MASA (company)
Encyclopedia
Mexicana de Autobuses, S.A., or MASA, was a major bus
and coach
manufacturer located in Mexico
. Formed in 1959, it was owned by the Mexican government until being privatized in 1988. It was the country's second-largest bus manufacturer when it was acquired by Volvo
, in 1998, and renamed Volvo Buses de México, S.A.
, and this facility was expanded in 1980. Somex continued to be a major shareholder in the company, and buses built by MASA often carried "Somex" nameplates on the front.
The government sold the company to private investors on 17 October 1988, but the original buyer defaulted on its debt payments. The company had already ceased production before then, and was reported by some transport media to have "gone out of business" during 1988, but it was resold in November 1989 to an industrial group and in 1993 underwent a restructuring. Production continued during this period, as evidenced by the delivery of 30 new MASA trolleybuses to Mexico City's STE
in 1991.
Volvo Buses
acquired MASA for US$
74 million in September 1998, renaming it Volvo Buses de México and continuing production in the same factory, the then 153000 sq ft (14,214.2 m²) plant in Tultitlán. In addition to the purchase amount, Volvo indicated that it planned to invest an additional $80 million in MASA, over a two-year period, to modify the Tultitlán facility and add automobile production (starting in 1999), giving it access to this North American Free Trade Agreement
region. At the time of its acquisition by Volvo, MASA's owners were Mexican bus manufacturer DINA S.A.
, Brazilian bus-body maker Carrocerias Nielson (Busscar)
and individuals on MASA's board of directors.
(diesel buses) for city and suburban use, trolleybus
es and intercity buses, or coaches
.
es to the country's only two trolleybus system operators, building more than 700 for the Mexico City trolleybus system
, operated by Servicio de Transportes Eléctricos del D. F.
(STE), and 100 for the Guadalajara trolleybus system
, operated by Sistecozome. Trolleybus production began after the company partnered in 1978 with Toshiba
, for the latter to supply the electrical propulsion
systems for the vehicles. The first MASA/Toshiba trolleybus, a prototype
for STE, was completed in 1979. Trolleybuses built after 1987 were fitted with electrical equipment from other suppliers, including Melco/Mitsubishi and Kiepe.
In 1985 MASA constructed an articulated
trolleybus for STE, which that transit agency compared with another prototype articulated trolleybus, one built for STE by Moyada (Motores y Adaptaciones Automotrices, S.A.) from two existing MASA two-axle trolleybuses; MASA's prototype was an all-new vehicle. After evaluating these two prototypes, STE decided to contract with MASA to fabricate 67 articulated trolleybuses, using the rear halves of 67 existing two-axle trolleybuses in STE's fleet and combining them with new forward body sections to be built by MASA. The assembly was also undertaken by MASA, and these 67 vehicles were delivered to STE in 1986–87. Apart from these 68 articulated vehicles, all other MASA trolleybuses were two-axle vehicles. However, the company also built articulated diesel buses, of which the production quantities are not known.
MASA's last order for trolleybuses was one received from STE in December 1996, for 200 12 metres (39.4 ft) trolleybuses. At least 50 of these were delivered in 1997, but delays in STE's obtaining funding resulted in the final 75 not being built—or at least not delivered—until 1999, after the company had been sold.
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
and coach
Coach (vehicle)
A coach is a large motor vehicle, a type of bus, used for conveying passengers on excursions and on longer distance express coach scheduled transport between cities - or even between countries...
manufacturer located in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. Formed in 1959, it was owned by the Mexican government until being privatized in 1988. It was the country's second-largest bus manufacturer when it was acquired by Volvo
Volvo
AB Volvo is a Swedish builder of commercial vehicles, including trucks, buses and construction equipment. Volvo also supplies marine and industrial drive systems, aerospace components and financial services...
, in 1998, and renamed Volvo Buses de México, S.A.
History
MASA was created when the Mexican state-owned investment bank, SOMEX (Sociedad Mexicana de Crédito Industrial), acquired the private company, Sheppard Hnos. (Sheppard Brothers), on 10 September 1959. In 1972 the company built a new factory in TultitlánTultitlán de Mariano Escobedo
Tultitlán de Mariano Escobedo is the seat of the municipality of Tultitlán located in the northeastern part of the state of México in Mexico. It lies adjacent to the northern tip of the Federal District and is part of the Greater Mexico City urban area...
, and this facility was expanded in 1980. Somex continued to be a major shareholder in the company, and buses built by MASA often carried "Somex" nameplates on the front.
The government sold the company to private investors on 17 October 1988, but the original buyer defaulted on its debt payments. The company had already ceased production before then, and was reported by some transport media to have "gone out of business" during 1988, but it was resold in November 1989 to an industrial group and in 1993 underwent a restructuring. Production continued during this period, as evidenced by the delivery of 30 new MASA trolleybuses to Mexico City's STE
Servicio de Transportes Eléctricos
Servicio de Transportes Eléctricos del Distrito Federal is a public transport agency responsible for the operation of all trolleybus and light rail services in Mexico City. As its name implies, its routes use only electrically powered vehicles...
in 1991.
Volvo Buses
Volvo Buses
Volvo Buses is a subsidiary and a business area of the Swedish vehicle maker Volvo, which became an independent division in 1968. It is based in Göteborg....
acquired MASA for US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
74 million in September 1998, renaming it Volvo Buses de México and continuing production in the same factory, the then 153000 sq ft (14,214.2 m²) plant in Tultitlán. In addition to the purchase amount, Volvo indicated that it planned to invest an additional $80 million in MASA, over a two-year period, to modify the Tultitlán facility and add automobile production (starting in 1999), giving it access to this North American Free Trade Agreement
North American Free Trade Agreement
The North American Free Trade Agreement or NAFTA is an agreement signed by the governments of Canada, Mexico, and the United States, creating a trilateral trade bloc in North America. The agreement came into force on January 1, 1994. It superseded the Canada – United States Free Trade Agreement...
region. At the time of its acquisition by Volvo, MASA's owners were Mexican bus manufacturer DINA S.A.
DINA S.A.
DINA is a Mexican automotive producer of heavy duty and specialty trucks, urban buses, armored military vehicles and intercity coaches...
, Brazilian bus-body maker Carrocerias Nielson (Busscar)
Busscar
Busscar Ônibus S.A. is a Brazilian bus manufacturer that builds coaches, trolleybuses, charter and tour buses. The company is based in Joinville in the south of Brazil, where it has industrial premises that cover 1,000,000 m2, including a building of 84,000 m2.-History:The business has its origins...
and individuals on MASA's board of directors.
Products
The company manufactured motorbusesBus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
(diesel buses) for city and suburban use, trolleybus
Trolleybus
A trolleybus is an electric bus that draws its electricity from overhead wires using spring-loaded trolley poles. Two wires and poles are required to complete the electrical circuit...
es and intercity buses, or coaches
Coach (vehicle)
A coach is a large motor vehicle, a type of bus, used for conveying passengers on excursions and on longer distance express coach scheduled transport between cities - or even between countries...
.
Trolleybuses
MASA was the major supplier of new trolleybusTrolleybus
A trolleybus is an electric bus that draws its electricity from overhead wires using spring-loaded trolley poles. Two wires and poles are required to complete the electrical circuit...
es to the country's only two trolleybus system operators, building more than 700 for the Mexico City trolleybus system
Trolleybuses in Mexico City
The Mexico City trolleybus system serves Mexico City, the capital city of Mexico.Opened on 9 March 1951, the system had 10 lines .-See also:*Servicio de Transportes Eléctricos – has much more information on the subject*List of trolleybus systems...
, operated by Servicio de Transportes Eléctricos del D. F.
Servicio de Transportes Eléctricos
Servicio de Transportes Eléctricos del Distrito Federal is a public transport agency responsible for the operation of all trolleybus and light rail services in Mexico City. As its name implies, its routes use only electrically powered vehicles...
(STE), and 100 for the Guadalajara trolleybus system
Trolleybuses in Guadalajara
The Guadalajara trolleybus system serves Guadalajara, the capital city of the state of Jalisco in Mexico.Opened on 20 November 1976, the system is owned and operated by Sistema de Transporte Colectivo de la Zona Metropolitana . , it had two lines, each of which connected the area west of the city...
, operated by Sistecozome. Trolleybus production began after the company partnered in 1978 with Toshiba
Toshiba
is a multinational electronics and electrical equipment corporation headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. It is a diversified manufacturer and marketer of electrical products, spanning information & communications equipment and systems, Internet-based solutions and services, electronic components and...
, for the latter to supply the electrical propulsion
Vehicle propulsion
Vehicle propulsion refers to the act of moving an artificial carrier of people or goods over any distance. The power plant used to drive the vehicles can vary widely. Originally, humans or animals would have provided the propulsion system, later being supplemented by wind power...
systems for the vehicles. The first MASA/Toshiba trolleybus, a prototype
Prototype
A prototype is an early sample or model built to test a concept or process or to act as a thing to be replicated or learned from.The word prototype derives from the Greek πρωτότυπον , "primitive form", neutral of πρωτότυπος , "original, primitive", from πρῶτος , "first" and τύπος ,...
for STE, was completed in 1979. Trolleybuses built after 1987 were fitted with electrical equipment from other suppliers, including Melco/Mitsubishi and Kiepe.
In 1985 MASA constructed an articulated
Articulated bus
An articulated bus is an articulated vehicle used in public transportation. It is usually a single-deck design, and comprises two rigid sections linked by a pivoting joint...
trolleybus for STE, which that transit agency compared with another prototype articulated trolleybus, one built for STE by Moyada (Motores y Adaptaciones Automotrices, S.A.) from two existing MASA two-axle trolleybuses; MASA's prototype was an all-new vehicle. After evaluating these two prototypes, STE decided to contract with MASA to fabricate 67 articulated trolleybuses, using the rear halves of 67 existing two-axle trolleybuses in STE's fleet and combining them with new forward body sections to be built by MASA. The assembly was also undertaken by MASA, and these 67 vehicles were delivered to STE in 1986–87. Apart from these 68 articulated vehicles, all other MASA trolleybuses were two-axle vehicles. However, the company also built articulated diesel buses, of which the production quantities are not known.
MASA's last order for trolleybuses was one received from STE in December 1996, for 200 12 metres (39.4 ft) trolleybuses. At least 50 of these were delivered in 1997, but delays in STE's obtaining funding resulted in the final 75 not being built—or at least not delivered—until 1999, after the company had been sold.
External links
- History of Volvo in Mexico, by Volvo BusesVolvo BusesVolvo Buses is a subsidiary and a business area of the Swedish vehicle maker Volvo, which became an independent division in 1968. It is based in Göteborg....