GILLIG
GILLIG is the leading US manufacturer of heavy-duty low-floor transit buses, selling Battery Electric, Hydrogen, Hybrid, CNG, and Clean Diesel variants on a shared platform to public transit agencies nationwide. Revenue is generated through multi-year fleet procurement contracts, federal grant-funded programs, and aftermarket parts.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1890
- HeadquartersLivermore, United States
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What GILLIG does
GILLIG LLC is a privately held US manufacturer of heavy-duty low-floor transit buses, headquartered in Livermore, California, and operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Crown family's Arkay Acquisition LLC. The company was founded in 1890 and today functions as the leading manufacturer of heavy-duty transit buses in the United States, producing a unified Low-Floor platform that supports five propulsion variants — Battery Electric, Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric, Hybrid Electric (with Allison eGen Flex), Compressed Natural Gas, and Clean Diesel — sharing common parts across the lineup for fleet standardization. Its second-generation battery electric bus uses a Cummins-powered 444 kWh system with approximately 150 miles of real-world range, and the company has supplied 500+ electric buses nationwide.
GILLIG generates revenue primarily through multi-year fleet procurement contracts with US public transit agencies, with bus unit pricing ranging from approximately $633,000 (clean diesel) and $720,000 (CNG) to $1.0M–$1.25M (battery electric) per unit, supplemented by an aftermarket parts business and bundled charging solutions. Go-to-market is direct enterprise field sales (led by VP of Sales Bill Fay) targeting competitive-bid transit procurements, with the company holding 65% of 2024 FTA Low- and No-Emission grant awards for heavy-duty transit vehicles across 48+ communities. The GILLIG footprint also includes a Colorado Technology Center in Loveland operated by subsidiary GERCO LLC — established through the 2024 receivership acquisition of Lightning eMotors assets — which builds in-house electric powertrain and analytics engineering capacity.
The company is Buy America-compliant (49 CFR 661), operates with unionized labor (Teamsters Local 853, Painters Union Local 1176), and runs a 600,000 square-foot manufacturing plant in Livermore. Recent strategic activity includes a historic King County Metro contract for up to 395 battery electric buses (2024), a 50/50 JV with NFI Group to acquire American Seating (October 2025), and the launch of hydrogen fuel cell buses (April 2024) — all positioning GILLIG to capture a disproportionate share of the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law transit funding and CARB's 2040 zero-emission mandate-driven demand.
GILLIG firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- GILLIG
- Legal name
- GILLIG LLC
- Website
- https://gillig.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1890
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- GILLIG is the leading US manufacturer of heavy-duty low-floor transit buses, selling Battery Electric, Hydrogen, Hybrid, CNG, and Clean Diesel variants on a shared platform to public transit agencies nationwide. Revenue is generated through multi-year fleet procurement contracts, federal grant-funded programs, and aftermarket parts.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
GILLIG industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Heavy-Duty Transit Buses
- NAICS
- Heavy Duty Truck Manufacturing (336120)
- SIC
- Truck & Bus Bodies (3713)
- akta.pro primary industry
- City/Urban Transit Bus Manufacturing (IMACADAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Electric Bus (Battery-Electric) Manufacturing (IMACADAE), Hybrid Bus Manufacturing (IMACADAG), Truck & Commercial Vehicle Electrification Manufacturing (eAxles/Battery Packs/Fuel Cells) (IMACABAK)
Keywords
Where GILLIG is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Livermore
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
GILLIG business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Bus Manufacturing and Sales: GILLIG generates the majority of its revenue from the design, manufacture, and sale of heavy-duty transit buses to public transit agencies across the United States. Products include Battery Electric, Hydrogen Fuel Cell, Hybrid Electric, CNG, and Clean Diesel buses. Revenue is realized through large fleet procurement contracts (e.g., King County Metro up to 395 buses, DART 476 CNG buses).
- Aftermarket Parts: GILLIG provides comprehensive aftermarket parts solutions for its bus fleets, including fast and reliable shipping nationwide, a vast inventory, and flexible delivery options. Aftermarket parts ensure ongoing revenue from the installed base of buses in service.
- Charging Solutions: GILLIG offers advanced charging solutions for battery electric bus fleets, including hardware, software, and technical support services. This emerging revenue stream supports the growing zero-emission bus market and provides bundled solutions alongside new bus sales.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Battery Electric Buses |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) Buses |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Hybrid Electric Buses |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Clean Diesel Buses |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
GILLIG product offering
Product offeringCore offering
GILLIG designs, manufactures, and sells heavy-duty transit buses built on a proprietary Low-Floor platform that supports five propulsion variants (Battery Electric, Hydrogen Fuel Cell, Hybrid Electric, CNG, and Clean Diesel) with shared common parts across propulsion types. The company sells directly to U.S. public transit agencies, universities, and airports through large multi-year fleet contracts (e.g., King County Metro up to 395 BEBs, DART 476 CNG buses), and bundles buses with aftermarket parts support and integrated Charging Solutions for battery electric fleets.
Product overview
GILLIG is a single-platform bus manufacturer offering a comprehensive portfolio of heavy-duty transit buses built on a shared Low-Floor platform. The product lineup includes four propulsion types: Battery Electric (zero-emission), Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric (zero-emission), Hybrid Electric (diesel-electric), CNG (Compressed Natural Gas), and Clean Diesel. All models share common parts across propulsion types for seamless fleet integration and ease of maintenance. GILLIG also provides integrated Charging Solutions for battery electric bus fleets and comprehensive Aftermarket Parts support. The company operates a wholly-owned subsidiary, GERCO LLC, focused on electric powertrain engineering, and offers internal quality management tools through the Right First Time application.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- GILLIG Battery Electric Bus Zero-emission heavy-duty transit bus with Cummins electrified powertrain, offering quiet operation and zero tailpipe emissions in 30-foot, 35-foot, and 40-foot configurations for U.S. public transit agencies, universities, and airports pursuing fleet electrification.
- GILLIG Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Bus Zero-emission heavy-duty transit bus utilizing hydrogen fuel cell propulsion (BAE Systems + Ballard) for transit agencies seeking an alternative to battery electric technology on duty cycles requiring faster refueling or longer range.
- GILLIG Hybrid Electric Bus Diesel-electric hybrid heavy-duty transit bus with Allison Transmission's next-generation eGen Flex system, providing up to 10 miles of full electric propulsion for zero-emission zones without additional charging infrastructure, for transit agencies transitioning from diesel.
- GILLIG CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) Bus Heavy-duty transit bus powered by compressed natural gas, delivering ultra-low emissions performance and cleaner combustion than diesel alternatives, used by transit agencies such as DART (476-bus order), ABQ RIDE, and Amtran for fleet modernization.
- GILLIG Clean Diesel Bus Heavy-duty transit bus meeting clean diesel emissions standards, providing reliable performance with established technology for transit agencies such as Asheville Rides Transit and Sangamon Mass Transit District replacing aging diesel fleets.
- GILLIG Charging Solutions Comprehensive charging infrastructure for battery electric bus fleets, including plug-in charging hardware, intuitive software, and expert technical support, sold alongside new GILLIG Battery Electric Bus contracts (e.g., 16 plug-in charging systems in the Utah Transit Authority contract).
- GILLIG Aftermarket Parts Comprehensive parts support with fast, reliable nationwide shipping, vast inventory, and flexible delivery options for installed GILLIG bus fleets, generating recurring revenue from the in-service base and supporting fleet uptime.
Quantifiable outcome
- GILLIG has supplied at least 500 electric buses nationwide, with 20% delivered to California transit operators
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use GILLIG
Customer profileNamed customers45 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
GILLIG technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration7 records
Feature6 records
GILLIG partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and minor.
- NFI Group Inc.coreNFI Group Inc. and GILLIG LLC established a 50/50 joint venture that acquired the assets of American Seating Inc., a seat supplier for transit, motorcoach, and rail sectors. The acquisition aims to strengthen the transit industry's supply chain and ensure better operational performance and stability. This joint venture was also noted as a key industry development in the bus interior components market.
- BAE Systems and BallardstrategicGILLIG expanded its zero-emission product lineup through partnerships with BAE Systems and Ballard to power hydrogen fuel cell electric buses. This partnership provides transit agencies with an additional zero-emission pathway beyond battery electric technology.
- GERCO LLC (Subsidiary)strategicGERCO LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of GILLIG, acquired select assets from Lightning eMotors and Lightning Systems through a court-appointed receivership sale, including engineering talent and tools. This acquisition established GILLIG's Colorado Technology Center and expanded electric powertrain engineering capacity.
- SunPowerminorGILLIG partnered with SunPower to install one of the largest rooftop solar power systems in the Bay Area at its Livermore headquarters. The SunPower solar and battery storage system reduces GILLIG's carbon footprint.
- Allison TransmissionstrategicGILLIG offers Allison Transmission's next-generation eGen Flex electric hybrid propulsion system on its hybrid electric buses, providing up to 10 miles of full electric propulsion for zero-emission zones without additional infrastructure investment.
- Cummins Inc.coreGILLIG partnered with Cummins for electrified power technology. Cummins provides the battery electric powertrain for GILLIG's zero-emission battery electric bus. The GILLIG Battery Electric Bus features a battery capacity of 444 kWh powered by Cummins' electrified powertrain. The partnership was announced at APTA in 2018/2019 and continues as the primary electric propulsion supplier.
- Federal Transit Administration (FTA)coreGILLIG benefits from FTA funding programs including the Low- and No-Emission (Low-No) Vehicle grant program, which provided approximately $1.5 billion to 117 projects in 2024. GILLIG was selected as partner for 65% of awards designated for heavy-duty transit vehicles, spanning 48+ communities. The 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provided nearly $5 billion in transit funding over three years.
- American Public Transportation Association (APTA)strategicAPTA is a non-profit organization advocating for public transportation in the U.S. GILLIG maintains a strong relationship with APTA, hosting facility tours and roundtable discussions at its headquarters. APTA President and CEO Paul Skoutelas toured GILLIG's Livermore facility, emphasizing GILLIG as an outstanding industry partner.
- Teamsters Local 853 and District Council 16 Auto, Marine, and Specialty Painters Union Local 1176coreGILLIG advances U.S. manufacturing through strong union partnerships. Teamsters Local 853 and District Council 16 Auto, Marine, and Specialty Painters Union Local 1176 voted strongly in favor of union partnership agreements, demonstrating GILLIG's commitment to American workforce and organized labor.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights7 records
GILLIG competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- NFI Group / New Flyer: NFI Group, through its New Flyer subsidiary, is the largest North American heavy-duty transit bus manufacturer and GILLIG's closest direct competitor, supplying 35/40-foot transit buses (diesel, hybrid, CNG, battery electric, hydrogen fuel cell) to the same US and Canadian transit agencies.
- Nova Bus: Nova Bus (a Volvo Group company) manufactures heavy-duty urban transit buses including battery electric and hybrid models for North American transit agencies, competing head-to-head with GILLIG on FTA-funded procurements.
- ENC (REV Group): ENC, part of REV Group, produces heavy-duty transit and shuttle buses for North American public transit and paratransit markets, overlapping with GILLIG's transit bus portfolio across multiple propulsion types.
Emerging players
- BYD: BYD is rapidly expanding its battery electric transit bus footprint in the United States, competing with GILLIG on zero-emission procurements and benefiting from vertically integrated battery manufacturing.
- GreenPower Motor Company: GreenPower is a smaller Canadian manufacturer focused on zero-emission school, transit, and shuttle buses, competing at the niche end of the electric bus market that GILLIG also addresses with its BEB and Low-Floor platforms.
Regional players
- Alexander Dennis: Alexander Dennis is a UK-based bus manufacturer (owned by NFI Group) with growing presence in North American transit markets, offering double-deck and zero-emission buses that overlap with GILLIG's transit agency customer base.
Broad incumbents
- Blue Bird Corporation: Blue Bird is a leading US school and activity bus manufacturer (Type A, C, D) that competes in adjacent bus segments and offers electric and propane-powered buses, overlapping with GILLIG in shared customers (schools, transit agencies) and zero-emission powertrain development.
- IC Bus (Navistar): IC Bus, Navistar's school and commercial bus brand, manufactures Type A, C, and D buses including electric CE Series, competing with GILLIG in the broader commercial bus market while serving some overlapping municipal and university customers.
Others
- Cummins Inc. Cummins supplies the electrified powertrain for GILLIG's battery electric buses and also supplies competing OEMs (including New Flyer), making it both a strategic partner and an ecosystem participant whose component decisions shape GILLIG's competitive position.
- Allison Transmission: Allison Transmission supplies the eGen Flex hybrid propulsion system integrated into GILLIG's hybrid buses, and serves competing bus OEMs, functioning as a key enabling technology partner in the heavy-duty transit bus ecosystem.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
GILLIG social profiles
Digital presenceGILLIG compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
GILLIG financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
GILLIG leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
GILLIG subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
GILLIG funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
GILLIG M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about GILLIG
What does GILLIG do?
GILLIG designs, manufactures, and sells heavy-duty transit buses built on a proprietary Low-Floor platform that supports five propulsion variants (Battery Electric, Hydrogen Fuel Cell, Hybrid Electric, CNG, and Clean Diesel) with shared common parts across propulsion types. The company sells directly to U.S. public transit agencies, universities, and airports through large multi-year fleet contracts (e.g., King County Metro up to 395 BEBs, DART 476 CNG buses), and bundles buses with aftermarket parts support and integrated Charging Solutions for battery electric fleets.
Is GILLIG a public or private company?
GILLIG is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was GILLIG founded?
GILLIG was founded in 1890. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is GILLIG based?
GILLIG is headquartered in Livermore, United States, in the North America region.
How does GILLIG make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Bus Manufacturing and Sales are the primary driver. The others are aftermarket Parts and charging Solutions.
Who are GILLIG's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are NFI Group / New Flyer, Nova Bus and ENC (REV Group). Emerging players are BYD and GreenPower Motor Company. Alexander Dennis is listed as a regional player. Broad incumbents are Blue Bird Corporation and IC Bus (Navistar). Others are Cummins Inc. and Allison Transmission.
Does GILLIG have an API?
No public API is recorded for GILLIG.
What industry is GILLIG in?
GILLIG's product category is Heavy-Duty Transit Buses. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMACADAA, City/Urban Transit Bus Manufacturing, with a secondary code of IMACADAE, Electric Bus (Battery-Electric) Manufacturing. Its NAICS code is 336120 and its SIC code is 3713.