History Highlights

Prevost takes great pride in its history and industry innovations. They include:

1924 - Eugene Prevost, a cabinet maker specializing in the production of church pews and school furniture, was commissioned to build his first wooden coach body and mount it on a brand-new REO truck chassis.

1937 to 1939 - In response to growing demand, the company built its first bus manufacturing facility.

1945 - During the 1940s, the Prevost bus design changed from an all-wood body and frame to a metal body over a wooden frame. Then, in 1945, Eugene Prevost introduced the first all-metal body over an all-metal skeleton.

1947 - The company resumed operations under the name Les Ateliers Prevost, and the plant had grown to 22,000 square feet. To handle customized work, the company's manufacturing facilities needed to be almost self-contained, with metal and woodworking shops, die-casting and plating facilities, and a foundry.

1945 to 1957 - Prevost gradually phased out cabinet work to concentrate on building highway motorcoaches.

1951 - Prevost received 100 orders for highway buses from the Canadian government, 66 of which were for the Department of National Defense. This established Prevost as a reliable, high-performance motorcoach manufacturer.

1957 - Industrialist Paul Normand acquired the company and renamed it Prevost Car Inc. Its mission was to design and build intercity motorcoaches offering optimal comfort and reliability.

1957 - The silver-sided Le Normand, with a diesel engine and pneumatic suspension, was the first model introduced under the new ownership.

1961 - The Travelair was a small, 25-foot, gas- or diesel-powered passenger coach used on airport shuttle runs and short intercity routes.

1961 - The 40 foot Panoramique intercity parlor coach with broad side windows and Prevost's improved air-ride

1967 - The revolutionary 1966 Prevost Champion was the first North American coach with an integral structure. This innovative coach also featured three axles, a split level, and air conditioning.

1967 - Prevost's first American dealership was opened in New Jersey, quickly followed by a second in Los Angeles. A third dealership was set up in Vancouver, Canada.

1968 - The Prevost Prestige came out with the curved roof-wrapping side windows that have become the hallmark of the Prevost Le Mirage XL silhouette.

1969 - Two American businessmen, Thomas B. Harbison and William G. Campbell, formed a partnership with André Normand, President of Prevost Car Inc., from 1968 to 1996, and became the company's sole owners.

1970 - The first Champion conversion shell rolled off the assembly line.

1976 - Prevost unveiled its hallmark Le Mirage, an eye-catching, futuristic passenger coach featuring roof-wrapping side windows, a rust-protected integrated frame, fluted all stainless-steel skirting, and much less riveting than other coaches of the time.

1978 - As longtime motorhome owners, Thomas Harbison and William Campbell contributed to the engineering of the first Le Mirage conversion shell, which was introduced at the 1978 Family Motor Coach Association (FMCA) meeting. Prevost set new standards in reliability and versatility for high-end custom furbishing. Less than five years later, Prevost had achieved industry leadership. To this day the company remains the undisputed world leader in the manufacture of bus shells for high-end motorhomes and other specialty conversions.

1980 - A plant expansion was necessary to keep up with demand and establish the industry's leading in-house R&D team.

1984 - The outcome was well worth the effort: The first North American 102-inch, wide-body coaches and conversion shells were introduced—the Prevost Le Mirage XL and the Prevost XL.

1985 - The company expanded two more times, and Prevost brought revolutionary changes to the bus industry with the introduction of the articulated Prevost H5-60, the first in its H-Series, at the American Bus Association's annual meeting in Las Vegas. Prevost literally stole the show with its new-generation coach design that redefined existing standards for reliability, durability, and passenger comfort.

1989 - The technical advances achieved by Prevost engineers with the development of this next-generation coach led to subsequent launches of a new line of premium touring coaches: the H3-40, H3-41, and H3-45. The H3-40 touring coach and H3-40 bus shells for high-end conversion were both introduced that same year.

1992 - Prevost introduced a long wheelbase 45-footer, the XL-45 Entertainer, engineered for traveling entertainers. It outsold all other competitive models.

1993 - Prevost launched 3 new models: H3-41 and H3-45 premium touring coaches as well as the H3-45 VIP bus shell for high-end conversion.

1995 - Prevost Car Inc. was acquired by Volvo Bus Corporation and Henlys Group plc.

1995 - Prevost introduced the Le Mirage XL-45 premium touring coach.

1997 - Prevost was the first North American bus manufacturer to earn the ISO 9001 certification covering manufacturing and design operations.

1997 - Prevost introduced frameless windows for remarkable panoramic viewing – a revolutionary development for tour and charter passengers.

1998 - The company's concern for the environment led to its ISO 14001 certification for environmental management systems related to manufacturing and design operations.

2000 - Production of the new Le Mirage XLII model started in January.

2002 - A facelift for the Prevost H-Series models broke new ground at the UMA Motorcoach Expo held in Indianapolis.

2003 - Prevost introduced an exclusive, interchangeable wheelchair lift. It now takes less than 15 minutes for any compatible lift-ready Prevost to be ADA compliant.

2004 - A facelift for the Prevost XLII models.

2004 - Volvo Bus Corporation became the sole owner of Prevost Car Inc.

2004 - Prevost introduced xenon headlights, which offer twice the luminosity of conventional headlights and last six times longer.

2005 - Prevost set the electrical multiplex system standard with its space-saving multiplex technology that provides outstanding reliability and performance. It is considered a second generation multiplex system.

2006 - Prevost launched the new X3-45 with the longest wheelbase of the industry, providing a smoother ride and the largest overall under-floor surface area for storage.

2009 - Prevost launched the Volvo 9700. Volvo’s commitment to efficiency and productivity complements Prevost’s commitment to quality and innovation, and the 9700 finds its place alongside the H3-45 and X3-45.

2009 - Facelift for H series shows clean, sleek lines - introduced at the UMA Motorcoach Expo held in Orlando, Florida.