SCHAUMBURG, Ill. In 2008, Motor Coach Industries will celebrate 75 years of coach building and will mark the milestone with 12 months of festivities that will be kicked off at UMA Motorcoach Expo 2008 in San Francisco.

As the company celebrates its anniversary, it says its poised for the future, focusing on advanced engineering, luxurious interior styling, and greener designs for its tour, charter and commuter coaches.

"MCI is a leader in the industry because of its decades of experience, commitment to quality and dedication of our people," said President and CEO Tom Sorrells.

"These are important times for the transport industry; as passengers look for more ecologically friendly ways to travel, MCI is uniquely positioned to advance coach travel," Sorrells added.

This year, MCI launched several initiatives tied to its "Go Green, Go Coach, Go MCI" campaign. It says it plans to continue introducing new technologies that improve fuel efficiency and safety.

"Historically, MCI is known for many of the 'firsts' in the marketplace, including wider coaches and the first wheelchair access," said Sorrells. "Our plan is to continue to adapt technologies and services that benefit the customer."

Marking milestones

MCI plans to commemorate the building of its first bus, in 1933, with activities throughout 08. The first event will be a party, during Motorcoach Expo, for customers and guests aboard the S.S. Hornblower, a harbor cruise ship based in San Francisco.

MCI also will unveil a new logo, designed specifically for the anniversary, at Expo. Plus, it will have three "greener tomorrow" coaches at the trade show.

Additionally, MCIs expanded PRO Support network of aftermarket services will be highlighted during Expo. Among other things, MCI Fleet Support will announce its 2008 aftermarket specials, as well as its National Training Center schedule.

The MCI coach-driving simulator will be at Expo so customers can take a turn at the virtual steering wheel, and attendees will learn about MCI's 2008 "Grand Tour" that will include key locations across the U.S. and Canada.

Going back 75 years

MCI traces its roots to 1928 when company founder Harry Zoltok got into the bus repair business. Five years later, Zoltok took the leap from fixing buses to building them. His first coach consisted of an 11-passenger body he fabricated and installed on a Packard passenger car chassis. The work took place in a 5,000-square-foot building and the company became known as the Fort Garry Motor Body and Paint Works Limited.

Today, MCI facilities in Winnipeg, Manitoba, occupy more than 835,000-square-feet of space. For the past 30 years, starting with the MC-9, the company has built the most-popular motorcoach models sold in the U.S. and Canada.

For more information on MCI history, go to