assembly plant in Tulsa, OK.

LANCASTER, CA—BYD America will begin manufacturing electric buses at a new assembly plant here next year.

BEIJING—China-based Build Your Dreams will build a new assembly plant in California in 2013 to produce electric buses.