April 11, 2026. New Flyer of America Inc. announced that the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) has exercised an option to purchase an additional 50 forty-foot and 23 sixty-foot Xcelsior® compressed natural gas (CNG) heavy-duty transit buses. The order comes in the fourth year of a five-year contract originally announced in 2022. This latest purchase, valued at approximately $64 million including 96 equivalent units, was added to NFI’s firm backlog for the fourth quarter of 2025.
MTS has been serving the San Diego community for nearly 140 years and today facilitates more than 80 million passenger trips annually, making it a critical part of the region’s transportation network. The agency operates almost 100 fixed-route bus lines and four light rail lines, supporting mobility for approximately three million residents across San Diego County.
The order supports skilled manufacturing jobs across New Flyer’s U.S. operations and contributes to a strong domestic transit manufacturing supply chain, consistent with Buy America requirements. The new vehicles will help modernize the MTS fleet by replacing end-of-life buses with more efficient, low-emission models designed to meet the agency’s operational and service requirements.
“As one of the first transit systems in Southern California, MTS continues to lead the way in both safety and service quality,” says Chris Stoddart, President, North American Bus and Coach, NFI. “Having partnered with MTS for more than a decade, New Flyer is proud to support MTS with clean, safe, and innovative CNG technology.”
“MTS and New Flyer have built a strong partnership over many years, and this new order keeps our bus fleet modern and efficient,” said Sharon Cooney, MTS Chief Executive Officer. “Safety and reliability in our fleet are at the top of our priorities. These Xcelsior buses ensure our passengers continue to experience dependable, highquality transit service across San Diego County.”
More information in www.usgasvehicles.com
