
Champion Bus
Champion Bus, Inc. was founded in 1953 and is located on 73 acres just outside Imlay City, Michigan. Champion is one of the pioneers of the mid-size commercial bus industry and began producing these buses in 1981. In 2012, Champion Bus acquired Federal Coach and began producing a luxury line of buses; in October 2013 it was acquired by Allied Specialty Vehicles (ASV) — today part of the REV Group.
Dedication to Safety
Champion was one of the first manufacturers to send a cutaway bus to undergo durability testing at the Federal Transit Authority’s Altoona, Pennsylvania testing facility. All products are in compliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS), and more than 26 buses have been tested. Champion also tests all buses on a simulated Altoona test track at the manufacturing facility.
All Champion Bus models are in compliance with the rigorous requirements of FMVSS No. 220 and ECE r.66 rollover safety tests. In the strict FMVSS test protocol, the steel cage structure of a Champion shuttle bus model was evaluated without a skin or laminate and met a roof crush safety standard that ensured emergency exits remained operational during and after a rollover crash. In the ECE r.66, a Champion shuttle bus model placed on a raised platform and tilted to simulate a rollover crash met a similar safety standard.
Champion was the first bus manufacturer to become QVM certified by Ford Motor Company, and has been ISO certified since 1999 (registered ISO 9001:2008). Champion is one of the largest custom commercial bus manufacturers of small- to mid-size buses in the industry: 300 dedicated employees utilize more than 194,000 square feet of manufacturing space to produce more than 1,500 mid-size buses per year.
Quality, American-Made Craftsmanship
Champion prides itself on using 1 1⁄2″ x 1 1⁄2″, 16-gauge tube galvanized steel cage on every bus, making them some of the safest and most robust buses in the industry.
Champion performs all manufacturing, engineering, compliance, research and development, aftermarket service, sales, and marketing in Imlay City. The company specializes in innovation and design, building an array of light- to medium-duty commercial buses, including low-floor and rail products, with upscale trim packages offered on many platforms.
Champion Bus Models

Challenger
Wide-body mini-bus on Ford E-350/E-450 and Chevrolet/GMC G-Cut chassis, seating 13–26 passengers with handicapped-accessible configurations.
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Crusader
Narrow-body van-type alternative bus for up to 15 passengers, with ADA-ready configurations on Ford E-350 and Chevrolet/GMC chassis.
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Defender
Heavy-duty shuttle line on Ford F550, F650, and Freightliner S2C chassis — Altoona-tested Champion construction for demanding routes.
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CTS Front Engine
Mid-size transit bus on the Freightliner chassis with 15+ floor plans seating 8–27, in diesel or CNG.
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CTS Rear Engine
Transit-style rear-engine bus on the Freightliner XB-75 series chassis — up to 45 passengers with dual-door configurations.
Explore CTS Rear Engine →Champion Brochures
Champion Inventory In Stock
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