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Blue Bird Corporation reports developments in school bus manufacturing, clean-power bus deployments, operating results and corporate governance. The company designs, engineers, manufactures and sells school buses, including electric, propane, natural gas and conventional models, and also sells replacement bus parts and extended warranties.
Recurring news for Blue Bird includes school district fleet deliveries, Type C electric buses, Blue Bird Vision propane buses, charging-infrastructure partnerships, product safety features, quarterly and annual earnings releases, leadership and engineering appointments, acquisition integration, equity and governance matters, and capital-structure updates tied to its public-company reporting.
Wilkes County Schools (WCS) has become Georgia's first school district to operate all 25 daily bus routes with zero- and ultra-low-emission vehicles. Blue Bird (BLBD) delivered 5 electric and 12 propane-powered buses to complete this transition. The electric buses can travel up to 130 miles per charge, while propane buses can cover 250 miles per tank.
The district received a $2,335,000 EPA grant through the Clean School Bus Rebate Program. The switch is expected to generate significant cost savings, with electric buses costing 19 cents per mile in energy costs compared to 79 cents for diesel. The district's 22 propane buses could save over $1.2 million over 15 years, with per-bus annual savings of up to $3,700 compared to diesel.
Blue Bird 's joint venture Micro Bird is expanding manufacturing operations to Plattsburgh, New York, after purchasing the Nova Bus facility. Production is set to begin in mid-2025, with plans to create over 350 full-time jobs. The expansion will double Micro Bird's production capacity for school buses, activity buses, multi-purpose vehicles, and commercial buses. The project receives support from Empire State Development, including $10 million in tax credits and a $2.5 million capital grant. Site preparation and hiring will commence in January 2025, with production starting in summer 2025.
Blue Bird (NASDAQ: BLBD) reported record fiscal 2024 results with net sales of $1.35 billion, up 19% year-over-year, and GAAP net income of $106 million, an increase of $82 million. The company achieved record Adjusted EBITDA of $183 million, up $95 million, with 9,000 buses sold. Electric bus deliveries grew by nearly 30% to over 700 units. The company raised its FY2025 guidance, projecting net revenue of $1.4-1.5 billion and Adjusted EBITDA of $190-210 million. Blue Bird also updated its long-term outlook, targeting an Adjusted EBITDA margin of 15%+ on ~$2 billion in revenue.
Blue Bird (Nasdaq: BLBD), a leader in electric and cleaner-emission school buses, announced it will release its fiscal 2024 fourth quarter and full year financial results on November 25, 2024. The company will host an audio webcast at 4:30PM ET on the same day, featuring CEO Phil Horlock and CFO Razvan Radulescu discussing the results. A slide presentation will accompany the webcast, which will be accessible through Blue Bird's Investor Relations website. A replay will be available approximately two hours after the call.
Blue Bird (Nasdaq: BLBD) has appointed Edward T. Hightower to its Board of Directors as a Class I Director. Hightower brings over 35 years of executive leadership experience, notably serving as CEO of Lordstown Motors Corp. from 2021 to 2024, where he led the company's operational turnaround and launched the Endurance electric pickup truck. He previously held senior roles at Ford, BMW, and General Motors, and is currently founder and managing director of Motoring Ventures Blue Bird, the only U.S.-owned school bus manufacturer, leads in zero-emission student transportation with over 2,000 electric buses in operation, covering more than five million miles.
Blue Bird (Nasdaq: BLBD) reported preliminary unaudited results for fiscal 2024, showing significant growth across key metrics. The company sold 9,000 buses, a 6% increase from the previous year, reaching the top end of guidance. Net sales revenue hit a record $1.35B, up 19% year-over-year and exceeding guidance. Electric vehicle sales reached a record 704 buses, marking a 29% increase. The company's total backlog stands at over 4,800 units, valued at approximately $735M, up 10% from last year. The EV backlog grew to nearly 630 buses, worth about $200M, driven by EPA's Clean School Bus program orders.
Blue Bird (Nasdaq: BLBD) has delivered 38 propane-powered Vision school buses to the School District of Philadelphia (SDP), Pennsylvania's largest school district. These Type C buses can transport 42 students up to 300 miles per propane tank and emit 96% fewer harmful emissions than diesel buses. The fleet could save SDP over $2.1 million in 15 years through reduced fuel and maintenance costs, averaging $3,700 per bus annually. Blue Bird, the only U.S. manufacturer offering propane buses, has deployed over 20,000 such vehicles since 2012, serving 1.3 million students across 1,100 school districts nationwide.
Blue Bird (Nasdaq: BLBD) applauds the EPA's announcement of $965 million in additional funding for clean school buses through the Clean School Bus Rebate Program. This fourth round of funding brings the total to nearly $3 billion, enabling about 1,300 school districts to replace old diesel buses with nearly 8,700 electric and ultra-low emission vehicles.
Blue Bird, the leader in electric and low-emission school buses, has over 2,000 electric buses in operation, covering more than 5 million miles. The company is expanding its production capacity, including opening a 40,000 square foot EV Build-up Center in 2023. Additionally, Blue Bird received an $80 million DOE grant to convert a former diesel motorhome facility into a 600,000 square foot electric and low-emissions vehicle manufacturing facility, creating over 400 new jobs.
Amentum, a global engineering and technology solutions leader, has announced its board of directors effective upon the close of its pending merger with Jacobs' Critical Mission Solutions and Cyber and Intelligence businesses, expected on September 27, 2024. The board comprises 14 industry and business leaders with extensive experience in engineering, technology, national security, and finance. Notable members include Steven J. Demetriou as executive chair, John Heller as CEO, and retired military generals Vincent K. Brooks and Ralph E. Eberhart. The diverse board brings expertise in areas such as leadership, international relations, private equity, and cybersecurity to guide Amentum's mission of addressing complex global challenges in science, security, and sustainability.
Blue Bird (Nasdaq: BLBD) has announced the resignation of Britton Smith from his position as President, effective September 28, 2024. Smith, who is stepping down for personal reasons, will also leave the Company's Board of Directors immediately. Phil Horlock, the current CEO, will assume the additional role of President, continuing his nearly 14-year leadership of the company.
Blue Bird, known for its electric and low-emission school buses, remains committed to its profitable growth plan, focusing on clean alternative-powered school buses and delivering value to stakeholders. The company's Board of Directors expressed gratitude for Smith's contributions and wished him well in his future endeavors.