Orion International

Orion International, previously Orion Bus Industries and Ontario Bus Industries in Canada and Bus Industries of America in the United States, is a bus manufacturer based in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada and established by the Government of Ontario in 1975. Privatized in 1993, Orion was acquired by Daimler Chrysler (now Daimler AG) in July 2000, and is now part of the group Daimler Buses North America.

Current product
The current product from Orion International is the Orion VII Next Generation bi-level low-floor bus. Introduced in 2007 to replace an earlier generation of the Orion VII produced from 2001–2007, and as the replacement for the Orion V after 2009,, this model, produced as a 102 in (2.59 m)-wide bus, is available as a 40.5 ft (12.34 m), 35 ft (10.67 m), or 32.5 ft (9.91 m) bus. Fuel options include biodiesel, CNG, diesel, or diesel-electric (hybrid). The hybrid model is further available with a lead-acid or a lithium-ion battery.

The model will be slightly updated in 2010 with a third generation model, where the air conditioning unit will be on the roof behind the battery. Also in the future, this model will be available in a bus rapid transit (BRT) design and in a 45 ft (13.72 m) length.

Previous products
Orion has manufactured a number of different models of buses over its 30+ year existence. A list of models is given below; each increasing number is the next generation model.

Assembly plants

 * Orion buses are initially assembled in the Mississauga plant and final assembly and testing is done in Oriskany, New York.


 * Mississauga - Chassis and body
 * Oriskany - Seating, engine, HVAC, Final assembly and Testing

Hybrid buses

 * Hybrid buses.