LISLE, Ill. — School bus manufacturer IC Bus launched on Monday IC Bus Cares, a program that lets customers defer payments on some purchases and offers free access to its diagnostic software in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Under IC Bus Cares, customers can defer payments for six months and access for free through Oct. 1 IC Bus 360, its one-stop service communication and remote diagnostics platform, according to a news release from the manufacturer.

“Despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, our customers have not stopped,” said Trish Reed, vice president and general manager of IC Bus. “Many of them are out doing good each day delivering meals to kids in need, using their buses as Wi-Fi hotspots for students to access online learning and picking up course work and dropping it off at student’s homes. These actions speak volumes about the community that we have in the school bus industry, and through this program we hope to provide support and say thank you to our customers.”

Until May 31, customers will be able to finance purchases through Navistar Capital and not incur payments for six months. The finance program offers customers the ability to purchase new vehicles without tying up short-term cash.

The offer includes current dealer stock inventory or new sold orders of IC Bus CE and RE Series models at IC Bus dealerships that have a fully executed dealer agreement with Navistar Capital.

The offer is available to well-qualified borrowers and commercial customers only. (Additional terms and conditions apply; customers should contact an IC Bus dealer for more details.) 

Meanwhile, the program offering free access to fleet management tool IC Bus 360 through Oct. 1 is designed to help customers safely and effectively manage their fleets and offers customers tools to maximize uptime and manage the health of their fleets digitally.

For more information and to learn about current offers on IC Bus 360, contact your local IC Bus dealer.

In addition, IC Bus is continuously updated its COVID-19 Resource Center web page. The site provides standard safety information, company news, and links to other resources, such as how to properly clean a bus.