ENC has introduced Zavir, a new brand of purpose-built shuttles designed for public transportation, paratransit and other passenger transport services. The company presented a concept vehicle at the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) Expo in Chicago, with production planned for 2028 at its facility in Jurupa Valley, California.
The shuttle will be offered in low-floor and high-floor configurations, with seating for up to 18 passengers plus standing room. Buyers will be able to choose between a battery-electric powertrain and a range-extender configuration designed to support longer operating distances.
Two Powertrain Options for Shuttle Operators
Zavir will measure approximately 22 feet long and 8 feet wide. Both configurations are being developed with wheelchair accessibility in mind, with a lift or ramp available to support passenger boarding.
The battery-electric version is expected to deliver approximately 150 miles of range and support charging at up to 200 kW. A second option will use a gasoline-powered generator as a range extender, providing a claimed driving range of more than 450 miles.
The two powertrain choices are intended to accommodate different operating requirements. Battery-electric operation could suit routes with predictable distances and access to charging infrastructure, while the range-extender version is designed for services requiring longer distances between charging opportunities.
ENC plans to begin federal testing in 2027, with reservations expected to open later that year ahead of the targeted production start in 2028.
Purpose-Built Design Targets Shuttle and Paratransit Services
Many shuttle vehicles in this size category are based on van platforms or cutaway chassis, with passenger bodies and other equipment added after the underlying vehicle is built. ENC is taking a different approach with Zavir by developing the vehicle structure, powertrain, accessibility features and interior as an integrated design.
The company is targeting shuttle and paratransit operators that need vehicles suited to their specific routes and passenger requirements. A purpose-built platform could allow the vehicle’s layout and systems to be designed around passenger access, daily operations and maintenance rather than adapting an existing commercial vehicle.
Jason Lee, Chief Executive of ENC, said the new brand extends the company’s experience in heavy-duty buses into additional vehicle segments.
“For fifty years, ENC has built heavy-duty buses that agencies count on. ZAVIR is how we put that experience to work in new segments and give the market more of what it is asking for.”
Lee added that the concept was an early indication of the company’s plans as public transportation operators increasingly seek vehicles sized to match demand.
ENC Expands Beyond Heavy-Duty Transit Buses
The launch moves ENC into the medium-duty shuttle market alongside its existing range of diesel, hybrid and electric city buses. Zavir is expected to draw on the company’s engineering teams, supplier network and manufacturing operations in Jurupa Valley.
Thomas Allen, Vice President of Shuttle Sales at ENC, said the company wanted operators to help shape the vehicle before it reaches the market.
“Shuttle and paratransit operators have spent years adapting vehicles that were never designed for their routes. The ZAVIR concept vehicle we are showing at APTA is our answer: a shuttle engineered from the ground up and designed for real world budgets, around the people who ride it, drive it, and keep it running.”
The concept-stage presentation gives prospective customers an opportunity to provide input while the vehicle is still in development.
Mike Crostic, Vice President of Operations at ENC, said the programme would use the manufacturing processes and quality systems already employed for the company’s transit buses.
“Building heavy-duty buses teaches you what survives real service and what fails early. ZAVIR draws on that experience and the same Jurupa Valley operation and quality systems behind our transit buses, so that when this shuttle reaches production, it is ready for the demands of daily service.”
Production Planned for 2028
ENC has positioned Zavir as an expansion into a vehicle category where operators often rely on adapted commercial platforms. The proposed combination of passenger capacity, wheelchair accessibility and two powertrain options is intended to cover a range of shuttle and paratransit applications.
The vehicle remains at the concept stage. Federal testing is planned for 2027, followed by reservations later that year, while production is targeted for 2028. Final production specifications, pricing and availability have not been provided in the supplied announcement.
