Thomas Built Buses announced major enhancements to its Type D product line with the introduction of the Saf-T-Liner HDX2.

Thomas Built's Type D buses are known for their flat-front construction, driver visibility, and passenger capacity.

Improved Construction for Increased Safety

Moving manufacturing of the buses to the company’s Saf-T-Liner C2 Plant in Archdale, North Carolina, has enabled Thomas Built to take advantage of the technology and capabilities at the facility to incorporate them into the new model.

The HDX2 features a refreshed aesthetic in line with Thomas Built's C2, including taller and wider windows, new front and rear ends and C2-style side exit and entrance doors.  

The HDX2 will employ the C2’s Saf-T-Net construction, utilizing adhesive technologies along with mechanical fasteners for increased safety.

The C2 plant’s robotic painting capabilities will enhance paint quality, ensuring a consistent and durable finish. The move to the C2 plant also enables production line undercoating, further improving the overall durability of the buses.  

The C2 plant enables increased production capacity due to its modern production line and automated processes, translating to faster delivery times for school bus fleet customers. 

Streamlining Service and Maintenance

The integration of common parts between the C2 and HDX lines streamlines service, reducing the complexity of maintaining mixed fleets with fewer service parts. The reduction of line side wiring and 100% harness content simplifies the serviceability and maintenance of electrical components.   

“The Type D segment has gone without innovation for some time,” Thomas Built President and CEO Kevin Bangston said. “Moving our Type D operations to our C2 plant is a smart move that will make our buses more efficient to build and get to our customers faster. At Thomas Built, we’re focused on what our customers need, and we’re excited about how this change will make the next iteration of our Type D buses even better. This investment in the HDX2 is a lever to continue to develop the product and symbolizes our dedication to providing cutting-edge solutions to our customers and continuing to push innovation in the school bus industry.” 

Orders for the HDX2 will commence later this month, with customer builds happening as early as the first quarter of 2025.