School bus and shuttle manufacturer Endera is looking to continue its growth in the electric vehicle market. With a recently announced $49 million investment in the company, could a greater focus on school buses be in its future?

This round of funding includes a $36 million equity investment from Magnetar, Pulse Fund, and Pritchard Auto Company. In addition, a $13 million credit facility was granted to Endera, enabling it to scale manufacturing of electric shuttles and school buses, expand its product line, and create new jobs at its production facility in Ohio.

Endera is a vertically integrated American OEM of class 4 electric shuttles and school buses. The company has leveraged its legacy as an internal combustion engine (ICE) manufacturer and provides systems that address the growing demand for zero-emission vehicles, currently focusing on the government sector.

“This investment will support our mission to revolutionize the specialty vehicle industry and accelerate the transition to clean mobility,” said Endera CEO and founder John Walsh. “At a time when America needs to prioritize domestic manufacturing and sustainability, Endera is leading by example; creating jobs, driving economic growth, and providing cost-effective solutions all while advancing American ingenuity.”

Currently, Endera offers fully customizable ICE and electric shuttles and school buses that include a proprietary powertrain to achieve long range and fast charge times.

The company also offers in-house fleet management software that includes real-time insights. The software features a rider app and streamlined service response that have been integrated into the platform.

Endera was recently selected as the vendor for the CalAct contract.

“We see both commercial and climate value in Endera’s vertically integrated approach because it enables them to respond to customer needs with speed and precision,” said Tenzin Seldon, founder & managing partner of Pulse Fund. “By offering a holistic solution, they’re not just filling in gaps in the commercial EV market but solving challenges at every level. We’re excited to support their next phase of growth and contribute to the broader push for nationwide electrification.”

Since acquiring the former Winnebago Metro Titan group in 2021, Endera has increased its production output 20-fold. The company currently manufactures at its 250,000-square-foot production facility in Ohio.

Of note: Micro Bird, through its division Ecotuned, also operates as a vertically integrated manufacturer of electric school buses, and it also is expanding it's U.S. production facilities.