Blue Bird Corporation Signs Definitive Agreement to Acquire Full Ownership of Micro Bird Joint Venture
Blue Bird Corporation, a recognized leader in electric and low-emission school bus manufacturing across North America, has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Girardin Group’s 50 percent stake in the Micro Bird joint venture, thereby securing 100 percent ownership of the enterprise and marking a significant milestone in the company’s long-term growth strategy. Under the terms of the agreement, Blue Bird will pay approximately $200 million for Girardin’s share of the joint venture, with 30 percent of the consideration to be paid in cash and the remaining 70 percent in Blue Bird common stock, aligning both parties with future value creation. The transaction is anticipated to close during the first half of calendar year 2026, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals. Additional transaction details have been made available to investors through a slide presentation published on the company’s investor relations website.
Strategic Consolidation to Strengthen North American Operations
The acquisition represents a decisive step in Blue Bird’s commitment to expanding its footprint and reinforcing its operational structure across North America. By consolidating full ownership of Micro Bird, Blue Bird will unify its operations, streamline decision-making, and align manufacturing, engineering, and commercial teams under a single corporate structure and brand identity. The move is expected to generate operational efficiencies, enhance supply chain coordination, and accelerate product development cycles, enabling the company to respond more effectively to customer demands and evolving regulatory requirements. The consolidation will also allow Blue Bird to capture the full financial benefits of Micro Bird’s performance, contributing to improved margin profiles and long-term shareholder value creation.
Expanded and Unified Product Portfolio Across All Bus Categories
With complete ownership of Micro Bird, Blue Bird will offer the broadest product portfolio in its history, encompassing industry-leading Type A, Type C, and Type D school buses, as well as multi-purpose and commercial shuttle buses. This expanded portfolio positions Blue Bird as a comprehensive transportation solutions provider capable of serving school districts, private fleet operators, municipalities, and commercial customers with diverse transportation needs. The integration of Micro Bird’s Type A expertise with Blue Bird’s established strengths in Type C and D platforms enhances cross-selling opportunities and ensures a cohesive brand presence across multiple segments of the bus market. Customers will benefit from a unified distribution network, consistent aftersales support, and streamlined access to a full spectrum of vehicle configurations and powertrain options.
Leadership in Multi-Powertrain Technology and Market Responsiveness
Blue Bird stands as the only vehicle manufacturer in North America offering diesel, gasoline, propane, and electric-powered buses within its portfolio, a distinction that underscores its ability to address the diverse and evolving needs of school transportation providers. This multi-powertrain approach enables customers to select vehicles tailored to their operational requirements, budget considerations, and sustainability goals. As regulatory pressures intensify and environmental mandates expand at federal, state, and provincial levels, Blue Bird’s comprehensive offering provides flexibility and resilience. The acquisition of Micro Bird further enhances this advantage by integrating additional gasoline, propane, and electric Type A models into the fully consolidated lineup, strengthening Blue Bird’s ability to serve rural, suburban, and urban markets alike.
Increased Total Addressable Market Through Buy America Compliance
A significant strategic benefit of the acquisition is the expansion of Blue Bird’s total addressable market within the Buy America Act–compliant shuttle bus segment in North America. Micro Bird entered this segment in the fall of 2025 following its acquisition of a facility in Plattsburgh, New York, positioning the joint venture to manufacture compliant vehicles for federally funded transportation programs. By bringing Micro Bird fully under its ownership, Blue Bird gains direct access to this growing segment, which is increasingly influenced by domestic content requirements tied to infrastructure and transportation funding initiatives. The Plattsburgh facility enhances domestic production capacity and strengthens the company’s competitive position in securing government-supported contracts.
Executive Perspective on Strategic Growth and Vision
John Wyskiel, President and Chief Executive Officer of Blue Bird Corporation, emphasized the historical significance and forward-looking importance of the acquisition, noting that Blue Bird’s nearly 100-year legacy has established it as an iconic brand in student transportation. He described the purchase of Girardin’s stake as a natural progression in the company’s strategic evolution, reinforcing Blue Bird’s leadership position and supporting its long-term objectives centered on innovation, operational excellence, and sustained profitable growth. Wyskiel highlighted that bringing Micro Bird fully into the Blue Bird family will allow the company to optimize resource allocation, deepen collaboration across engineering and manufacturing teams, and accelerate the introduction of next-generation vehicle technologies. He also expressed enthusiasm about welcoming Steve Girardin to Blue Bird’s Board of Directors following the transaction’s completion, recognizing the value of his experience and industry insight.
Board Enhancement and Governance Strengthening
Upon closing of the transaction, Blue Bird intends to appoint Steve Girardin to its Board of Directors, further strengthening corporate governance with his extensive leadership experience in the North American bus industry. Girardin’s decades-long involvement in manufacturing, product development, and strategic partnerships provide valuable expertise that complements Blue Bird’s executive leadership. His addition to the Board reflects the collaborative spirit underlying the joint venture’s history and ensures continuity of strategic insight as the enterprise transitions to sole ownership. This governance enhancement is expected to contribute to long-term strategic planning and disciplined capital allocation.
Girardin Group’s Legacy and Enduring Partnership
The Girardin Group has played a foundational role in the development and success of Micro Bird since the joint venture’s formation in 2009. Over the past decade and a half, the partnership between Blue Bird and the Girardin Group has fostered technological advancement, operational excellence, and a strong reputation for customer-focused service in the small bus market. Steve Girardin, Chairman of Micro Bird and Vice-President of the Girardin Group, noted that the current year marks the 60th anniversary of the company’s involvement in small bus manufacturing and its successful collaboration with Blue Bird. He characterized the transition to sole Blue Bird ownership as a strategically aligned evolution that supports value creation for customers, employees, and shareholders alike, while ensuring the continued growth and innovation of the Micro Bird brand within a unified corporate framework.
Micro Bird’s Specialized Expertise and Market Leadership
Established in 2009 as a 50/50 joint venture between Blue Bird and the Girardin Group, Micro Bird has developed into a recognized leader in the design and manufacture of Type A school buses and commercial shuttle buses with passenger capacities ranging from 9 to 36 occupants. The company has built its reputation on delivering innovative, safe, and reliable transportation solutions tailored to the needs of educational institutions, community organizations, and commercial operators. Micro Bird’s product lineup includes gasoline, propane, and electric-powered vehicles, reflecting its commitment to energy diversification and environmental responsibility.
Manufacturing Footprint and Workforce Strength
Micro Bird operates manufacturing facilities in Drummondville, Quebec, and Plattsburgh, New York, employing approximately 960 team members across its North American operations. The Drummondville facility serves as a cornerstone of the company’s Canadian manufacturing presence, while the Plattsburgh site enhances U.S.-based production capabilities and compliance with domestic sourcing requirements. By integrating these facilities fully into Blue Bird’s operational network, the company aims to leverage economies of scale, enhance production flexibility, and strengthen cross-border supply chain coordination. The workforce at both locations represents a highly skilled talent base with deep expertise in bus assembly, engineering, and quality assurance, forming a critical component of Blue Bird’s expanded operational capabilities.
Long-Term Outlook and Value Creation
The acquisition of Micro Bird’s remaining stake positions Blue Bird to capture long-term growth opportunities in a transportation landscape characterized by technological transformation, environmental mandates, and infrastructure investment. By consolidating ownership, Blue Bird gains full strategic control over product roadmaps, capital expenditures, and innovation initiatives, enabling a more cohesive and agile approach to market expansion. The transaction underscores the company’s confidence in the resilience and growth potential of the student and commercial bus markets, as well as its commitment to delivering advanced transportation solutions that prioritize safety, efficiency, and sustainability. As Blue Bird moves toward the anticipated closing in 2026, the company stands poised to strengthen its leadership in the North American bus industry while building on nearly a century of heritage and performance excellence.
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