IC Bus CE Series

2001–2004

In 1999, Navistar announced the International IC, a fully integrated school bus with a modified 3800 chassis and a integrated AmTran school bus body. The bus would be produced at AmTran's Conway, Arkansas facility and the newer Tulsa, Oklahoma facility.[8] While still based on the International 3800 and sharing much of the body with its Ward/AmTran Volunteer/CS predecessor, the new bus introduced a redesigned drivers compartment and enlarged windshield. To distinguish the model from other buses sharing the 3800 chassis, the hood of the IC was given its own grille and badging (marking the first visual update to International medium-duty trucks since 1989).[3] Production began by American Transportation Corporation in April 2000 for the 2001 model year.[2]

In January 2001, the IC began production at International's newest 1 million square-foot school bus manufacturing facility in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with only one vehicle produced per day. It employed approximately 400 people after the plant was opened on June 5, 2001. At the time, International representatives expected this rate to increase to 15 vehicles produced per day by July 2001, due to high customer demand for the product.[9]

The Conway plant was becoming a dedicated Type D bus plant when the AmTran FE and RE were given the "International" badge, but some new school buses still used the "AmTran" badging.[6] In 2002, for the 2003 model year, Navistar (at the time, International Truck and Engine Corporation) renamed its bus subsidiary from American Transportation Corporation to IC Corporation. After a minor revision, the IC adopted the CE-Series name (to match the FE/RE-Series transit-style buses).[10]

2005–2024

In November 2003, IC Corporation unveiled the new CE, featuring an all-new International 3300 chassis and body.[11] The all-new CE series introduced a one-piece, flat-glass windshield. Production began in 2004 for the 2005 model year.[12] Also, IC entered the Canadian school bus market after selecting Leeds Transit for the Ontario market.[13] Before that, AmTran/IC Corporation products including the International IC, were sold in the United States only. In 2006, IC Corporation worked with Enova Systems to create a hybrid diesel-electric bus.[14] This school bus prototype includes an International VT365 engine with an 80 kW Enova hybrid-electric powertrain, incorporating a transmission, batteries, and permanent magnet motor. The IC "wing" logo was revised slightly in 2012 for 2014 production (with Navistar script added to the emblem and to the rear bumper).

In response to the failure of its EGR emissions strategy to meet emissions standards,[15] Navistar began to phase out MaxxForce diesel engines in favor of Cummins-produced engines. The Cummins ISB6.7 was introduced as an option for 2014 production for the CE,[16][17] becoming the standard engine for the 2015 model year. At the end of 2021, IC Bus announced the introduction of a 35-foot-8-inch body length for the CE (exempting the length of the hood), offering a capacity of up to 83 passengers.[18] The largest-capacity Type C school bus ever produced, the new option retained the previously-offered 276-inch wheelbase.

2025–present

On July 14, 2023, IC unveiled a third generation of the CE series for 2025 production. Using the updated International MV as a base chassis, the new CE added a taller, wider windshield with asymmetrical car-style windshield wipers (much like the Thomas C2) to the body structure (rearward of the driver seat, much of the bodywork was carried over); the dashboard of the MV was integrated in its entirety. As of initial production, the only engine options for the new CE are the Cummins B6.7 diesel and the electric motor.[19] Production began in late 2023 for the 2025 model year.[1]

On October 21, 2025, the IC school bus manufacturing plant in Tulsa reached 250,000 units.[7]

IC BE

In 2004, IC produced its first small school bus for the 2006 model year, the 30-passenger BE200.[20] In place of a cutaway van chassis, the BE adopted a lower-profile version of the 3300 chassis. Produced primarily as a school bus and as its commercial-market derivatives, the BE was designed for operators transporting special-needs passengers. Externally similar to the CE, the smaller BE was designed with a flat-floor interior, maximizing the available space for wheelchair passengers.[21]

Unlike the larger CE, the BE was only sold with V8 engines and hydraulic brakes (200-series classification) due to having a low-profile chassis.

Hybrid diesel-electric bus

In 2008, IC Corporation introduced a diesel-electric IC CE school bus, featuring a MaxxForce DT and a Enova-supplied electric motor.[22][23] The buses are claimed to provide approximately 40% to 65% better fuel economy, but cost about two and a half times more than a standard diesel bus ($210,000 versus $80,000).[24][25] As Enova went bankrupt in 2014, IC Bus has discontinued the hybrid option, once again leaving the CE with the diesel powertrain option.[26]

Alternative fuel powertrains

In 2015, IC debuted its first alternative-fuel vehicle, showing a propane-powered CE-Series with a PSI 8.8L V8 engine.[27] In 2016, the same engine was introduced in a gasoline-fueled configuration.[28] Both powertrains were removed for 2025, but only the gasoline powertrain was returning for the 2026 model year.[29]

Electric CE bus (formerly chargE)

On November 7, 2017, IC Bus announced the chargE, an all-electric prototype CE Series bus delivering up to 260 kW in power using a Volkswagen Truck & Bus Group-supplied common group electric drivetrain. It is the second electric vehicle to be delivered from the Navistar-Volkswagen alliance.[30] The chargE started production as the Electric IC CE Series in 2020.[31] In May 2021, the first electric CE buses were delivered to Canada.[32]

The battery-electric CE is available with a 105, 210, or 315 kilowatt-hour battery capacity allowing for a range of over 70, 130, or 200 miles. The batteries can be recharged with a Level 1, Level 2, or DC fast charger. A 255 kilowatt (peak) permanent magnet motor is mounted at the rear and drives the rear wheels.[33]