ENC Named to North Carolina’s PART Consortium Five-Year Transit Bus Contract
Cooperative agreement gives three North Carolina transit agencies the option to purchase up to 99 American-built ENC buses
RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA, USA – August 25, 2026 – ENC® (“ENC” or the “Company”), a U.S.-based transit bus manufacturer and subsidiary of Rivaz Inc., today announced it has been named an approved manufacturer on a five-year cooperative contract led by the Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation (“PART”).
The consortium contract establishes a base quantity of 49 buses, with options for an additional 50, representing a total potential of up to 99 vehicles over the five-year term. Participating agencies include PART, the City of Winston-Salem’s Winston-Salem Transit Authority (“WSTA”), and the City of Burlington’s Link Transit. Under the agreement, participating agencies may procure vehicles from ENC or New Flyer.
As a cooperative procurement vehicle, the contract enables participating agencies to acquire ENC buses directly, without conducting an independent competitive solicitation. This structure reduces administrative burden and shortens acquisition timelines, an advantage particularly valuable to smaller agencies that can redirect constrained resources toward service delivery and the rider experience.
“PART is a valued ENC customer, and we are proud to have earned our place on this contract alongside the region’s leading transit agencies,” said John Obert, Vice President of Transit Sales, ENC. “This award reflects the confidence these agencies place in ENC’s American-built, Altoona-tested vehicles. We are actively engaged with PART, WSTA, and Link Transit, and look forward to delivering the quality and reliability their riders deserve.”
The contract affords participating agencies the flexibility to select from a range of ENC configurations tailored to their respective service needs. PART may procure 30-foot E-Z Rider II® and 40-foot AXESS® diesel buses, with additional 30-, 35-, and 40-foot options. WSTA may procure 33-foot AXESS and E-Z Rider II diesel buses, along with 35-foot AXESS diesel-electric hybrid buses. Link Transit may procure 33-foot AXESS diesel-electric hybrid buses.
The award extends a relationship first established in 2022, when PART selected ENC to supply E-Z Rider II diesel buses for its fleet.
“Reliable, well-built vehicles are essential to the service our communities depend on,” said Scott Rhine, Chief Executive Officer and General Manager of PART. “This cooperative contract gives our participating agencies the flexibility to invest in quality, American-built transit buses, and we value our continued partnership with ENC.”
ENC’s Buy America-compliant transit buses are available in 30-, 32-, 33-, 35-, and 40-foot configurations, affording fleet operators comprehensive sizing flexibility. Propulsion options span clean diesel, compressed natural gas, diesel-electric hybrid, and battery-electric configurations. Each model meets full ADA compliance and offers configurable floorplans with comprehensive mobility features designed to serve diverse community needs.
For agencies seeking a mid-size solution, ENC’s E-Z Rider II® delivers operational versatility in 30-, 32-, and 35-foot configurations. It features a distinctive swept windshield design for enhanced driver visibility and ADA-compliant wheelchair accessibility at multiple door locations. ENC’s buses are proudly manufactured end-to-end in Riverside, California. Learn more about ENC’s full product offering at eldorado-ca.com.
ABOUT ENC®
Founded in 1975, ENC is a leading U.S. heavy-duty transit bus manufacturer with over 50 years of experience delivering safe and reliable Altoona-tested vehicles. Headquartered in Riverside, California, ENC manufactures every vehicle end-to-end in the United States and offers one of the industry’s most comprehensive propulsion portfolios, including battery-electric, clean diesel, hybrid, and compressed natural gas buses in multiple configurations.
ENC is an approved Transit Vehicle Manufacturer (“TVM”) under the Federal Transit Administration, with all buses designed to meet federal Buy America requirements.
A subsidiary of Rivaz, Inc., ENC is committed to revitalizing American transit manufacturing and supporting public agencies and transit operators with a commitment to customer service, innovative products, and stable supply. To learn more, visit eldorado-ca.com.
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS AND DISCLAIMERS
This press release contains forward-looking statements about ENC’s production plans and market positioning, which reflect its current expectations, estimates, and projections about its business based on currently available information and assumptions made by management.
These statements are not guarantees of future performance, and involve risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted herein.
References to “clean diesel,” “zero-emission,” or other environmental benefits are based on ENC’s internal assessments and industry standards. These claims are intended to describe the potential environmental benefits of ENC’s products and are not guarantees of specific environmental outcomes. Actual results may vary based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, usage patterns, maintenance practices, and regulatory changes.
Claims that vehicles are manufactured “end-to-end” at ENC’s Riverside, California manufacturing facility means final assembly and significant processing occur at our facility in Riverside, California, and products may use both domestic and imported components. Specific domestic content percentages vary by model and are available upon request.
Statements regarding compliance with “Buy America,” “FTA,” and “Altoona-tested” standards are based on ENC’s current understanding and interpretation of applicable regulations. These statements are subject to change based on future regulatory developments and interpretations. ENC advises customers to verify compliance status at the time of purchase.
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