MICRO BIRD

School Bus Manufacturingmicrobird.com

Company typePrivate
Founded1966
HeadquartersDrummondville, Canada
Headcount101–250
GTM typeB2B
OfferingHardware or Manufacturing

What MICRO BIRD does

Micro Bird Inc. is a Canadian manufacturer of Type A school buses, Multi-Function School Activity Buses (MFSAB), Multi-Purpose Vehicles (MPV), and Commercial Buses, headquartered in Drummondville, Quebec with a newer U.S. production facility in Plattsburgh, New York. The company traces its origins to 1966 as Girardin Minibus and became Micro Bird through a 50/50 joint venture with Blue Bird Corporation in 2009; Blue Bird acquired the remaining 50% on April 1, 2026 for approximately $201.8 million (10.7x FY2026 EBITDA), making Micro Bird a wholly-owned subsidiary. The product portfolio spans the G5 platform in gasoline, propane (integrated with Ford 7.3L V8 and ROUSH CleanTech Gen5), and electric variants, with the G5e offering 600V architecture, up to 175 kWh battery capacity, 100 kW charging, 200+ mile range, and Vehicle-to-Grid bidirectional charging. Capacities range from 9 passengers (MPV) to 36 passengers (school and MFSAB configurations), with ADA-compliant wheelchair lifts and Buy America Act-compliant manufacturing.

The company operates two manufacturing plants totaling approximately 406,000 sq ft (Drummondville ~250,000 sq ft including a 2020 expansion; Plattsburgh 156,000 sq ft opened September 2025 with a $38M investment) and employs approximately 950 people post-acquisition. Distribution is exclusively through a network of 55+ certified dealerships across North America, which handle sales, training, and after-sale service; the company does not sell direct and pricing is quote-based through dealers. Revenue is generated from one-time hardware sales across K-12 school districts (primary), paratransit services for elderly and disabled passengers, commercial fleet operators (airport, hotel, corporate shuttles), and community organizations.

The go-to-market combines industry trade shows (e.g., STN EXPO West), content marketing (e.g., "5 Steps to Fleet Electrification" guide), and dealer-led demand generation, supplemented by post-sale enablement through the Electric Bus 360° Certification Program. Customer demand is increasingly shaped by federal and state grant programs (FTA Low/No Emission, EPA Clean School Bus, Empire State Development) that Micro Bird actively targets, evidenced by deployments like Schaumburg, Illinois and the tax-credit-supported Plattsburgh expansion. The company faces structural exposure to government budget cycles, EV ramp execution risk, and the integration dynamics of operating as a subsidiary of publicly-traded Blue Bird (NASDAQ: BLBD).

MICRO BIRD firmographics

Firmographics

Name: MICRO BIRD
Legal name: Micro Bird Inc.
Website: https://microbird.com
Company type: Private
Founded year: 1966
Operating status: Operating
Headcount range: 101–250 employees
Ownership category
akta.pro rank

MICRO BIRD industry classification

Industry

Product category: School Bus Manufacturing
NAICS: Motor Home Manufacturing (336213)
SIC: Truck & Bus Bodies (3713)
akta.pro primary industry: Class 1–3 Commercial Trucks (Light/Medium Duty) Manufacturing (IMACABAA)

Keywords

Type a school buses
Electric school buses
Commercial bus manufacturing
Alternative fuel vehicles
Multi-function activity buses

Where MICRO BIRD is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

HQ city: Drummondville
HQ country: Canada
HQ region: North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

MICRO BIRD business model

Business model

GTM type: B2B
Offering type: Hardware or Manufacturing
Cost components: Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

Bus Sales: Micro Bird generates revenue through the manufacture and sale of Type A school buses, Multi-Function School Activity Buses (MFSAB), Multi-Purpose Vehicles (MPV), and Commercial Buses. Products are sold through a network of 55+ certified dealers across North America. Revenue is generated from one-time hardware sales with various fuel options including gasoline, propane, and electric.

Pricing tiers

Model	Billing	Price
Unit Pricing	Pay-as-you-go	Bus pricing varies by model, configuration, and fuel type

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

MICRO BIRD product offering

Product offering

Core offering

Micro Bird designs and manufactures Type A school buses, Multi-Function School Activity Buses (MFSAB), Multi-Purpose Vehicles (MPV), and Commercial Buses with capacities ranging from 9 to 36 passengers. The product lineup includes gasoline, propane (G5 Propane with ROUSH CleanTech/Ford 7.3L V8), and electric (G5e with 600V architecture and V2G capability) variants. Products are sold exclusively through a network of 55+ certified dealerships across North America and include the G5 series, MB-II, T-Series, D-Series, MPV, and Commercial Bus lines.

Product overview

MICRO BIRD is a family-owned manufacturer of Type A school buses, Multi-Function School Activity Buses (MFSAB), Multi-Purpose Vehicles (MPVs), and Commercial Buses with passenger capacities ranging from 9 to 36. Founded in 1966 (initially as Girardin Minibus) and operating as a joint venture with Blue Bird Corporation since 2009, the company offers vehicles across multiple fuel types: electric (G5e with V2G capability), propane (G5 Propane with ROUSH CleanTech/Ford engine), and gasoline. The product lineup consists of the G5 series, MB-II, and T-Series, all classified as Type A buses. The company operates manufacturing plants in Drummondville, Quebec (250,000 sq ft with a 115,000 sq ft expansion) and a newer 156,000 sq ft facility in Plattsburgh, NY. The company also offers the Electric Bus 360° Certification Program for dealer and client training.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

G5: Type A school bus available in multiple configurations including electric, propane, and gas models
T-Series
MB-II
D-Series
G5e

Products and services

G5 Electric (G5e) School Bus Type A electric school bus featuring a 600V architecture with 100 kW charging speeds, two battery options up to 175 kWh capacity, and industry-leading range of over 200 miles (320 km) on a single charge. Includes Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) bidirectional charging capability, direct drive motorization, and a reinforced 8-inch buffer zone for passenger safety. Targeted at school districts and fleet operators transitioning to electric vehicles.
G5 Propane School Bus

Quantifiable outcome

200+ miles (320 km) range on single charge
+2 more outcomes

Companies that use MICRO BIRD

Customer profile

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

MICRO BIRD technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API: No
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

MICRO BIRD partnerships and signals

Strategic signal

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

Blue Bird CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Blue Bird Corporation acquired the remaining 50% stake in Micro Bird for approximately $201.8 million on April 1, 2026, making Micro Bird a wholly-owned subsidiary. The deal was funded 30% in cash and 70% in Blue Bird common stock. Steve Girardin joined Blue Bird's Board of Directors upon closing. The acquisition consolidates Blue Bird's North American operations under a single brand.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

MICRO BIRD competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Direct peers

Elkhart Coach: US manufacturer of Type A buses and small commercial buses for paratransit, shuttle, and assisted living markets. Direct competitor in the commercial cutaway bus segment with overlapping Buy America production.
IC Bus (Navistar): Major competitor in North American school bus market producing Type C and D buses. Part of Navistar/Traton. Targets the same K-12 school district and fleet operator customers with overlapping alternative fuel and electric offerings.
Thomas Built Buses: Daimler-owned school bus manufacturer producing Type C and D buses, including the Jouley electric school bus. Direct competitor to Micro Bird/Blue Bird in school district sales with growing electric portfolio targeting the same federal funding pool.
Collins Bus Corporation: Manufacturer of Type A school buses and Multi-Function School Activity Buses (MFSAB), competing head-to-head with Micro Bird's MB-II and T-Series product lines. Serves the same school district and special needs transportation customer base.
Lion Electric: Canadian-based manufacturer of electric Type A, C, and D school buses and commercial trucks. Headquartered in Saint-Jérôme, Quebec, near Micro Bird. Direct competitor in the Type A electric school bus space with comparable federal grant capture.
Starcraft Bus: Commercial bus and shuttle manufacturer (division of Forest River) producing Type A and medium-duty buses. Competes with Micro Bird's Commercial Bus line in paratransit, shuttle, and community transport markets.

Broad incumbents

REV Group: Diversified specialty vehicle manufacturer (NYSE: REVG) producing commercial buses, ambulances, and RVs through multiple brands including Champion Bus and E-ONE. Overlaps with Micro Bird in commercial shuttle and paratransit markets.
Blue Bird Corporation: Parent company of Micro Bird since April 2026. Blue Bird manufactures Type C and D school buses and is the dominant North American school bus OEM. Same end customers (school districts, fleet operators), complementary product lines, shared dealer network post-acquisition.
Forest River Bus: Berkshire Hathaway-owned commercial bus manufacturer with multiple Type A and shuttle brands. Competes broadly with Micro Bird Commercial Bus and MPV lines across paratransit, shuttle, and fleet customer segments.

Emerging players

GreenPower Motor Company: Canadian EV bus manufacturer producing Type A, D, and school bus configurations including the BEAST and Nano BEAST models. Emerging competitor in the electric school bus segment pursuing federal Clean School Bus Program funding.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

MICRO BIRD financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

MICRO BIRD leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

MICRO BIRD funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

MICRO BIRD M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about MICRO BIRD

What does MICRO BIRD do?

Is MICRO BIRD a public or private company?

MICRO BIRD is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.

When was MICRO BIRD founded?

MICRO BIRD was founded in 1966. It employs 101 to 250 people.

Where is MICRO BIRD based?

MICRO BIRD is headquartered in Drummondville, Canada, in the North America region.

How does MICRO BIRD make money?

One revenue line is on record: bus Sales.

Who are MICRO BIRD's main competitors?

Direct peers on record are Elkhart Coach, IC Bus (Navistar), Thomas Built Buses, Collins Bus Corporation, Lion Electric and Starcraft Bus. Broad incumbents are REV Group, Blue Bird Corporation and Forest River Bus. GreenPower Motor Company is listed as an emerging player.

Does MICRO BIRD have an API?

No public API is recorded for MICRO BIRD.

What industry is MICRO BIRD in?

MICRO BIRD's product category is School Bus Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMACABAA, Class 1–3 Commercial Trucks (Light/Medium Duty) Manufacturing. Its NAICS code is 336213 and its SIC code is 3713.