About Optima Bus, LLC

Optima Bus, LLC, formerly Chance Coach, has been manufacturing heavy duty, transit quality coaches since 1976 in Wichita, Kansas. Since its inception, Optima Bus has manufactured transit tough products including the under 30' Opus low-floor bus, under 35' Opus low-floor bus, and American Heritage Streetcar.

Our reputation for producing quality, durable transit products is confirmed by the fact that the first streetcars manufactured by Optima in 1983 have just recently been retired by VIA Metropolitan Transit in San Antonio, Texas, after more than 20 years of service and replace with American Heritage Streetcars.

The Opus under 30' low-floor bus was introduced at the International Public Transit Expo in Orlando, Florida, in 1999. The under 35' Opus low-floor bus was later introduced in 2002, and Optima had recently celebrated the production of the 500th Opus. In 2006, Optima Bus introduced the following products to the transit industry: the Opus ISE Series Hybrid low-floor bus, the Opus low-floor bus with Streetcar Features, and the Streamlined Opus low-floor bus.

Optima began producing the ADA compliant, fully enclosed American Heritage Streetcar in 1993. The American Heritage Streetcar features authentic turn-of-the-century styling, with Philippine mahogany and antique brass trim, and transit necessities such as two operator-controlled doors and a wheelchair lift. The nostalgic look and durability of the American Heritage Streetcar have made it the most popular streetcar in America.

Our reputation as a quality manufacturer that stands behind our equipment with exceptional training and service after-the-sale is the reason that nearly half of all of our customers are repeat customers. At Optima, we believe in developing long-term partnerships with transit authorities and maintaining those partnerships throughout the years.

As an ISO 9001: 2000 certified company, Optima is one of only a small handful of American bus manufacturers that have been judged worthy of certification by the International Standards Organization. ISO certification communicates to the world that from the first contact through post delivery follow-up and support activities, Optima's processes and people adhere to the most rigorous standards of excellence in the mass transit industry.

Optima Bus has produced a combined total of more than 1,800 low-floor buses, high-floor buses, and streetcars over the years. Throughout our history in the transit industry, we have never been late with a delivery and have never paid liquidated damages. At Optima Bus, we believe in offering flexibility to our customers, providing exceptional service after-the-sale, and manufacturing the ultimate in transit products.